Journey Home

[Celuna]

Chapter 1: The Bracelet

"There is no escape for you"

Celuna slipped out of Stormwind as quietly as she had entered it. Although she had once dreamed of finding a home and settling down in such a place, the time for that had long since passed. She was now something feral, something dark, something that made others look the other way when she passed.

Thoughts of the past swirled in her head as she picked her way along the shadow-strewn road leading south out of Stormwind. The quarter moon peeked its face out occasionally behind the waves of clouds that raced relentlessly towards regions unknown.

"Run then, it's the only thing you're good at!"

Celuna frowned and wrapped her thread-bare cloak tightly around her shoulders. Her life had alternated between stretches of eternal stagnancy to sudden flashes of lightning change. She was tired, and she dreaded what she would find at the end of her current road.

A snapped twig to her left brought her out of her musings, but not quickly enough. "Hand ovah yer money, Miss!" a man hissed as he blocked her movement along the road.

Celuna turned quickly, rushing headlong into two other bandits that blocked the road back to Stormwind. One of them pushed her towards the first bandit, a short burly man wearing a kerchief masking the lower half of his face. "And no running," he chuckled menacingly.

Celuna stepped timidly forward. "May the light bless you, gentlemen," she said softly. "I am but a poor traveler...a refuge who has naught but the clothes on my back. Please let me pass in peace and reap the spiritual rewards of having accomplished a good deed."

The leader chuckled again. "I prefer my rewards to be real and worth a bit o' coins, Miss. Search her," he ordered the other bandits.

Roughly one of the bandits behind her grabbed her while the other searched through her empty bag and the pockets of her cloak. "Be sure to check for jewelry too, boys. A pretty yun' thang like dis I bet has a few hidden treasures."

The thug searching her paused and wrapped his hands around her neck, his thumbs resting along her jawbone. He leaned in close to her, his stale breath caused Celuna to choke a bit. "Aye, boss, she's a pretty one," he leered at her.

Celuna spit in his face and then brought her knee up into his crotch. She struggled fiercely against the thug that held her from behind, kicking, scratching, anything she could do to escape his grasp. The thug just tightened his grip on her.

The thug she spit on grabbed her face with one hand and slugged her full in the jaw with the other. Celuna fell back against the thug that still held fast to her. The pain threatened to take her consciousness, but she grimaced and snarled, fortifying her strength by will alone.

"Search 'er quickly and leave 'er for wolf bait, boys," the leader hissed, his gaze focused on the road towards Stormwind. "Nevah know when a'nudder towner might be headin' dis way."

The searcher began again, pushing her hair back from around her neck and ears. He then checked her wrists and found the small charm bracelet she'd had since childhood. "Ah, 'ere we go boss!" he said triumphantly. Pushing two fingers in between her wrist and the bracelet, he yanked violently.

The small clasp resisted his effort. The chain dug into her lower arm and made her yelp in pain.

The leader growled and pulled the mace that had been hanging at his waist out. He waved off the searcher and leaned in close to Celuna's face. "Never lie to the Defias Brotherhood, Miss. If you value yer life, take the bracelet off and hand it over."

Celuna growled and spit at him.

The leader nodded. "Don't say I didna warn ya." With his left hand he grabbed the bracelet, and with the right hand hefted the mace up, aiming it at her forearm. Celuna struggled, but still her keeper held her still.

The leader looked Celuna in the eyes for a second, perhaps to give her a second chance to give over the bracelet peacefully. Seeing only hate and defiance, he sighed and shifted his weight to bring the mace down heavily onto her arm.

CRAAACK! The simultaneous sound of bones shattering and Celuna screaming filled the night's air. The mace impacted her forearm and the clasp gave way. The leader held up his prize triumphantly to his gang. "Leave 'er for the wolves," he ordered.

The thugs dragged Celuna's now limp body off to the side of the road. He kicked her in the gut before slipping off with the other bandits.

"Light save me," she breathed before losing her consciousness.

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A young woman and her two daughters sit on a bed. The mother turned to the blonde daughter first. "A bracelet for you," she said, smiling. She then turned to the brunette daughter "...and a matching bracelet for you." The mother beamed happily at her two daughters, hugging them both to her chest. "The two lights of my life, my little Sun and my little Moon!"

[Celuna]

Chapter 2: The Abbey

"Where are your parents?"

The teenage girl backed away from the elderly gentleman. "I'm an orphan," she responded finally.

"Are you hungry? I have a bit of extra bread here you can have..." he pulled a bundle from a pocket and unwrapped a large chunk of a bread loaf. He then stretched out his hand and offered it to her.

Warily she stepped forward. Her eyes narrowed. "What do you want in exchange?"

The gentleman chuckled. "My name is Brother Orthda. I had a daughter who looked a bit like you before the scourge took her." Though he tried to hide it, the girl could see a flash of pain in his eyes.

"My name is..." the girl paused. "Celuna". She reached out for the bread, lifting it from his outstretched hand.

"Light bless you Brother," she said. She watched him warily for another second before she stuffed the bread into her mouth.

"Thank you, Celuna, and may the Light bless you as well." He continued to watch her, amused by the spectacle. "Can you read and write, Celuna?"

She nodded.

"Would you be interested in a job transcribing a few documents for me?"

She looked at him and decided to trust the path the Light laid before her. "Yes, Brother, I would like a job. Would a bit of stew be possible as advanced payment?"

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Celuna woke up disoriented. She rolled onto her back and squinted her eyes open a bit before she scrunched them closed again as the pain of her arm hit her senses. She grunted, sucking in a breath of air and letting it seep out of her lungs. Slowly she leveraged her weight up to a sitting position. Her arm was swollen tight against the normally loose fitting shirt.

Every movement sent stabbing pulses of pain throughout her entire body. Carefully she reached down and pulled a small knife from the heel of her boot and then cut the shirt away from the wound. Although the bones luckily didn't break the skin, she could tell it was broken.

Celuna closed her eyes and took another deep breath. "Blessed is the Light. The Light fills me with purpose. I am a servant of the Light. Blessed is the Light," she prayed. She focused all of her will into repeating the litany again and again, until she could feel the Light fill her. "Blessed is the Light. The Light fills me with purpose. I am a servant of the Light. Blessed is the Light." Its warmth wrapped around her body, filling her veins, strengthening her muscles, relaxing her mind.

Celuna sighed as the power left her body. She opened her eyes and looked at her arm. It was still broken and in need of a physician's care, but the swelling had subsided a bit. She stood up, weakly taking one step, and then another down the path she had been heading before the robbery. However, she would need to find aid soon, and there was the matter of the bracelet. Mentally she brought up a picture of a map of the area. How many maps had she redrawn for Brother Orthda? She was an expert in geographical locations she had never visited, nor probably ever would. She smiled as she located a nearby Abbey on the map in her mind. Perfect.

The memory of her benefactor sent a shiver of loneliness through her. He was dead, and there was no changing that now. Best to continue her journey, for better or for worse.


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"Is there anyone here that can set a broken arm?" Celuna asked one of the guards standing near the gated entrance to the Abbey courtyard.

The guard nodded. "You will find Priestess Anetta in the library wing of the Abbey. I can show you if you need.."

Celuna cut him off. "No need. Thank you kindly for your help, Sir." She continued on the short path between the gates and the Abbey. The place seemed a bit in disrepair, but otherwise reminded her of the one Brother Orthda had overseen. Inside the Abbey a balding fellow named Marshall McBride stopped her momentarily.

"Have you come to volunteer?" he asked, peering at her curiously.

"Volunteer? uhh.. no.." she stammered. "Is Priestess Anetta here? I have a broken arm that needs tending."

The Marshall suppressed a look of disappointment and nodded. "She is in the library wing."

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Anetta frowned as she inspected the wound. "How long ago did this happen? The bones have not been set, but there is very little swelling and the bruises are not nearly as discolored as one would expect from such a blow."

"Three days," Celuna answered while avoiding eye contact with the Priestess.

"Amazing. Well, let me see what I can do with it." The priestess grabbed her arm firmly, feeling out the lines of the bones. With a quick snap she yanked the forearm in two different directions, forcing the bones back into alignment. She then held the forearm in both hands and muttered a prayer. Celuna's arm glowed brightly for a moment and then it was healed.

"You will need to be very careful with it for about a week, but after that it should be good as new. You are very lucky it didn't become infected."

"Thank you so much, Priestess," Celuna answered, smiling brightly at the Priestess. "Can I ask you a question?"

The Priestess tilted her head to one side. "Certainly..how can I help?"

"The Marshall...McBride was it? He expected I was volunteering for something when I entered the Abbey. I'm a traveler from...a long ways away and know little of this area. What is he soliciting volunteers to do?"

"Ah...well, there is the general upkeep around the Abbey...weeds to be pulled, pests to be killed. Then there are the kobolds and bandits threatening the peace and stealing things from honest folks that must be dealt with. Things that the Militia once took care of but with the wars with the Horde, most of them are no longer here."

Celuna nodded. "The Defias Brotherhood, then. They are the ones who broke my arm and stole from me. Perhaps I will volunteer after all." Celuna stood and curtseyed respectfully to the Priestess. "Thank you again for mending my arm."

"May the Light guide you, Celuna."

[Lovely]

((Excellent writing....Enjoying the story so far!))

[Celuna]

((Crap! Another Female Pally... ;) ))

((mwahahaha! I think you'll find Celuna isn't as "friendly" towards the Horde as Lovely is though :twisted:

Thanks for the encouragement! ))

[Celuna]

Chapter 3: The Stench of Evil

Celuna didn't cry. She just stared blankly at Brother Orthda, someone she thought she could trust. Perhaps if she wasn't completely dehydrated she'd have a few tears left in her. The men holding her down on the table were gentle, but firm as the tattooist finished his work. Brother Orthda avoided her gaze and focused on the tattooist. "How much longer?" he asked.

