#ael'yith

[transjarlaxle]

is it too late to become an ael'yith stan account

[shadowphoenixrider]

Azsuna Awaits (5/7)

(Previous chapter)

(Real life really got in the way of this one. But it failed, because here it is. Very late, but here. Tagging @fer8girl, @elfgirl931, @sigurdjarlson, @highpriestessbriyanna and @galleywinter. Hope you enjoy!)

Draggka took a deep, steadying breath after a minute or so, sniffing loudly and managing to finally swallow away the lump in her throat.

“We...we gotta go. We taken up enough time already,” she said, reluctantly pulling out of Khadgar’s embrace.

“Yes.” He nodded, stepping away. “It’s gotten a lot quieter since we got here, and I’m fairly sure that’s not a good sign.”

A good sign it was not; as the two plus raptor left the cave, they were greeted with the sight Runas had warned them of. A giant, faceless, centaur-like construct held Senegos down in his pool, whilst a figure that had to be Ael’Yith perched on its back, visibly siphoning magic from the stricken dragon.

“Yes, yes!” Ael’Yith laughed maniacally. “Surrender your power, dragon. These pools belong to the Nightborne now!”

Spike snarled viciously, and Draggka quickly nocked an arrow, but Khadgar raised his hands, faint motes of magic starting to gather around them.

“If you don’t mind, love, I’d like to have some words with this ‘Nightborne’.” His words were soft, yet laced with threat, a knife slick with poison. “Some very choice words.”

A savage grin spread across her lips.

“Of course, but leave some for us.”

A similar grin pulled at the mage’s lips for a second before he began to cast, hands moving in quick, precise motions that looked to the troll very much like someone pulling loose threads out of a tunic. He chanted something softly under his breath, the foreign words coming so quickly Draggka was slightly concerned that he’d make a mistake.

A loud squealing noise suddenly sounded out, the sound of metal being twisted and warped, and the construct jerked as if it were a puppet whose string had been yanked too hard. Ael’Yith yelped, his channelled drain breaking as he struggled to stay upright. Senegos gave gasp as he was released, collapsing into his pool and panting hard, great sides heaving violently.

“What is the meaning of this?!” The elven mage cried, before he managed to catch sight of them, his eyes narrowing to slits. “You.”

The hunter’s response was arrows, but he raised a shield to absorb them. “You rats aren’t fit to touch the hem of my robes! Orbyth, destroy them!”

The construct’s monocular gaze swung over to them, and it lurched away from Senegos, but its movement was awkward, as Khadgar’s spell had bent some of its metallic parts out of shape, and the surging magic that connected them together was no longer flowing smoothly.

“Using a construct to do your dirty work?” Khadgar called, already gesturing for another cast. “Why? Is your magic not up to scratch? A shame, I was looking forward to meeting my match here.”

The construct’s plating gave a terrible grinding noise, before the arcane energies around and within it suddenly detonated, breaking their containment and blowing the back end of its lower body clean off. Draggka’s arrows smashed Orbyth’s singular eye, and the construct heaved to the side, only just able to keep upright, its rider only just able to stay standing.

A roar from above heralded an attack by Stellagosa and the other drakes, swooping down to harass Ael’Yith, or unleash blasts of ice against Orbyth, the construct unable to defend itself in such a state.

“No!” The Nightborne cried. “You will bow to me!” He reached out to drain mana from an attacking drake.

“I don’t think so!” The archmage boomed, his quick hand motions resulting in a cry from Ael’Yith, his hand going to the healing wounds Spike had inflicted hours before. “Leave them alone, Ael’Yith! You’ve done them enough harm already. Or can you not stand up to an archmage’s skill?”

“I will not be slandered by lowborn scum!” Ael’Yith Blinked to them in a flash of magic, and it was only Khadgar’s own Blink and Draggka’s Disengage that allowed them to dodge the sudden arcane explosion as he reappeared.

“By da Loa, shut up!” The troll snapped, loosing more arrows the elf’s way, only to have them glance off or be absorbed by the arcane shield.

“He appears to be quite the broken record.” Khadgar agreed. “Let me see about that shield, darling. I see he’s been introduced to Spike’s talons recently. Another meeting couldn’t go amiss, I think.”

The raptor gave a particularly bloodthirsty scream of agreement, making the hunter grin.

“By all means, Archmage,” she said, moving away from Khadgar and nocking an arrow to her bow.

Khadgar began another incantation, one hand tracing complex patterns as the other formed wards, shielding him from the arcane missiles Ael’Yith was throwing at him. Although the Nightborne’s barrier protected him from Draggka’s arrows, the hunter had other ways of harassing him.

