A Rogues Love.

[Barke]

Light's Hope Chapel was quiet. The fact that it was late in the night probably had something to do with this but this time of night is when Barke works. He handed over the holy water he had collected out of Stratholm. No words were exchanged. He turned around after recieving his payment and to his suprise the young priest was standing behind him.

"What are you doin' way out here?" He asked with a hearty chuckle but it did not last when he looked at her face. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. Barke's eyes went wide and he bolted for the flight master. Within moments he was in flight heading south.

He arrived in Booty Bay getting down he took a more direct route than the ramps and bridges through the inn. He slowly made his way towards the boat landing seeing he had time before the next one arrived. He only had to wait a moment before the boat arrived and he got on. There was only one other passenger, an undead rogue, who waved at him and Barke waved back. Other than that they did not pay any more attention to on another. Barke actually forgot he was there. The boat started its sail towards Ratchet where Barke would enter into the Horde territory. His goal lie in Durotar.

He road until he reached the river seperating the Barrens and Durotar. He tied his mount up at an abandoned farm and made his way across. He did not want anyone to know he was here until he was well into the city. His skills helped him to evade sight as he made his way through the front gate. Orcs, tauren, undead, and trolls were all constantly entering and exiting the large city. This seemed like the best place for him to try and find her.

He moved around the city with ease. It was not so hard. Everyone was so busy running around that they did not take the time to actually look. Spending most his time in the city on top of the different buildings. He could not understand a word of what anyone was saying below him but he was really listening for shouts of alarm. He found a good spot and this is where he would play the game. Hey yelled her name. Moved to a new place the horde all looking at where he was. It was working prefectly. He continued to play the game until he thought finally he had heard her voice. His heart jumped into his throat and he stammered and almost lost his footing on the building. He shouted again and again. He heard it again but where was it coming from. Frustration hit him. This had to be the worst idea he had come up with in his life. What as he doing here. His eyes went wide again as he heard the creek of armor behind him. He turned just in time to see the axe coming at his head. He jumped back and off the building the axe swinging harmlessly by. Landing lightly the the ground below he went full sprint around the building which resembled a bank to him. Everyone around him took up chase as he passed. He just wanted one glimps. A small one but there was none. He could not find her. Adrenaline pumped through him as he came to realize his situation. He was surrounded and it looked as if there was no way out. He let the darkness of the hunt take over him. He had come without his armor and without weapons but they could not understand him. To them he was prey.

The ran through diving, ducking, spinning, and at one moment actually walking from Tauren to Tauren out his way out. Old wounds not yet fully healed came back to haunt him. His leg gave out and he started to fall. Before he actually hit the ground the a mace came at him and launched him back intot he air. His whole body errupted in pain and as he landing everything went black.

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There was an heated conversation happening on the bridge between the Old Town and the Trade District. Looking between the people he stopped. He was covered in blood, most of it his own, with his left arm hanging limp at his side and most his weight shifted onto the right leg. The silver haired paladin looked at him, "Barke!" The two humans she was speaking with turned there attention to him and were speaking but he didn't hear them. He did not care what they had to say. He turned to th e paladin as she spoke again, "What ha---" Barke cut her short.

"Where is Rhowen?" His voice was low and cold. The response came from one of the other humans. "She was here for a moment but she left." Lovely looked as if to say something but Barke turned and headed back towards the Trade District. He would hopefully find her where he always found her.

He came up to the steps and let out a sigh as he saw Rhowen sitting on the steps. He leaned heavily in doorway as she spoke "What misfortune did you walk yourself into?" He stared at her a moment before giving a small grin. "I paid a visit to the orc city....seems I was not welcome there."