"She made it through quarantine, Orthda. I think she'll endure a few needle pricks, man."


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Between Marshall McBride and Deputy Willem, Celuna was kept busy for several days.

Brother Sammuel was extremely helpful to her and showed her how to wield a mace and focus the power of the Light much more efficiently than Celuna's untrained attempts had ever gotten her. The combination of arms and prayer felt natural to Celuna, and she spent long hours each day deplenishing the population of the nuisance kobolds and wolves in the area. She would then spend many more hours training with Brother Sammuel.

Brother Sammuel shook his head, dropping his training mace and shield onto the rack behind him. "That is all for today. You learn very quickly, Celuna. So few are able to be still in their hearts while their bodies dance."

"Dance?"

"Aye, my young apprentice. To become a paladin, your body must become strong and as responsive to the situation as a good dancer responds to his or her partner. But you cannot let the bloodlust overtake your heart. Your heart must remain pure, and above the physical acts of violence. A paladin is a conduit of the light, and any malice, avarice, or pridefulness will block your full potential. Remind me tomorrow to show you the paladin's rock."

"Paladin's rock?"

Brother Sammuel chuckled and grabbed a nearby rag. He wiped the sweat from his face and then smiled at her. "Tomorrow. Celuna. You have done well and learned quickly. May the light guide you."

Celuna curtseyed to Brother Sammuel. "Goodnight, Sammuel. Thank you for your training."

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At dusk Celuna slipped out of the Abbey and traveled down to the river that ran between the Abbey and the vineyards. Neither Willem or McBride had given her an assignment to go after the Defias yet, despite her hinting strongly that she'd prefer to pummel members of the bandit group to killing creatures who lacked the intelligence to chose a better path.

But she knew where they were. She could smell the rotting taint of evil.

Brother Orthda had told her once that the holiest members of the Crusade could smell a Scourge's evilness from as much as a mile away. It was a skill Celuna planned to master. Although her former employers had deemed her suitable for only scholarly activities, Celuna was now receiving the training she had always wanted. She was content to suspend her journey home until she had learned as much as Sammuel would teach her.

The last rays of sunlight gave way to a starlit sky. The river bubbled and gurgled and a chorus of frogs began their nightly calling. Celuna breathed a litany to the Light until an aura of protection surrounded her as Sammuel had trained her to do. A seal of strength followed shortly.

She double checked that the heavy two-handed mace she had borrowed from the armory was still strapped to her back even though the weight of it left no doubt as to it's presence. She pulled out the heavy chain mail armor from her bag and strapped it on.

"For the Light," she said, before crossing the bridge.

She didn't have to travel far before running into one of the bandits. The battle was short, Celuna's training and armor making short work of the thug. The bandit lay on the ground breathing heavily. His right arm was contorted at an odd angle from the rest of his body. Celuna knelt beside him and pulled the bandana away from his face.

"Tell me what I need to know," she hissed at him.

"Miss! please! I am poor, I know wut I do is wrong, but it's the only way I know to feed me family!" he pleaded.

"What do you do with items you steal from innocent travelers? Are they sold immediately, or kept in some sort of stash?"

"I dunno Miss! I swear! I just give any t'ing I find to my leader. He pays me a few coins or a bit of bread and ale when the coffers are low."

"And where can this leader be found?"

"Miss please, let me go, I beg you!" the man began to cry.

Celuna grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled his upper body up, the broken and dislocated arm dangling uselessly at his side. He screamed in pain and tried to push her away with his left hand. "Tell me. Where is this leader. And what is his name?" she growled.

"Please," he said, still crying. "Betrayal of the Brotherhood is punishable by death, and my family needs me! Don't ask me that, please, just let me go!"

Celuna felt the anger welling up inside her. She released her grip on his shirt and he fell back to the ground. No malice, Brother Sammuel had said. She stood and turned away from the bandit, and breathed in the fresh spring air. She cleared her mind and her heart as the Light filled her. It pulsed through her veins like electricity, a feeling she had never felt before.

She turned and put her boot on his chest and leaned down. "Tell me now, or forfeit your life," she demanded.

The man sobbed, turning his head away from her. "Please.."

Celuna stood tall. Holding out her left hand, she let the electricity fly from her fingers. It jolted the man, his body spasmed briefly and laid still.

"You have been judged by the light," she said before heading into the night to find a more compliant informant.

[Celuna]

Chapter 4: Ephemeral Storm, Eternal Sea

Celuna looked in the mirror. She was no longer the skinny child Orthda had taken in. She was a beautiful young woman, and the hired men in the Abbey would often stare at her when they thought no one was looking. It was her eighteenth birthday, and she was excited to see what trinket 'Da had gotten for her.

A commotion from below broke her thoughts. "Celuna! Come quick!" she heard a guard yell.

Celuna ran down the cold stone hall, her sandaled feet echoing with each step. Down the spiral staircase she skipped every other stair. Her fear was irrational, she thought, even as she sprinted down the hallway toward the center of the abbey. She peered over the railing that looked over the main hall below.

"What is it?" she yelled down to one of the guards.

"It's Brother Orthda...come quick!" he yelled back.

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Celuna awoke in the Northshire Abbey to the sound of the local rooster crowing. It was still dark in her windowless room, but she had grown to trust the timing of the morning cacophony. She stretched and got dressed.

Willem was at his post as he always was. "Morning, Deputy Willem. More wolves today? Perhaps a final eradication of the kobolds from the Echo Mines? What would you have me do on this fine morning?"

Willem chuckled. "Brother Sammuel says your training has come quite far in the time that you been here, and that you might be up for some tougher assignments."

Celuna's eyebrows perked up. "Really?"

"Yes. To start out with we want you to remove some of the more brazen thugs that have been hanging out in the vineyards. Some of the other Militia have grappled with them and found them devoid of remorse for their crimes. We have no place to incarcerate them, so I fear death may be the only solution to our problem." Willem eyed her carefully.

Celuna nodded, and maintained a serious expression. "It is a regretful thing when people do not follow the path of the Light."

Willem visibly relaxed. "Aye, it is." He then smiled at her and leaned in and whispered "I knew you'd be up for a bit of scrapping. Brother Sammuel was worried it might interfere with your studies."

Celuna grinned and spontaneously hugged him.

Willem coughed and looked around nervously. "Now, none o' that, Celuna. I'm a married man, ya know."

Celuna continued grinning. "Thank you, Willem!" Celuna turned and started heading for the armory.

"Celuna?"

Celuna turned back to him. "Yes?"

"Bring back a few bandanas just to help us keep track of how many we have had to deal with. I have no idea where they are all coming from, but it seems as soon as we take out one, two more take his place."

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Celuna didn't have to look far to find her first bandits. Two young women wearing the red kerchief of the Brotherhood were leaning against the stone foundation of the bridge spanning the river between the Abbey and the vineyard.

"Wot 'ave we 'ere?" one of them asked as she leisurely stood up and walked to the center of the road to block Celuna's path.

"I bet it's another one o' them RE-cruits from the Abbey. Fresh meat I say!" said the other, who also moved away from the bridge and into the middle of the road.

Celuna felt the Light surge in her. Without hesitating, Celuna pulled out her mace and gripped it in both hands. She strode up to the two bandits without fear. With a mighty sweep she swung hitting the first thug square in the ear, knocking her to the ground immediately. The second one dodged and pulled out a small dagger and leaped at Celuna with it.

Smoothly Celuna stepped away from the bandit and followed the momentum of the mace, letting it pull her around, then with a quick plant of her foot she turned and channeled the momentum back around, forcing it into the side of the second bandit.

Celuna did not pause at the sound of cracking ribs nor the scream of the woman. Quickly she hung the mace in the fitted loop behind her back. She knelt down and pulled out a small knife and ripped through each of the bandanas and placed them into her bag.

The first was most likely already dead...the second would follow her soon enough without a highly skilled priest's aid. Celuna frowned at the pair and stood up. She could put the second out of her misery.

"Suffering is good for the soul."

Brother Orthda's favorite phrase came to her suddenly. Celuna smiled wickedly at the bandit before continuing down the road.

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Celuna slipped into the bath water and rinsed her skin clean of dirt, blood, and bone fragments. She'd acquired a dozen bandanas before the sun's placement indicated it was near time for her training with Brother Sammuel. Even the thought of vengeance would not keep her from learning how to become more powerful.

With a fresh change of clothes, she felt as light and happy as she had felt in years. She still needed to travel home, to Lakeshire, to see what remained of her childhood. But Northshire was quickly becoming a different kind of home than she'd had before. The people here had befriended her, and treated her with respect for who she was, and not who had adopted her as his own. She shrugged at her own thoughts. Lakeshire had been waiting some seven years for her, it could wait a bit longer.

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Brother Sammuel waited patiently for her in the training hall. He turned when he heard her approach. "Ah! Celuna. Just the person I was hoping to see," he said.

He picked up a book off the table and handed it to her. "I'd like you to read this in your free time. If you are going to become a paladin, you should learn our history."

Celuna nodded and accepted the book. She opened it and skimmed a few pages. It was one of the books she had copied several times for Orthda. When she had been first given the book she had read it all in one sitting, enthralled.

"Can I become a paladin, 'Da?" she had asked him.

Orthda looked up from the letter he was writing. His bushy grey eyebrows rose in surprise and alarm.

"No child, you must remain here where it is safe. Our war on the Scourge is battled on many fronts, and the Crusade has many jobs that don't require picking up a weapon. Wars are won by waging superior logistics, not superior heroics."