After a quick rummage through her pack, she found a small metallic contraption, with the tiny cyan blue crystal held within. Draggka sized up the distance between the two magi as she armed the mechanism, before she hurled it to land just in front of Ael’Yith’s feet. The contraption fell open like a bear trap, the two metal ‘jaws’ exposing the now faintly glowing crystal. Although it was small, it was obvious to any observer that it was a trap, and should be avoided.

Yet Ael’Yith was so focused on Khadgar, he took no notice of where he was putting his feet, not even when he stood on one of the metal jaws, activating the crystal. It burst brightly, coating the ground below in a sheet of ice, including the trap, and the danger was only revealed when the Nightborne tried to take another step.

He gave a loud cry as he fought for balance, breaking his concentration and giving Khadgar precious seconds of uninterrupted casting.

“Watch ya feet, princeling.” Draggka drawled. “Be a shame if ya were to be breaking ya neck.”

“I’ve had just about enough of you, savage!” Ael’Yith hissed, fire gathering around his hands. “Go back to your trees, and BURN!”

The troll didn’t waste time in dodging to the side, the large ball of flames singeing the tips of her hair braids as it passed. Spike barked a warning as Ael’Yith pulled back for another-

And suddenly his shield ruptured, bursting like a bubble. He hesitated, eyes widening.

“What? My shield...”

“First rule of defensive magic.” Khadgar spoke, his voice holding a lecturer’s boom and the edge of a razor. “‘No shield is impenetrable, and no ward cannot be undone. All it takes is time’.”

For the first time, Draggka glimpsed fear in Ael’Yith’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but find a delicious pleasure in it. She took a newly created arrow from her quiver, nocking it to her bowstring, and waited for her moment.

The fear quickly vanished, however, as the elf tried to cling to his brash arrogance.

“This, this isn’t over” He cried, lifting his arm, glowing with power. “I will back to take what is mi-”

Whatever spell he was casting was promptly interrupted by the blood-curdling roar of an irate raptor as it leapt towards him, bringing his vicious talons to bear. Ael’Yith only just managed to shield himself from the talons and teeth, but in doing so, left his flank wide open. It was an invitation that Draggka took, arrows thudding into his side, one snapping as it hit a rib.

“No, actually, it is.” Khadgar replied coldly, advancing towards the elf as he struggled with Spike, the elf only just fending off the vicious, snapping teeth. “You’ve run out of withered to use against us, your construct is being destroyed,” a loud crash sounded out behind him as said construct collapsed into a heap, covered in ice and roaring dragons, “sorry, has been destroyed, and your blood is rapidly running out. It is over for you.”

Ael’Yith gave a furious cry, launching Spike off him with a blast of energy, grabbing at his arrow-pierced side.

“No...no...I cannot be beaten by, by lowborn scum. I am Ael’Yith! P-Prince of the Nightborne!” The elf choked out, backing away from the advancing archmage, hunter, and raptor. “We...we are destined to rule...”

“You’re destined to fall over if you don’t look behind you.” Khadgar said.

Of course, his advice was ignored, and Ael’Yith yelped as he tripped, tumbling backward into the mana pool.

The same mana pool an extremely angry Senegos was standing in.

Senegos snarled deeply, baring his teeth as the elf fought his way to the surface and to try and get away from the dragon bearing down on him. He gave a cry as the dragon pinned his feet down with a paw, scrambling desperately at the ground to try and escape. Draggka almost pitied him.

“You will harm my brood no longer.” Senegos growled, before he brought his other paw down on Ael’Yith’s head.

Ael’Yith’s death marked the end of the withered’s assault. The few that remained appeared to become even more disorganised than before, apparently becoming aware of their current danger and trying to flee, only to be picked off by furious drakes and dragonkin.

It took a moment for everyone to digest the fact that it was over, the realization only really hitting home when Senegos let out a deep, booming laugh, throwing his head back and beating his torn wings.

“Ha ha ha haaa! I haven’t felt this alive in years!” The dragon cried, his voice strong and forceful. It was as if he’d never been ill in the first place, and the others of his brood gathered around mage, hunter and raptor. “Thank you, small ones. What you’ve done - not only to replenish my mana pools, but also save my brood - will not be forgotten. The blues of Azsuna are ever in your debt.”

With that, the great dragon bowed his head to them, and to Draggka’s surprise, all the others did too. The mixed emotions of embarrassment, honour and pride bubbled up through the hunter, and it was all she could do to stumble out;

“Y-Ya be more den welcome. We, ya needed help, we couldn’t just be leaving ya in trouble. It, it wouldn’t be right.”