She motions towards the inn, "Well lets see about getting you cleaned up." He just nodded and made his way inside. She took him up to a room and sat him down. "Now what were you doin' there?" She went through her bag pulling out a roll of runecloth as he responded. "I was hoping to find her there. It was not one of my best idea's though." She gave him a knowing smirk and started unrolling the cloth when they heard it. The cry from the lady paladin. Yelling his name. He let out a sigh and stared absently at the floor. His hand slowly rubbing the scar on his shoulder when she burst into the room. He did not hear most of what was said between Rhowen and Lovely. He was slipping in and out. His head throbbing in pain. Finally he snapped.

"Enough!" He got up form the bed. He stood tall and his eyes narrowed dangerously at the paladin. She looked taken back by his sudden outburst. She started to say something again but again Barke cut her short. He slammed his fist into the wall of the building cracking the woodwork and puttinga hole in the wall. "May I ask why?" She responded in turn. He glared at her again and spewed out a series of excuses trying to prove his point. Staring at his hand in the wall Lovely put in one last word, "They are holding my sister hostage so I will do their bidding." He closed his eyes, "I will deal with that problem another time....right now I can't even thnk straight."

He did not remember watching her leave or collapsing to the floor but that is where he next found himself. On the floor with Rhowen again tending to his wonds. He looked to the doorway when he noticed a gnome peeking around the corner. "What do you want?!" He had lost his patience and thought to just kill the gnome and be at peace. The gnome seemed nervous and stuttered a bit as he spoke, "I...I'm with the inn." Barke stared at the gnome a moment before looking up at the ceiling, "I will pay for the damages to the room." The gnome looks a bit shocked, "N..no no that. I wanted to see if there is anyway I can help. Maybe get you something." Barke rolled his head to the side and waved the gnome off.

He again slipped out of his mind. He did not remember the paladin Brardith coming into the room but there he was tending to his wounds. He had thought the paladin hated him but that did not seem the case. Brardith tended to the wounds with care. Barke thought the feeling of the light odd. He never could get used to it. Brardith finished and Barke pulled himself back up to the bed where he slipped back out. He came back to his senses near the end of Brardith and Rhowen's conversation. They were talking about taking it outside. He looked between the two for a moment as they made sure he was ok to walk and convinced him that the fresh air would do him good. He followed the two of them down the stairs and through the inn slowly making his way back to that doorway. He sat himself on the steps and let his mind drift off.

What the hell was he thinking.....

[Barke]

Morning came around and Barke was still sitting on the steps. His body still hurt from last nights adventure intot he orc city where he was promptly kicked out after being discovered. He knew he had heard her bu twas unable to find her. He screwed up. Should have never gone drinking that night. Letting out a sigh he thought back tot he beach. The one moment in his life he was truly happy. The excitement he found in battle could not hold a candle to the how he felt in her arms. His attempt to find her last night nearly got him killed. He had no idea what he had been thinking.

"....Lupa." He said her name once. He was almost certain that his activities had been widely known by now. Shaking his head his glared at a human passing by asking for coin. He was worried. Seems all he could think about these days was that troll and how he might see her. Beating himself up over everything that has been happening. Last night his mind was gone. He had shut out everyone around him and locked his heart away. All he wanted was her. Seemed to him the one thing he wanted he could not get to.

He stared hard at a talisman on a chain he had taken off his brothers no his last trip to Felwood. That is where all this started for him. Everything seemed to be well until that moment when nostalgia had won him over. Thoughts drifted again. Maybe he should kide himself away. Like had planned to that night before the party. No, running away would solve nothing at this point. He was a mess. Holding the talisman tightly in his hand he lowered his head and drifted off.

He has been a fool.

[Barke]

Light was slowly fading from Stormwind. The cool air flowed throught he streets making it more comfotable out on the steps the rogue sat on. He had not moved much through the day having a few encounters with his few friend and one encounter with Lovely. Honestly he blamed himself more than her but that did not change the fact he wanted to be left alone. Especially to be no where near the silver haired paladin.