"But.."

"No buts, Celuna." Orthda sighed and put down his pen. He looked at her sadly and motioned for her to come closer. He held out his hand, and she put her hand in his.

"I couldn't bear to lose you, Celuna. Please don't ask to become a fighter," he whispered.

Celuna looked into his blue eyes. So often she had seen them flash darkly in anger and impatience. But now they seemed more like the deepest blue ocean. And she knew at that moment that he loved her, Celuna, and she was not just a ghost of some girl she had never met.

Her eyes welled up with emotion, and she nodded her acquiescence.

He pulled her close and hugged her tightly. Celuna was so happy she didn't hear the door open behind them.

"Orthda! You rascal! I knew there was a reason you went to so much effort to get her in here." Brother Viscar's voice boomed as he entered the room. His bear like hulking form took up nearly the entire entrance to Orthda's study.

Orthda quickly pulled away from Celuna and he stood to face Viscar. "Brother Viscar. You have met my adopted daughter, Celuna, haven't you? She was just reporting her progress in copying the book that you had requested."

Viscar's eyes danced as he caught her glance. Celuna didn't like the way he smiled at her. She looked up at Orthda, and she could have sworn she saw a flash of lightning in the midnight blue.

"Celuna? Celuna?"

Brother Sammuel shook her shoulder gently. Celuna started and she felt the heat of embarrassment rise to her cheeks.

She curtseyed quickly. "I'm sorry Brother Sammuel, I was daydreaming about something that happened along time ago. Of course I will read this book and take it's teachings to heart."

He smiled at her, his eyebrows quirking in puzzlement. "Very well. Leave the book here for now, I have another lesson that I want to teach you but it will require a bit of travel into the mountains nearby."

[Lovely]

((Excellent...Can't wait to see more of this.))

[Celuna]

((ooc: hopefully this chapter doesn't come off too preachy or whatever. I wasn't really able to find anything in the lore that "explained" the use of the Light, as in, is it something anyone can be trained to use, or if only certain people had the talent, so this is mostly me hashing out how my character will treat this ability))

Chapter 5: Paladin's Rock

Brother Sammuel led her north of Echo Ridge Mine. The path he took seemed more an animal trail than something human made. Celuna followed, and wondered at his silence.

After an hour they came to a rocky pathway that might have been a river bed many ages ago. Sammuel found a large flat rock and sat on it. He motioned for her to sit next to him and pulled out his canteen. He took a sip then passed it to her.

Celuna waited patiently for him to start his lesson. The sun's warmth felt good, and as time slipped away, she felt herself nodding off. Sammuel sat perfectly still, his hands clasped together in his lap, his eyes closed and his face turned towards the sun. When he finally spoke, his eyes remained closed.

"Every paladin is different Celuna, as every human is different. As every creature, plant, or rock on this world is different. The Light shines on all of us differently. It fills our hearts and our minds. We try to channel it's purity as best we can, but none of us are perfect. We taint it with our essence."

Sammuel's eyes opened and he turned his gaze towards her. "Our goal is to make ourselves the best vessels that we can be. To do that we must constantly question ourselves. Our motives. Our weaknesses. And our strengths. What is our foundation? What forces have shaped our lives."

Sammuel stood, and began searching through the piles of rocks nearby. Finally he chose a round brown rock. "Take this rock, for example." He brushed some of the dirt off. He turned it in his hand, examining it. "From all appearances it is but a rock. Why is it round, while most of its neighbors are not. Has it been sitting here since the world was created along with the other rocks here, or was it brought here by a mighty river, or perhaps dropped from the pocket of a giant? Is it still just a rock despite its differences?"

Sammuel pulled a walnut out of his pocket. He put it down on the rock Celuna was sitting on. With a quick strike he cracked it open with the round rock. "Can it now be considered a tool?"

Sammuel crouched and turned over a large rock. He motioned for her to follow him and to keep watching. He turned over more rocks. As each rock was overturned, a multitude of insects and worms scurried from the light. Under one rock a small iridescent blue scorpid stirred from its sleep. Sammuel quickly brought the rock down, smashing the creature. "Or is it a weapon? As a paladin you are this rock. You are an instrument of the Light. If you let it guide your actions, you become something more than the person you were before."

Celuna hesitated. "Why did you pick that rock, and not some other rock here?" She leaned down and grabbed a fist-sized rock, then held it out to him. "Could not this rock crack the nut, or kill the scorpid as easily?"

Brother Sammuel's eyes twinkled. "My father was a miner, Celuna. He taught me a bit of his trade before I followed the call of the Light and became a paladin. I couldn't tell you where to find diamonds or emeralds, but I do know a bit about the local geology. I'm afraid I have forgotten what my father called this particular kind of rock in his time, but ever since I became a paladin, I have referred to them as paladin hearts."

He stood and faced her, then tossed her the rock. By reflex Celuna dropped the rock she was holding and caught the one he threw to her. She grimaced as the sticky blue insect guts coated her palm. She pulled out a rag and wiped the guts off of both her hand and the rock. Celuna held the rock up in her palm and examined it. It looked just like any other rock.

As if he could read her mind, he answered. "Yes, it does look like any other rock." He reached down and picked up a larger, heavier rock. "Soon you will leave Northshire to fight greater foes. They will come upon you in battle and think you but another warrior. But you are special, just as this paladin heart is. The Light blesses those that have something special in them."

Brother Sammuel took the rock from her outstretched hand and placed it on the ground. He pulled a wedge-shaped piece of metal from his bag and held it down against the paladin heart. With a fast, heavy blow he struck the wedge with the heavier rock, splitting the paladin heart in two. He picked up one of the halves and held it out for her to inspect.

The rock was hollow with small, dense crystals lining the inside. The crystals glittered in the sunshine, sending small prismatic rainbows of light reflecting onto Sammuel's clothing as he tilted it back and forth.

"Rough, and utilitarian on the outside, receptacles of light on the inside. As a paladin you must strive to balance the exterior and the interior. Violence to evil, aid to your comrades. You must travel both pathways, though they seem at odds."

Celuna peered at the geode. She had seen one once before, although it had been much larger and had been polished to shine brightly when the light hit it. One of Brother Orthda's clergy had used the two halves as bookends.

Celuna absently rubbed the palm of her right hand against her hip. The scorpid's blood made it itch slightly.

"That blue stain will wash off in a few days Celuna. Until then I would like you to think about this lesson, and how it applies to you." Sammuel paused. "We have never asked about your past, Celuna. Us Northshire folks judge people by what we see, not by rumors nor gossip. I may be old and no longer of use to the Militia, but I can recognize those that have the talent and drive to reach the highest levels of training. You are such a person."

He frowned and looked out towards the horizon. "You are still young and your body will adapt to the physical demands. It is your heart that worries me though."

Celuna froze. "My..my heart?"

He turned and stepped towards her. His eyes searched hers. She tried to look away after a few seconds, but he grabbed her chin and gently forced her to continue looking into his eyes. They narrowed briefly, and she felt like a child who was trying to deny she had eaten the cherry pie even though her face was covered in sticky red syrup.

After an eternity, he let go of her chin, but continued to hold her gaze.

"There is evil in your past Celuna. I cannot tell if it was something that happened to you, or if it was something that you yourself did. You will need to release the emotions tied to this evil, or it will taint your channeling of the Light. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

He relaxed, then patted her shoulder. "Do you want to talk about your past, Celuna? I have helped many students work out issues by listening to them, and offering guidance as I can. Any information I learned from you would not be shared with anyone else, you have my word on this."

Celuna let her gaze stray off of his face and past his ear. Her mouth tightened, and she shook her head. "No, Sammuel."

He nodded and picked up his bag. "My eyes are not as good as they used to be, so we should head back to the Abbey before dusk sets in."

[Celuna]

Chapter 6: What is Mine

"Give it back, Cesola!" Faith yelled.

"No!" her blonde sister yelled in reply before running towards the other side of the yard.

Faith ran after her. Around the small cottage the two sisters ran, although the blonde's longer legs kept her comfortably ahead of her younger sibling.

Faith stopped running. She sat under one of the apple trees and hugged her knees up against her chest. She picked up a twig and wrote "I hate you" in the dirt.

Cesola stopped running and came over to where Faith sat. She frowned when she saw the writing and drug a small sandaled foot across the words, marring the lettering and making it illegible. "I hate you, too! I wish Ma and Da had never adopted you!"

"I'm not adopted! Stop saying that!" Faith yelled back.

"No, you aren't adopted...you're some evil changeling that was swapped at birth. Someday I'm gonna go rescue my REAL sister and you'll have to go back to your demon parents then!"

Faith growled and grabbed the legs of the small elven doll. "Gimme my doll!"

"No!"

The fabric holding the small doll's stuffing began to tear as neither of the two sisters released their grasp. "Let go! You're going to break it!"

"You let go!"

"It's mine!" Faith yelled at the top of her lungs and yanked with all of her ten year old might. The fabric gave way, and both sisters fell on their rears with a half of the doll.

"I'm telling Ma! You ruined it! Just like you ruin everything!" Cesola yelled. She threw the top half of the doll at Faith before running into the cottage.

Faith pushed the stuffing back into the doll and tried to hold both halves together. She held it up to her face and peered into the large phosphorescent glass eyes that seemed so real.

"It's ok, Baby. I'll get you put back together good as new, I promise." she crooned softly to the doll. She smoothed some of the stray hair behind the soft fabric ears.

Faith looked up when she heard the cottage door slam. Her mother was striding rapidly across the yard towards her. She looked furious. Cesola trotted behind her trying to keep up. She smiled at Faith with a "you are so gonna get it now" look of triumph on her face.

Faith hugged the doll to her chest. "I'll protect you, Baby. They aren't my real family anyway," she whispered.

-----------------------------------

Celuna released the pillow she had been hugging when she woke. Her head throbbed in unison to the reddened skin where the blue scorpid blood had spilled on her. She rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling of her little room.

It seemed a lifetime had passed since she had gone by the name "Faith". Celuna and Cesola. Those were the nicknames her aunt and uncle had given the two sisters. Celuna had used the nickname in place of her real name back when Orthda had "rescued" her in Menethil Harbor. If someone were to yell the name Faith in a room she was standing in, Celuna doubted she would even bat an eyelash.

Celuna whispered a small healing spell, allowing the Light to cleanse the minor poison from her blood. The dull pain would return soon enough, but for now it allowed her to roll out of bed and get dressed.

-----------------------------------

Willem smiled brightly when he saw Celuna exit the Abbey. "Celuna!" he yelled and motioned for her to come over.

"We've received some new information about the Defias in this area. Apparently the leader's name is Garrick Padfoot. He's supposedly got a shack that he works out of south of the vineyard in the foothills. Would you be interested in confirming this information, Celuna? I can arrange for some of the other recruits to accompany you.."

"I'll take care of it, Willem. I'm on my way now." Celuna interrupted him.

----------

Celuna killed the first Defias she came across. Her powers and fighting ability had increased to such an extent that it wasn't even a fight. She unknotted the bandana and wrapped it around her face. She then removed all of the Militia emblems from her armor.

She strolled past several pairs of Defias as she made her way south. She waved at the ones that waved at her, and ignored the rest. "Take the head of the beast, and the body will die." She thought to herself.

When she came to the foothills, she travelled eastward. She found a few abandoned buildings, but none held anything of value. She kept moving, until she found what she assumed was Garrick's shack. A few Defias milled around a campfire out front.

Celuna approached the guards openly. Behind the scratchy burlap bandana she whispered her invitation to the Light. She felt it infuse her blood. Her muscles bulged with strength. Her skin hardened, her mind raced with the stillness and certain calm of the deepest ocean flow.

"Halt. Identify yourself, sister," one of the guards intercepted her as she walked calmly towards the shack behind them.

"Greetings, brother. I bring a gift for Garrick."

The guard relaxed and chuckled. "Well, let's see what fine prize you have. Maybe I'd like first dibs on it, eh?"

Celuna paused. "Very well. Receive my gift then." Celuna pulled her mace out of its bindings and cracked the guard in his ribs.

"Hey!" The other guard jumped back out of range of Celuna's swing. "Help!" He yelled. "We're under attack!"

Celuna shifted the mace, bringing the massive weight around in a circle. As she turned, she saw two more Defias running towards her. The guard dodged her attack again and leaned in, slashing her abdomen in the gap between her chest piece and her belt. She forced the mace to reverse directions, pulling it back down on top of the guard's head.

She paused and muttered a healing spell. The knife wound mended itself, although her undershirt remained soaked in blood.

The two Defias arrived just as she was pulling back from the fallen guard. She held her mace ready and watched as the two circled around her.

"Who are you? What trickery is this, Sister?" One of them asked.

Celuna yanked the bandana off of her face. "I come for what's mine."

The Defias in front of her let out a loud laugh. "Well, if it isn't the poor wharf stray we left for dead near Stormwind. Looks like you've grown a few teeth since last we met, my Kitten."

Celuna recognized the voice. "You!" She cried. She charged at him, wielding the heavy mace as if it were made of hippogryph feathers. He dodged away from her and laughed again.

"Poor Kitten. And I thought you looked so beautiful in the moonlight. This bright morning sun only brings out the frown wrinkles you are getting at too young an age."

Celuna growled and feinted at him before swiftly twisting around and whacking the smiling Defias behind her. He dropped instantly, the smile frozen, eyes wide in surprise, the skull cracked with blood flowing freely onto the ground.

"Oh, now why'd you have to go and do a thing like that? Brute's been a good friend for many years. You will have to die now."

Celuna jumped out of the way of his slashing daggers, the blades scraped against the metal of her armor. He thrust again before she could counter attack, catching her in the kidneys. The blow stunned her, making her immobile. The bandit pulled his bandana down from around his face, and casually walked around behind her. He pulled her hair back and gently kissed the nape of her neck.

"What will you do now, Kitten? Was that little trinket worth your life?" he breathed into her ear before bringing his dagger up.

Celuna screamed as she felt him stab her between her shoulder blades. Her mace flew from her grip, and she crumpled to the ground. She crawled away, the hot pain nearly overwhelming her consciousness. "Light heal me. Light protect me. Now, damn it." She whispered.

The light flooded her with its healing power. She touched a seal and let forth a wave of holy light that knocked the bandit far enough away she was able to stand and pick her mace back up.

"Tricky, tricky Kitten. How many lives have you got left now? I hear most cats have nine." He laughed.

"Enough to take out a common thug like yourself," she hissed at him.

He pursed his lips and made a sad face at her. "Awww. A common thug? Do you even know who I am? Now you've hurt my feelings." He made a tssk-ing sound and shook his head.

Celuna shifted the weight of her mace and stared at him.

"Garrick?"

He smiled brightly. "Ahh! You do know me." He tipped an invisible cap to her. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, my Kitten."

He suddenly lunged at her, and she stepped back out of his path. She brought the mace around, aiming for his exposed knee. The mace impacted solidly into the bandit's leg with the sound of snapping bones. Celuna stepped back and watched him warily.

"Arrrggh!" Garrick hopped back on his good foot. The bemused look on his face replaced with one of pain.

"Heal me, paladin, and I will return your precious trinket." He pleaded.

Celuna snorted. "Where is my bracelet?"

He pointed towards the shack. "There is a small metal container in there. You should find it in that."

Celuna hit him with a judgement that knocked him onto the ground. Celuna walked to the door of the shed and peered in. A couple of cots and an assortment of odds and ends littered the place. In a corner she spied the box. Inside it she found her bracelet, along with bits of jewelry and a few silver pieces. Celuna lifted the bracelet and inspected it. The small charm moon still hung from it, but the clasp was too damaged to be of any use. She slipped it into a pocket then closed the container and placed it in her backpack.

Outside Garrick had crawled towards the campfire. He stopped and rolled onto his side. "Heal me paladin. You have your bracelet."

Celuna eyed him curiously. The scorpid blood stain on her hand itched. If it was just her, perhaps she would have let him go. But there were innocents to protect.

"For the Light, I cannot let you live Garrick." She gathered the power of her seal, and release the judgement. His body contorted, then laid still. Celuna knelt down beside him. Absently she stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. Where would she be now, if he hadn't of robbed her?

She leaned down and brushed his lips with her own. She gazed at his face for a moment longer then stood and began the journey back to the Abbey.

[Lovely]

((Too awesome))

:D

[Mortica]

((I've always had a soft spot for villains that if they had just stop yacking at the hero/heroine and killed them, they would have won the fight ;) ))

[Celuna]

Chapter 7: Lost

Beaten. Bloody. Bruised. She moved first a finger, then a hand. She rolled onto her stomach, then lifted herself into a kneeling position. Her head swam and pulses of pain racked her entire body. Her stomach spasmed, and she barely kept the bile from escaping. The light was dim, and she could hear the slow methodic beating of gargoyle wings nearby...approaching. She crawled into a nearby thatch of dense briars, pulling herself into the thick heart of the savage bush. The thorns tore at her exposed flesh, but she muffled her cries. She curled into a ball, and lost consciousness again.

She awoke covered in dew. Her body ached. She couldn't go home, Brother Viscar had seen to that. How she had lived through the beatings, she didn't know. "Mongrels. The lot of them." She hissed. She stood carefully, feeling out her balance. Tyr's Hand had been her home...her prison, for so long, she wondered what life she could have outside of the Crusade. But she was free now. Free to find her real home, the one she had left so many years ago. She had no idea where she was, she only knew that if she kept going south, she'd find what she was looking for, eventually.

-------------------------------

Celuna shook her wrist, the repaired and polished charm bracelet jingled softly. She thanked the gnome tinkerer and paid the price he asked plus an extra silver for finishing the job while she waited.

The sounds of blacksmithing filled the small dwarven district of Stormwind. Celuna wandered down the street taking in the sights and sounds. A smile lit her face, and she even whistled a tune absently. The trees were beginning to flower up in the warm Spring air, and she felt peaceful. Almost happy.

Willem had been so excited when he gave her the news that she had been promoted into the Militia as an acting Deputy. "Now you keep in touch with us, Celuna. I want to hear all about the exciting adventures you go on from time to time, ok?" he had said. Celuna had smiled and accepted the papers. "Looks like I have a few days before I need to report, whatever should I do?" she asked. "Take a bath, buy yourself a nice dress, maybe go dance a jig somewhere." Willem shook his head. "You are the most serious young person I know, Celuna. Go have fun!"

There was still the matter of Lakeshire. Celuna slowed her walk and frowned. She had left a family that loved her because of misunderstandings and teenage willfulness. She had run so far away that by the time she had grown to understand her mistake, it had been to late. How does one go home when you don't even know if there is a home to return to?

She sighed. She stopped at the gryphon master on her way out of Stormwind. The price of the ride to Lakeshire was modest, but Celuna's pockets were not exactly overflowing. She thanked the gryphon master and told him she would return a bit later.

An image of her mother slid just beyond her gaze. She grasped at the memory, but the harder she tried to remember her past, the more elusive the memories were. Her parents had been a handsome couple, she remembered. Her sister, as much of a brat as she had been, was destined to become a very beautiful young woman.