He drifted off again. He knew she would not be bothering him again. The one-eyed paladin was out in Stormwind today as well. Barke took little note of the man going about his business. Most occasions he did not even realize that the man had come back to the steps at all even though he stood out like a sore thumb sitting next tot he rogue. For him his chances were gone. His time in the horde city had him thinking he had failed. Clutching tightly the two family pendants he had left, up until a few days ago he had three but he given one to the lady warrior to prove a point, his thoughts drifted back to Felwood again. A shapeshifter nudged him out of his thoughts. He stared blankly at the cat for a moment before realizing who it was. She wanted him to go to Scholomance with herself and that warlock. Barke agreed. He needed to get out of the city.

The attack on Scholomance went well. Barke as detached from himself as he was had found a lot of enjoyment in ripping the place apart. It was the first time he had smiled in days. The shapeshifter between fights wanted attention. They moved quietly through the dark hallways killing anything that stood in their path. It had dawned on Barke that if either of them found out what he had been up to the past few weeks they would likely kill him then and there and leave him to rot in the dark school. The thought did not settle well with him at all.

Upon his return to Stormwind his was in much higher spirits then before. Still detached from his senses but it had felt good to fight again. Battle was the one thing the rogue was sure of. It is what he lived his life for. On a battlefield he knew his enemies and allies. It was simple. You kill or you will be killed. The thoughts did not last long though. He thought back to the small island and jumped forward to the horde city. He was certain he had heard her but he could not find her. It was weighing him down. All his attempts to get in touch with the troll had failed. He had been seduced by the two sisters. He had messed up everything and to top it all off nearly getting himself killed without at least finding Lupa. He was halfway to the doorway when he noticed rogue had been following him. He snorted and made his way past the doorway towards the canals. He recognized a agent when he saw them and decided to put an end to this game now.

The rogue came into the canal district but had lost his target. Taking a few more glances around he scoffed and turned bumping into the Night Elf rogue he had been searching for. Barke grabbed him by the front of his tunic. His stare at the human was hard and cold and he looked as if he might just kill the human for the fun of it. His forhead smashed into the humans face. Blood flowed freely from the broken nose. As Barke spoke to the human he easily lifted the unfortunate rogue off his feet and held him out over the water. "I will say this once and only once. I will have nothing to do with the wench and her problems. If yo---." The human cut him short. There was another elf in the city looking for him. Barke's eyes went wide. "Why? Why is anyone looking for me?" Barke growled and tossed the human into the water. "I hope you catch some disease...." and with that turned to go back to the doorway. This news did not settle well with Barke. Family is not a good thing.....

Barke sat down on the steps. It was late and the hustle and bustle had come to an end. He stared for a moment at the family pendants he carried tied to his gauntlets. Decided until he figured out the why the elf was here he tucked the pendants up under his bracers where they would be out of sight. The glow was back in his eyes. He had a wicked grin on his face.

He may not be able to see her but he knew what he wanted. Nothing was going to stop him....

((This post is mixed with another thread. Check "In search of a brother..."))

[Barke]

He let out a sigh as he seemed to so often these days. The lady warrior wanted him to attack Scholomance withe her. It seems that place fills up fast with more people and undead to fight. He agreed and it did not take long to find a few more people to go. Right before they left for the plaguelands though she had to leave. She wouldn't say anything more than she was taking off so he let out another sigh and took a quick look around the city. There was the shapeshifter. He smiled and asked her to join him again and she agreed. Guess she wanted to put and end to the place once and for all.

The attack on the evil place went better than he had hoped. The small group consisted of friends and people he trusted. They all worked great together and generally had fun during the fights. It was refreshing for him. He was smiling more. He put more emotion into his battles. It was not just a mindless routine anymore. Barke was actually enjoying himself. By the time they finished with the evil place everyones bags were full of new items and magical goodies. Barke himself had got a pair of swords out of the attack. Mirah's Song was sheathed at his side and Silent Fang was in his hand. He was watching the blade intently. Something was off with this sword. He was not sure what but there was something about it. It was only then he realized there was no noise coming from him at all. His friends all laughed and chatted but Barke could not hear himself as he spoke. Neither could they. He let out a silent sigh and sheathed the sword trying to speak again. They heard him this time and asked him why he had been so quiet. He shrugged and let them continue on with their conversation.