Celuna twisted her wrist absently. She wondered if Cesola still had her bracelet...an exact duplicate of her own, except for the little sun charm on hers. Perhaps she was married and had kids by now. Celuna smiled at the thought of little blonde-haired nieces and nephews running around.

Celuna spied two paladins on the road just outside of Stormwind. The bright red colors of the Keepers of Stromgarde she recognized immediately. From a distance she thought she recognized Jerone Trollbane. Although she had never talked to him during her recovery in Refuge Pointe, she probably owed his group her life.

The female paladin's tabard Celuna didn't recognized. But the hair..that impossibly silvery blonde...

Celuna's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a bit dizzy. She kept walking and averted her eyes from them, willing them not to see her.

She walked back to the Abbey. It couldn't have been HER. Could it? And a paladin? Celuna shook her head. There is no way...

She found Brother Sammuel in his study. "Ah! Celuna...still with us?" he asked when he saw her. She nodded.

"Brother Sammuel, do all new paladins train here with you?"

He frowned and raised a puzzled eyebrow at her. "Well, most of the humans who become Paladins do train with me, but the dwarves have their own trainers in Dun Morogh. Why do you ask?"

"Run away, it's the only thing you are good at!" The hateful words drifted in Celuna's mind. She looked at the ground and drew an invisible line on the stone floor with her toe.

"Celuna?"

She looked up at him. She stared into his concerned eyes, and she knew that she had to find out once and for all what was left of her home. She set her jaw. "It is nothing, Brother...I just wanted to thank you for your training."

He tilted his head and his eyebrows drew together with a look of concern. "Remember the lesson of the paladin's heart, Celuna. If you have questions or just want to talk, I am here for you."

She nodded, but she was already heading out of the door.

-------------------------------

The ride to Lakeshire was short, but it took forever in Celuna's mind. Her thoughts raced with scenarios. What if her parents rejected her? What if they welcomed her back?

The placid lake reflected the sleepy little town. So little had changed since Celuna left so long ago. She strolled across the bridge and wandered along the shore of the lake. Children fished from the docks, and a few played tag up and down the grassy fronts.

Celuna took the pathway back to where her house had been. A few more houses had been built since she left, but the changes were minimal. Her steps slowed as she approached the stone fence that surrounded the old house. She searched the windows for some sign of her parents, but she didn't see anyone stirring inside.

Her heart was beating loudly in her ear. As if someone was operating her body she lifted the latch of the gate and stepped inside the yard. The apple trees had grown larger, and fresh buds were just beginning to sprout from the branches. She approached the door and knocked on it. Inside the scraping of a chair against stone could be heard, and then the door opened.

A dark-haired gentleman in his early thirties opened the door. "Yes?" he questioned her.

Celuna stared at him. "Sorry. I was looking for a family that lived here a few years ago..."

"Ah..you might check with the Jainroses down the hill...I know they've been here forever."

She apologized again, and left the yard. She closed the gate behind her, and leaned up against the stone fence. She breathed in deeply and tried to calm the panic that was threatening to overwhelm her. There was a reason..maybe they decided to get a larger, more comfortable home.

Celuna hurried down the path towards the Jainrose's house. She saw a woman tending a small row of neatly spaced herbs. The woman stood up and waved at Celuna when she saw her coming. "Greetings, traveler. How can I help you?"

Celuna pointed up the hill. "There was a family that lived in the house up there many years back. Do you know where they went?"

The woman frowned. "Ah, sad business that." She took out a kerchief and wiped the sweat from her brow. She stared at Celuna curiously. "The older couple that lived there passed away a few winters ago. They are buried in the cemetery across Lake Everstill now, I believe."

Celuna closed her eyes and willed herself to continue breathing. She felt dizzy, and her balanced wavered before the woman grabbed her shoulder firmly.

"Oh, you poor thing! Come, have a sip of me special blend tea. It'll make you feel better." Celuna let the woman lead her gently into the house and set her down in a chair at their small dining table. "My name's Alma by the way. Were you family? Your face looks familiar. Were you at the funeral? Ah...of course not. I apologize. I just hate to be the bearer of bad news."

The woman filled a kettle with water and some herbs Celuna didn't recognize. She set it on the stove and then turned back to Celuna. She stared at Celuna, trying to make out where she'd seen her before. "A cousin, maybe? I think I remember some dark haired cousins at the funeral. Or was that Miss Portfish's funeral? I forget really. Sad business that, I say. Nearly everyone from around the region attended the funeral I believe."

Celuna closed her eyes and numbly listened to the woman prattle on. The kettle whistled a loud shriek when the tea was ready. Alma dropped a sugar cube into each of two cups and then poured the tea in overtop it. She stirred both of them then returned to the table and sat down across from Celuna.

Celuna sipped the tea. The taste was mild and immediately calmed her nerves. She pointed at her cup. "This is very good. Thank you, Alma."

The woman beamed at the compliment. "Yes, my own blend of herbs. This blend is made to calm and relax, make you think of things less troublesome."

Celuna nodded. "There were two daughters...what became of them?"

"Ah, more sad business. The youngest daughter ran away from home and never came back. Everyone in town looked for her for weeks before they finally gave up and pronounced her dead. The other daughter left us not too long ago...she became a paladin if I remember correctly. Beautiful young lady she was." Alma smiled.

Celuna nodded. "Do you know how one would go about contacting her?" Alma shrugged. "Put a post in the mail, I'm sure they'll be able to get it to her. Now what was the name of that guild she joined?" Alma frowned and tapped her brow with her forefinger. "Stormwaltzers? No, no. She left them. Or did they kick her out? My memory isn't what it used to be. Greyward, yes...I think that's what it's called. Bad business if you ask me."

"Bad business?" Celuna asked.

"Aye...mercenaries for hire is what the rumor is. Course I've heard other worse stories, but Alma Jainrose tain't no rumormonger." She nodded in agreement with herself.

Celuna finished the cup of tea and stood to go. "Thank you most kindly, Alma. May the Light bless you."

"Anytime I can help a traveler out, I say. What was your name again?"

Celuna leaned back in the doorway. "Celuna. Thank you again, I must be off."

Alma nodded and waved, a puzzled look crossing her face briefly.

------------------------------------

Celuna found a trader to sell her two large white candles. She placed them in her pack and followed the pathway back to the bridge. She crossed the lake and then skirted the edge of the water westward until she came to the cemetary.

She located her parents' grave and stood looking at the inscription on the headstone for several minutes. Her fingers twitched. She leaned down and pulled out a few weeds that had sprung up around the headstone. She stood unmoving for a few more minutes, then took out the candles. She lit one wick, then held the candle over the other until the other wick began burning also. She let a few drop of wax fall onto the smooth stone before setting the candles in the puddles. Once she was sure they were secure, she stood back and appraised the scene.

Anger welled up in her. No, not anger...something different. Unbidden, a clear image of her parents floated into her vision, and they smiled down at her. But she didn't deserve it. She felt the void...the loneliness she had hidden deep in her soul well up. Her heart ached and she wished she had never left them. She wished she could see them one more time and apologize...to explain. To feel their arms around her comforting her. The pain grew, until she whispered a small healing prayer.

She felt the light fill her, but instead of removing her pain, it lit it on fire. All of the guilt, shame, and loneliness that she had repressed for seven years burned. She crumpled to the ground and wept openly, not caring if anyone else saw her.

------------------

Dusk fell on the little cemetary by the lake. Celuna felt empty. But no longer lonely. She thought of Brother Sammuel's paladin heart and it's big, empty center. She thought, maybe, she finally understood. She brushed the dirt from her clothing, and wiped her face clean with a kerchief. She headed back into Lakeshire just long enough to throw a letter in the mail:



Dearest Lovely,

There is no easy way to say this, so I will just say it. I am back in Alliance territory. I understand that most believed I died after running away so long ago. But I still live. The tale of what happened to me is too long to pen. What is important, is that I am back. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my teenage trouble-making ways and any hurt I may have caused our parents. I am currently stationed in Goldshire, and can be found there.

Love,

Faith.

[Lovely]

Faith....Alive?

Lovely read the letter again....and a third time. The words were there, right in front of her....yet she didn't understand how this had happened. When she was younger, Faith had run away and was reported dead after an extensive search. Lovely had blamed herself, of course. The last thing she had said to Faith was cruel and hateful.

Sitting on the bed, Lovely read the letter a fourth time. Her thoughts raced back to times past....She saw the heartbreak her parents had felt. Faith's disappearance had nearly destroyed them. They had tried to take the guilt from Lovely on to themselves.

A fifth time, Lovely read the letter. Faith was back, and in Goldshire of all places. Lovely gathered her gear together and summoned her horse Splendor. She quickly mounted and began the ride to the little village. She had so much to say...So much had happened that she had to make Faith aware of. Faith...her little sister.

Lovely had been cruel to her. After her "death," Lovely had gone a bit crazy. Now, she was involved in many machinations around the world, and had done many questionable things. It was time to grow up. With her parents dead, it was time to take Faith in, and protect her, and love her with all her might.

Rain began to fall in Elwynn as Lovely rode south to Goldshire. No matter...When she met Faith, it would be as sunny as the charm on her bracelet....

[Celuna]

((sorry for the delay..been a bit busy IRL. Most of this happened a week or two ago ingame.))

Chapter 8: Found

"Kobolds."
"In a mine."
"Yes, Sir."

Celuna kept her face as straight and professional as possible when the Marshal gave her her first assignment in Goldshire. All the dreams of taking on evil Defias, or dragons, or something more exciting than kobolds shriveled up like week old dried prunes in her head. She saluted him and headed south for what she was sure was the first of many mine cleansings.

Goldshire was a much busier place than the Northshire Abbey. Night elves, dwarves, and the occaisional gnome passed through the little crossroads town at all hours of the day and night. Celuna did her best to not stare at some of the more exotic visitors. She may have travelled far in her time, but nearly all of her interactions with others had been with humans.

She delivered messages, patrolled the roads, killed off wolves, bears, murlocs, kobolds, and, yes, the occaisional Defias. When she wasn't on duty, she spent time with the local blacksmith or tried her hand at fishing from the numerous lakes and rivers in the area. At night she'd head to her room in the Inn and would pass out from exhaustion, often waking up with her boots still lashed to her calves. The last thing she wanted to do was think, and keeping busy kept her from thinking.

Because thinking led to worry. What if Lovely didn't receive the letter? Or worse, refused to renew their relationship? Celuna didn't want to be alone in the world anymore. She'd never be a big-city girl, but having someone she could talk to...to confide in...she longed for this.

Celuna placed a rough cut of wolf meat on the grill in the Goldshire Inn's kitchen. She sprinkled a few spices that Tomas had recommended to her, plus a bit more salt and pepper. The meat sizzled, dripping juice into the open flames. Celuna's stomach growled in anticipation.

"Faith?"

The soft questioning voice turned Celuna away from her steaks. She stared at the beautiful young woman in green and gold in disbelief.

"Lovely?" she asked, although she knew the answer before she said it. Tears welled up in her eyes and she reached out and hugged her tightly. Lovely gripped her even tighter.

The two sisters stood back and stared at each other.

"I thought you were dead" Lovely finally said.

Celuna smiled and wiped a tear from her eyes. She shook her head no. "Although it was close a few times," she confided.

The smell of charred meat drifted through the kitchen as the two woman grinned at each other.

"Oh!" Celuna turned back to the fire and flipped the steaks over with a large fork. "Are you hungry?"

Lovely paused. "Where have you been, Faith?"

Celuna frowned at the steaks and poked them with the large pronged fork she used to flip them. "It's a really long story. And you?" Celuna turned to peer at her sister. "I see you've become a powerful paladin."

Lovely hesitated again, her eyes flashed briefly with pain and..shame? She smiled at Celuna crookedly. "Another long story. We will have to have a long sit together some time."

Celuna nodded. She pulled the steaks off of the grill and handed Lovely a plate.

The two chatted over dinner about the weather, various cousins that were still around, and biscuits stolen when they were kids. It seemed neither woman wanted to dredge up anything too deep, and Celuna was thankful.

Celuna pushed a bit of gristle around her plate. The conversation had lulled and she couldn't think of anything else to say. "Well, I still have one more task I need to do today for the Militia, Lovely, so I must be off."

Lovely grinned. "Want some help, little Sis?" Celuna grinned back and nodded.

[Celuna]

Chapter 9: Skeletons

"Sentinel Hill?" Celuna asked again.

Marshal Dughan nodded. They are in dire need of reinforcements and I felt you'd be an excellent choice. Would you mind if we moved your Militia post there?

Celuna shook her head. "Wherever the Militia needs me, I will go."

Dughan smiled. "Very good then. Please contact Gryan Stoutmantle when you arrive to get your new duty list.

----

Celuna coughed as a slight gust of wind blew a fine haze of dirt into her face. Westfall baked under a harsh cloudless sky, the small farms dotting the countryside the only relief from fields of yellowed prairie grass. The smell of fresh cut oats, barley, and hops carried along with the small breeze. A colony of vultures flew lazy overhead, waiting patiently for Celuna to continue on her way.

She looked down at the pair of dead Defias at her feet. Even vultures deserved a good lunch every now and then she thought to herself. The presence of Defias was more overt here; this was the second pair she had run across on the road to Sentinel Hill. She smiled at the two corpses. Four Defias in as many hours. Maybe Westfall wouldn't be as bad as she had expected. She whistled a fragment of a tune, and continued onward to her new home.

"Ah yes, Celuna! We've been expecting you. Did you have any problems along the road from Goldshire?"

Celuna smiled. "Nothing whose bones aren't being picked clean by vultures right now."

Gryan frowned. "Did you run into trouble on the road?" His eyes narrowed when she nodded. "They get bolder day by day. Your presence here is most appreciated."

After Gryan gave her a long task list of places to patrol, she wandered down to the local Inn. "More like makeshift barn," she growled, before catching herself. There were no private rooms..merely space to throw down a blanket. She wondered that she had grown so particular in such a short time. She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer of thanks to the Light for shelter from the rain. Even if it appeared to have not rained in Westfall for months.

------

The lazy flapping of the gryphon's wings lulled Celuna, who fought the urge to drift off into sleep. She was heading into Stormwind to meet with Lovely, and Lovely had insisted that she put aside several hours to chat.

She wondered how Lovely would handle the information about her past. She also wondered what had caused Lovely to not want to talk about what she had been doing in the time they had been apart. It couldn't have been that bad could it? A few kobolds here, and few Defias there...what could Lovely have possibly done in Alliance territories that had darkened her smile so?

Celuna found Lovely's house near the Stormwind Bank. Lovely was waiting for her, and the two sisters hugged each other happily. Lovely showed her around the house, pointing out some of the furniture she had kept from their home in Lakeshire. Her bedroom had a huge king-size bed with a beautiful blue blanket ontop. Celuna jumped up on the bed and bounced a couple of times, giggling at Lovely.

Lovely didn't seem too amused, so Celuna instead sat in a nearby chair. "You should come live with me, Faith," Lovely said.

Celuna shifted her shoulders, stretching out her aching back. "You think so? The Inn in Sentinel Hill does leave much to be desired." Celuna paused. "Although the commute back and forth would ruin my chances of saving any money."

Lovely smiled. "Well, you think about it. I'd like having you around more often."

"You just want someone to clean the kitchen for you!" Celuna giggled.

Lovely laughed. The two continued to stare at each other, and both of their smiles faded away. Lovely looked away first.

"So where have you been the last seven years, Faith?"

Celuna closed her eyes and sighed. She started slow, but as she talked the words came faster. She told of running away, of meeting Brother Orthda, her time in Tyr's Hand, her expulsion, her frantic escape into Arathi Basin, her travels to Northshire, and her decision to become a paladin. Lovely nodded, and gasped, and growled, but mostly let Celuna tell her tale from start to finish without interruption.

"And you? I honestly thought you'd be married to the handsomest man in Lakeshire with a bunch of rugrats keeping ya on your toes. But instead you've become a paladin...a rather strong one from what I can tell."

Lovely closed her eyes and blinked back a few tears. "I'm not the innocent you think I am, Faith. I've..done things..questionable things.."

Lovely told her stories that made Celuna's blood go cold, and made her feel like her tales were mere childhood fantasy play. Celuna felt naive, and outraged, and...guilty. If she had still been around...she knew Lovely's sad tale would have come out differently.

Lovely talked of many things. She showed Celuna the mark of the Immortalis on her neck. The story that went with the mark was filled with torture, manipulation, and warlock curses.

And two murdered infants.

Celuna's blood went from icy to boiling. She grabbed Lovely by the shoulder and shook her. She put her face next to Lovely's and stared into her eyes.

"You must promise me you will never, of your own choice, aid in this evil ever again. We will find a way to break this curse. You are not a puppet. You are a paladin. You hear me?"

Lovely cried, and buried her head into Celuna's shoulder. Celuna bit her lip, but the tears came anyway. She hugged her sister. "I love you, Sis. I missed you so much. We will get through this together, I promise."

Lovely hugged her tightly. "I promise. I live only for you now, Faith. But...there is more."

The two sisters pulled apart, and Lovely told her the last sad tale. Celuna just looked at her with shock.

Celuna's mind tried to form the words, and finally she asked. "And these people...they are...Alliance?"

Lovely nodded, and wiped a tear from her face.

"We will get through this together, Lovely. I promise." Celuna paused, and formed her words slowly. "When I didn't die in the Plaguelands, I thought it was a miracle. I wondered why the Light would choose to save someone who had done so many wrong things in her life. Now I think the Light gave me this second chance to help mend the wrong I did to you by running away. I swear to do everything in my power to bring you back into the Light."

It was dark before Celuna slipped out of Stormwind. She walked the long road back to Westfall rather than taking a gryphon. She had too many images floating around in her mind. Things from her past, things from Lovely's past. She had to make things right. "They will all pay. Horde, Alliance, I don't care. They will all pay." She growled at the darkness.

When she finally arrived in Sentinel Hill, she quietly sat down on her blanket and pulled out her little journal, a candle, a pen, and some ink from her bags. She lit the candle, and dipped the pen in the ink.

"Met with Lovely today. I understand now why she doesn't smile as brightly as I remembered. Every single person who has wronged her will pay. If it is within my powers, they will all pay. Starting with an undead by the name of Clys, and a human by the name of Conidivh."

[Lovely]

((Ooooh, the plot thickens. Awesome writing, sis!!!))

[Celuna]

Chapter 10: Innocence Lost

WARNING...This chapter contains MATURE CONTENT!!!!


Suppressing a laugh, she took Simon's hand and let him lead her through the kitchen and into the cellar below. He pulled her into a corner and clumsily tried to kiss her. Their noses bumped together, and she pulled back and giggled at their awkwardness.

"Shhh!" He held a finger against his lips and frowned. Floorboards overhead creaked as someone walked around the kitchen.

They stood together quietly until the noise upstairs stopped. His hands roamed roughly across her body, and they kissed again, tongues exploring tentatively.