Again he found himself sitting on the steps. Everyone in Stormwind again running around. They all seemed to be in such a hurry all the time. None of them really sitting down to enjoy themselves at all. One thing he had noticed over the week was the silver haired paladin was always in the area. He had honestly been suprised she had kept her promise so well. He smiled a bit as he watched her work on her tailoring. Eventually he let out a sigh and called her over. He did not hate her. He blamed himself for everything that has happened in the recent events and he let her know she should not worry about it. She offered her help in contacting Lupa but he waved off the thought. He had things to take care of here. He was done dragging other people into the mess that was his life. Instead he asked her just to keep an eye out and to listen around the city. There was someone looking for him and he did not like it. While he had a small idea after seeing the mysterious elf at the inn he still could not be sure. Hopefully he was not placing anyone in danger by being in the city.

Later on in the evening he found himself hunting in Andorhal. It seemed to be the one place where he could work out his aggression and enjoy battle at the same time. He had invited Lovely to join him while he throught things through and she agreed. They fought through the undead making jokes occasionally. He was enjoying himself again. He watched Lovely fight a ghoul and was pleased to see how strong she has become. He smiled her way as she killed the ghoul and she gave a innocent smile back. After a while she told him she had to go. They parted and he smiled more. His thoughts drifted for a moment but he pulled them back in and turned towards his next victim.

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Before he went back to Stormwind he decided to pay a visit to the goblins of Booty Bay. He remembered someone mentioning goblins might know how to write in the troll language so he decided to take a stab in the dark and find one. He asked around a bit and finally was pointed towards someone who could do the job for him. He found the troll down on the dock sorting out fish. He coughed once to get the goblins attention. The goblin quickly looked up and was about to say something but Barke cut him off.

"I need you to write something for me. Its very important and I will pay you three times your normal price to make sure it gets to where it needs to go in due time." He smiled at the goblin who quickly agreed. He untied the pendant from his right wrist. He looked at it a moment studying it. It was his own pendant. One side and Barke carved into it and the other his family name.

He smiled. Things were going to get back to normal again.

[Barke]

Twilight grove was slightly depressing to him. Barke did not really like elven lands too much and this looked far to much like the other continent. He sucked in his breath and moved up near the portal placing himself behind one of the nearby pillars. He came in ahead of everyone else so they would not know he was there. Waiting on them seemed to take forever. Time was moving slowly towards the meeting but finally he saw them start to show up. He let out a sigh of relief which did not actually make any noise since he was holding tightly to silent Fang. Which is a good thing because he would have just given himself away right there. Clys, Kittsu and Lovely all greeted eachother but Barke at that point was not paying attention. He saw her walking up the ramp towards the small group. Lupa was here.

His heart jumped into his throat and again if it was not for that marvelous sword he would have given himself away to the small group. He watched the meeting go by as they talked. His heart went out to the troll. It took everything for him not to go out towards the troll the entire time. The events that passed in the meeting brought a heaviness to his heart even though he agreed with it all. He watched her through the meeting and eventually they started to disperse. Kittsu left first and next was Lupa. No he was not going to miss his chance to see her again. He jumped down from his perch landing silently to the ground and ran for the end of the ramp. He let his hand slide off the hilt of the sword and spoke her name asking her to wait. Immediatly she sent up a flare. They watched eachother a moment. Unspoken words passed between them. They shared in the intimate moment until she kissed him and left the grove. He was happy to be able to see her again. He turned to Lovely noticing Clys was now gone and gave her a smile. They spoke for a moment about the meeting. Tears were gathering in his eyes. He turned away from Lovely so she would not notice and suggested they head back to Stormwind.

He sat on the steps that night. The feel of the truesilver wolfshead felt nice in his hand. Absently he rubbed the troll charm a faint smile on his face.