Light flooded the cellar, and Brother Parkins came down the stairs. He immediately found them and grabbed each by their elbows. "What is the meaning of this, you lustful miscreants!" he bellowed, before leading them up the stairs.

He led them first to the guard barracks. Simon's commanding officer's face turned purple when he found out that Simon had abandoned his post.

Celuna winced as they walked away. She could still hear the Sergeant yelling after the heavy door had been closed.

Brother Parkins stopped her before they reached Brother Viscar's house. "Celuna," he sighed. "What would Brother Orthda have thought if he were still with us? You are a beautiful young lady, and you have to be careful with these men around here."

Celuna stared at her toes. "I'm sorry Brother Parkins. We were just having a little fun. I don't really see the harm.."

"You don't see the harm?! And what if that boy had gotten you pregnant? Think Celuna!"

Celuna nodded and apologised. He sighed and led her the rest of the way to Brother Viscar's house.

Viscar opened the door. "Brother Parkins, and...Celuna?! How did you leave the house?"

Celuna glared at her guardian.

Parkins explained how he had found the two teenagers in the cellar. He also expressed his opinion that Simon was primarily to blame.

Brother Viscar nodded solemnly and agreed with him. "I will be more careful to insure she does not escape the house like that again."

The two clergy said farewell, and then she was left alone with him.

Celuna stared at him warily. He watched out the window until Parkins' figure disappeared down the pathway. And the he turned, and he laughed. And he smiled at her, his eyes danced with an evil glow. Celuna had fancied the man possesed by an evil demon before tonight, but the look on his face turned her blood cold.

"I knew from the moment you stepped in Tyr's Hand that you were a harlot. Are you happy for the trouble you've caused Simon? Well, I'm not gonna have you flaunting your feminine wiles at the boys. No." He grinned wickedly at her. "No, your feminine wiles will be all mine."

Celuna tried to bolt for the door, but he quickly intercepted her. He grabbed her roughly, and she screamed, kicking at him, trying to pull away from him. He grabbed the base of her hair in one hand and pushed her into his study with the other.

He pulled her over to the bookcase, where he triggered a hidden lever that caused the bookcase to slide to one side, revealing a staircase leading down into darkness. Celuna's eyes widened, and she screamed again and desperately tried to escape his hold on her. He pushed her down the steep staircase, the grip on her hair the only thing keeping her from falling into the darkness when she stumbled.

The stairs continued downward. Celuna guessed two, maybe three floors worth. It smelled of earth, and she shivered from the cold, and from fear.

Viscar lit a lamp, revealing a small room with wooden planks for walls. And one door. Behind the door Celuna's eyes were drawn first to the manacles hanging loosely against the wall, and then to a leather whip hanging next to the manacles. In a corner a dirty blanket was thrown over old hay in a rough semblance of a bed.

"Undress, whore," Viscar growled as he pushed her into the room.

Celuna lunged for the whip, but Viscar tripped her, and kicked her when she tried to stand up. "Take them off now, or I will cut them off of you. And then what will you wear?" Celuna scrambled on her hands and knees and tried to stand up. He kicked her again. She rolled onto her back and let the tears she had been holding back free.

"Please don't do this!" She begged him.

He grabbed a wrist and yanked her upright. He dragged her over to the wall and fit first one, then the other manacle around her wrists. She struggled against him, kicking and throwing all of her weight towards the door in a desperate attempt to escape. But the chains held her tightly.

Viscar pulled a knife from beneath his robes after he finished restraining her. It glittered duly in the dim light.

Celuna struggled against the chains and screamed, knowing even as she did it that both actions were futile. She spit at Viscar, who merely wiped away the spittle.

"I'd stand still, if I were you," he warned before placing the blade between her collarbone and the top of her shirt. He yanked the knife down, ripping the shirt in half down the center. he then cut her sleeves, and pulled the useless shirt off of her.

"Please, don't," she whispered. "I'll do anything."

Viscar didn't pause. He cut off her pants, and then her undergarments, until she stood shivering and naked before him. He stood back, and looked at her.

"There, much more befitting of your station in life."

Celuna glared back at him, unwilling to cower despite the urge to curl into a ball and hide away from his roaming eyes. Slowly, and deliberately, he disrobed. Her eyes went wide, and a new terror enveloped her. "You wouldn't dare..." she hissed at him. Viscar chuckled.

She braced herself mentally. She had heard what happens between men and women, and had even watched a couple who had chosen a location not quite as secluded as they had perhaps thought. She also knew the word for being forced against your will.

"You...you plan to rape me?"

He chuckled again. "No. I will not take you, until you ask me." And then he kissed her gently on the cheek. "But you will ask me. Because you are a whore, woman." His lips trailed down her cheek, behind her jaw, pausing to tongue the quickly beating pulse of her soft neck.

Celuna tried to avoid him, but her bindings kept her struggles useless against his attack on her flesh. He placed one hand behind her back, his palm splayed just below her shoulder blades. The other held her hip still as she continued to twist away from him.

To her horror, Celuna felt her body respond to his advances. He continued to kiss and lick her teenage skin, working his way down to her exposed breasts. Celuna whimpered as his tongue slid across the hardened nubb. "Can you feel the evil inside you, harlot?" He growled, and bit at it, teasing her until it stiffened even harder.

"Please..don't"

He chuckled again, and his mouth roamed yet lower. Celuna felt the muscles of her stomach spasm, and react erratically to his kisses. Her knees weakened, and she let the manacles carry her weight.

His hands slid to her hips, and he lifted her body, bending over her, continuing his exploration, nibbling at the upper curve of her pelvis.

"Tell me you want me, Celuna."

"Never."

One of his hands slid between her legs and explored, pressing into her.

Celuna groaned and felt her hips twist into his fingers.

"Tell me you want me, Celuna," he repeated, his voice husky against her lower stomach. He removed his hand and rubbed the stickyness against her lips. "Your body is telling me it wants me. Now I want to hear you say it."

"No."

He growled and stepped away from her. He pulled the whip from the wall and paced back away from her. He drew back the whip, and the air crackled as the hit left a welt across her stomach. He continued punishing her, leaving marks on her thighs, arms, and her ribs. When he was done, he blew out the lamp and left her chained to the wall, crying.

Celuna lost track of time.

Viscar came back many hours later. He released her from the wall and left a small bowl of water and a few scraps of bread. He then left her in the dark, again. She crawled onto the blanket and slept fitfully.

He returned again...she wasn't sure if it was hours or days. He chained her to the wall and repeated his attentions. She refused his demands.

Her life oscillated between mind numbing black boredom and fighting against the growing anticipation of the pleasures she would experience when he arrived. She didn't know how long she was kept in that prison. She only knew that he became more practiced with each visit, knowing what would bring her near to peak without going over.

"Tell me you want me."

"I want you."

They both stopped their movements, for the briefest of seconds, equally surprised by the admission. Celuna groaned at the betrayal. She had forgotten her resolve, she didn't realize she had said it outloud until she heard it, the voice of her betrayer.

He doubled his efforts, quickly bringing her over the edge as wave upon wave of pleasure coursed through her body. And when her trembling stopped, he gently unchained her, and led her to the makeshift bed.

He kissed her on the lips for the first time, and then softly touched her and played her until she was moaning with new desire. And then he entered her, the unexplored area giving her a sharp prickle of pain as he breached her maiden flesh.

He moved against her slowly at first, and then faster. Celuna felt her body react to him, animalistically meeting his thrusts with her own. She cried out as her body exploded again and again until finally, with a grunt, and a sigh, he released inside of her, and lay still.

He didn't say a word when he left. Celuna curled into a fetal position, and cried.

--

Celuna woke with a start. Her head pounded dully from all of the alcohol she had imbibed the night before. Guilt filled her, as she remembered what had happened between Lovely, Barke, and herself. His eyes haunted her, accusingly. She rolled over and pulled the pillow over her head, willing him to stop looking at her that way.

She had been attracted to him, instantly, the way he moved, his soft smile. The way he laughed. Even knowing that Lovely loved him, and that he loved some troll in a distant land, she had wanted him. She found herself flirting. Innocent flirting, she had thought.

They had gotten drunk in Goldshire, and then they stumbled out to the lake.

She wanted him. The dress Lovely had given to her rustled softly on her flesh, bringing long dormant desires out that she had so carefully locked up and hidden away.

The two sisters kissed him, teased him. He had sighed. "I shouldn't.." His heart and mind unwilling companions to what was about to transpire.

But Celuna wanted him. The soft dress became like burlap, and in her drunken state she tossed it off and slid into the cool water.

Lovely and Barke had followed. And that which the three unlikely lovers had known would happen...happened. After Lovely left, Celuna had continued her manipulations, until, groaning, he had turned and entered her. They pleasured each other until they both climaxed again.

Those eyes. Celuna curled up on the bed and wished she could make them stop looking at her. She tossed back and forth, until finally she got out of bed and threw some clothes on. She found a courier downstairs and dispatched a message to her commanding officer that she was feeling ill and wouldn't be able to perform any duties today.

And then she went back upstairs and spent the day wrestling the demons in her mind. She hated Viscar. From the moment he had first sneered at her in Orthda's presence, until she had finally escaped the dark little prison. She hated him for doing what he did, but mostly she hated him for making her body betray her mind.

Much like Barke probably hated her now.

She had seen it in his eyes. The inability to control your own actions. She had known what he must have felt, had identified with it instantly. But she hadn't stopped her actions. She had taken pleasure in the power over his body she held.

She had become everything she hated in Viscar.

"Can you feel the evil inside you, harlot?" His voice, and his laugh, echoed in her mind.

[Lovely]

((Awesome writing little sis!!))

[Celuna]

Chapter 11: Frustrations

Focus. Strike the stone just so.

A bit of copper gleamed as a large slab of stone crumbled under Celuna's mining pick. She hefted the pick again, and then, bringing her weight into it, struck the stone. And again. The exposed copper nugget fell to the side, no longer the object of her thoughts. She continued to destroy the rocky area well after her mining knowledge told her that the vein was dry.

She stared at the copper nugget laying uselessly to the side. She bit her lip, but she felt the tears welling up in her eyes anyway.

She growled at herself before scooping up the nugget and placing it in her backpack. She sat down, and pulled out a skin of water and bit of dried wolf steak. She stared out at the sea gently rolling along the western shore of Westfall.

She didn't know why Lovely's news about Barke had upset her so badly. Perhaps when Celuna had thought him in love with the troll, he had been unattainable...something pretty in a shop window she had no money for. Something she and Lovely had stolen, played with, and then successfully returned to the shop without the owner knowing. Except, the owner had found out.

In one breath the owner had graciously given the object to Lovely, and in the next vowed to have Celuna locked up for eternity for the theft. It wasn't fair.

Celuna remembered how much she had hated Lovely when she was growing up. In the time since they had met and become re-acquainted with each other, she had held nothing but love and admiration for her sister. Even when Lovely had told her about all the bad things she had done, Celuna had loved her.

But now...

Celuna watched a pack of murlocs scurrying around on the sands below. Celuna felt the frustration welling up inside her again.

She had been kicking herself all week, feeling guilty about forcing Barke against his will. And now, it turns out, maybe he hadn't really been forced. If she hadn't have been there, they still would have ended up in each other's embrace. Celuna felt betrayed. Played for a fool.

Yes. Celuna latched onto the thought. Yes, it was her pride that was bruised. Irrational, but there it was. She knew Lovely had been in love with Barke for quite some time. Obviously Barke returned the affection. She should be happy that her sister had found someone, especially someone as wonderful as Barke.

But she wasn't.

"You love him too?" Lovely had asked her, seeing her distress.

"No. You cannot fall in love with someone after one night...I don't care what fairy tales tell you," she had responded.

Celuna thought back on that night, how they had kissed after Lovely left. How his skin had felt against hers. How they had fit together oh so perfectly. She felt her body respond to the memory, her blood pumping excitely, her skin becoming overly sensitive.

No! Enough!

Celuna grabbed her axe and bounded down the steep bank of the cliff, each impact of her boots causing a small avalanche of sand before she leaped downward with the other foot. She caught the first murloc off guard, slicing him in two before he could escape. His companion saw her and ran frightened towards the other members of the pack. Celuna sprinted, catching him just as the others saw him approaching. The remaining three murlocs surrounded her, intent on revenge for their mates.

Her axe swept in fluid arcs, driving them back. They circled her, and while one kept her attention the other two would fall behind her, leaving long rips in her poorly armored back as they clawed her viciously. She finally got a lucky strike in, bringing the odds against her down. She felt her strength and blood faltering, and called on the Light to protect her. She healed herself during the moment of grace, and then turned to her attackers.

When it was done, she dropped the axe in the sand, and dropped to her knees, panting for air. Her hands and armor were covered in murloc blood, and she could feel her own blood oozing from the wounds on her back.

She howled at the uncaring sea, the battle unable to quell the restlessness and frustrations that still gripped her.

No. She didn't love him. But it didn't change the fact that her blood burned at the thought of him. It didn't change the fact that she was going to have to be the good sister and wish Lovely and Barke happiness together. It didn't change the fact that ever since they were children, Lovely always won any competition they ever had.

Celuna would always, and forever, be the little sister.

[Lovely]

((Wow....Excellent writing....I really almost felt like crying....Poor Celuna. Now I feel guilty. hehe))

[Celuna]

((pfft. no you don't, admit it :P ))

((edit: almost forgot...I screenshotted our conversation, so I went ahead and posted it up, since it was pretty cool and we didn't really get interrupted any: Celuna and Lovely chatting (http://tn.yzeens.com/images/frustration.jpg)

[Lovely]

((Well, I don't, but Lovely might...hehe. I love this server...You guys are great!))

[Celuna]

Chapter 12: Meetings with Strangers

Celuna waited patiently for the boat to Auberdine. She watched the other commuters standing around and tried to keep her thoughts off of Lovely.

They had met in Westfall, and Lovely had told her how she had left her residence in Stormwind and now shared a room with the troll Lupa in Booty Bay.

Celuna shook her head. Her sister's ability to fall as easily for women as men puzzled her. But she wished only happiness for her sister, and if it was in the arms of a troll, then so be it. She would support whatever her sister desired.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the stirring of the dock hands. She watched as the passenger ship slowly floated up to the pier. Men on the ship tossed out ropes for the dock hands, who expertly tied the ship into place. The ship settled quickly, rocking gently up against the pier's padding with the swell of each ocean roll.

Celuna boarded the passenger ship, and leaned out over the railing. A few of the other passengers pulled out fishing poles to pass the time, but Celuna had left hers in her bank vault.

Her thoughts turned back to Barke. She hadn't seen the handsome rogue since the day he had tailed her in Redridge. Lovely said he didn't love her. Celuna admitted to herself she hadn't found the news unexpected.

Celuna frowned, and gripped the railing as the ship beneath her lurched away from the pier. A few minutes passed and the ship steadily gained momentum, until it flew through the water, each bounce upon the waves sending up a fine spray of mist into Celuna's face. The breeze instantly dried the moisture, cooling her skin despite the warm midday sun's rays. It was a simple pleasure, but Celuna stood there and revelled in the sensation. It seemed like only moments passed before the ship began to slow, and they arrived at the elven town.

She disembarked and tried not to gape at the elegance of the elvish architecture. The buildings melded into their environment as if they had grown there organically without the aid of man.

She found the person she had been asked to contact, and after some discussion agreed to lend her aid to their cause. She went back out to the pier, and waited for the next ship. There were several more meetings to be had with people she had never met before. It seemed the Alliance lands were filled with people in need of assistance. It had been so much simpler to plan out her days when all of her tasks were in the same region.

The day passed quickly, and it was with some relief she smiled when the tram from Ironforge stopped at the Stormwind station. She left the tram, still lost in thought when she heard her name called out.

"Celuna?"

Celuna blinked, and turned around. A young woman in a pretty white and blue dress walked up to her.

"Yes," she answered, and curtseyed to the woman.

They exchanged pleasantries, and then the woman asked if it would acceptable if Celuna followed her to speak to her employer, who apparently was very interested in meeting Celuna.

Celuna assumed it was another person with a mission, so she nodded and followed the woman outside.

The woman led Celuna to an man with grayish hair in immaculate black leather. Celuna felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle in warning when she saw him. Based on Lovely's description of him, the man had to be the SI:7 operative Conidivh.

He bowed graciously when he saw her. She returned a stiff curtsey. He spoke with an air of authority and arrogance that grated on her nerves, but his words were so disarmingly polite and gentlemanly she continued to listen to him.

Celuna followed them through the dwarven district, Conidivh and his assistant. The assistant has returned wearing a revealing leather suit that was completely at odds with the innocent looking dress she had worn earlier. As they walked through the streets, Celuna noted the placement of city guards. If the two rogues decided to cause trouble, she wasn't about to let them corner her alone.

They entered a large empty hall where Conidivh informed her of the reason for the meeting.

"Two things. First, in the interest of opening up communication between the two of us, I will give you the names of the people who hired me to interrogate your sister. Second, I present you this.."

Conidivh held out a small vial with a clear bluish liquid inside. "It is an antidote to the poison I gave your sister."

Celuna took the outstretched vial and held it up to the light, swirling the liquid as if her untrained eye could discern its contents. "And what do you ask in return, for such...gifts?"

"As I said, I hold no ill will towards Lovely. That business has long since been completed, and in the interests of the Alliance, I feel compelled to end her suffering. I ask only that the lines of communication remain open betwen us."

Celuna frowned. If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

It had to be a trap.

Conidivh smiled slightly, obviously amused at her confusion. Celuna peered around, waiting for a small army to appear to drag her off to some dungeon hovel where they would tie her up and ...

Conidivh bowed to her, and said his goodbyes. His assistant followed him out of the building, Celuna following slowly behind them. She paused at the steps leading down to the street, and watch the two rogues disappear into the crowd.

She pulled out the vial and looked into it again. The marrow of her bones quivered, screaming at her to toss the vial in the nearest trash heap. Gently she set the vial on the steps and lifted her armored boot above it. She wavered, torn between instinct and hope.

Lovely had her problems. No one that knew her could deny this. But her heart was so full of love, it was inconceivable to Celuna that she wouldn't one day find her true love, that they would get married and have children. Celuna imagined a pretty young girl with sunlight blonde hair. Celuna's niece.

A niece that could never exist if the poison Conidivh had given Lovely wasn't cured.

Celuna blinked back a tear, and set her foot back on the ground. She picked up the vial and quickly ran off into the center of Stormwind. She found a messenger service and payed them to have someone contact Lovely the second she stepped into any town, and give her the message:

"Lovely, We must meet as soon as is humanly possible. Celuna."

------

They met in Theramore. Celuna gave Lovely the antidote, and the information about Conidivh's supposed employers. She begged Lovely to have the antidote fully tested before drinking it.

"I don't trust him, Lovely. Two gifts for nothing in return? It has to be a trap."

Lovely nodded, staring at the swirling blue liquid.

"I will have Imogenn test it thoroughly, I assure you."

Celuna hugged her sister tightly, and told her that she loved her. After Lovely left, Celuna said a small prayer in hopes that she had done the right thing in not smashing the vial when she had the chance.