“In times such as these, we need to stand together, and help one another whenever we can.” Khadgar thankfully took over, sweeping himself into an elegant bow that Draggka awkwardly copied. “We are honoured to help your brood, Senegos.”

“And we are honoured to have your assistance.” Senegos replied, curling his tail around his body as he sat. “Now, I might be getting a little old, but I recall you were looking for the Tidestone?”

“Yes, we are.” Khadgar nodded. “What do you know of-”

A loud growl interrupted him, and the mage blinked, looking over at his companion. Draggka smiled weakly, flushing purple.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt, but it be a while since my last meal, and I be able to listen a lot better if I be havin’ some food in me,” she said, Spike rumbling his own agreement. “Where be the best hunting grounds?”

“After all that, you’re going to hunt?” Khadgar asked incredulously. “No, no, there’s no need to put yourself out like that. I can conjure food for us here, you don’t need to tire yourself out further.”

“I appreciate de offer, but mage-food don’t be very filling for me.” The hunter replied. “I be needing to hunt, either now or later.”

“Why don’t I help you?” Stellagosa asked as she came up to them, followed by a flock of whelplings. “You can tell me what you want me to hunt, and I can use my magic to bring down prey, and my wings to bring it and you back. Would that help?”

Draggka considered a moment. It had already been a long day, what with encountering the Legion and Cordana, and then everything to do with the withered and Runas (her heart panged at the thought of her dead friend). Although she found magic-hunted meat to be a bit less tasteful as traditionally hunted meat, she figured she could encourage Stellagosa to hunt with her talons and not her ice breath. The troll would be a fool to pass up on her assistance.

“Sure, tank you. Dat would be helpful.” She glanced to Khadgar. “Do ya tink ya can be having a fire ready for us when we be getting back?” She asked, with a grin.

“I think I can handle a campfire, Huntmaster.” The archmage grinned back, flames dancing playfully around his fingertips. “Good hunting, the both of you.”

A good hunting it was, with Stellagosa, Draggka and Spike bringing down several bears in the nearby lowlands with ease. The drake brought the hunter back with plenty of meat to feed her and the mage (Spike had eaten his fill of the offal whilst the troll had been butchering her prey), whilst Stellagosa had one of the larger carcasses to feed her fellows.

Khadgar had indeed made a fire in her absence, and he watched with interest as Draggka cooked the best cuts of meat, giving the worse bits to Spike and the small group of whelplings that had gathered around him for scraps. The meal wasn’t anything special, but the mage didn’t seem to mind, watching her work and flashing her warm, admiring smiles that made her heart flutter and heat rush into her face.

Senegos had settled back down into his pool, surrounded by his children fluttering around him, letting them settle on his back, or play around his folded, tattered wings. The other dragonkin were similarly relaxed, even when they were nursing wounds from the previous battle. If not for the withered corpses that were being moved away and the blood stains in the grass and dispersing in the mana pool, there was little to no hint of the strife that had been occurring before this very moment.

“Sorry dat dis be so bland.” Draggka said as she finished up her meal. “Next time I be taking some more time to find other tings dat not be just meat to eat.”

“It’s fine, Draggka.” Khadgar smiled. “I have eaten a fair amount of Alliance army rations in my time. Freshly cooked meat, even without seasoning, far exceeds those things.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “I wonder if they have improved since then.”

“I dunno, but da Iron Horde rations I be scavenging back on Draenor probably be similar.” The troll remarked, reaching out to stroke Spike’s head, the raptor leaning into the petting. “Not sure I be understanding what bland taste like ‘til I ate dem.”

“I think that must just be par for the course, then.” The mage chuckled. When she just stared blankly at him, he elaborated: “Blandness seems to be normal for army rations, then. Sorry, I forget that some idioms are...specific to humans.”

“You humans be so weird sometimes.” The hunter replied, smiling around her tusks. “Ya gotta be explaining some of dose to me some day.”

“I shall, my dear.” He smiled, reaching a hand over to take one of hers, squeezing it gently. “Anyway, thank you for cooking. You didn’t have to do that.”

“No, but I prefer to if I can.” Draggka replied. “Maybe another time I can be trying out ya mana strudels.” She grinned at him.

“I look forward to it.” Khadgar grinned back, before leaning over to whisper; “After all, you’ve already tasted one.”

Draggka blinked in confusion at him again, before the copper piece finally dropped, and her face flooded with searing heat.

“Khadgar!” She spluttered. “Dere, dere be whelplings here!”

“Not all whelplings are equivalent to the children of our races, Huntmaster.” Khagdar replied, infuriatingly composed as if he’d merely mentioned the state of the weather. “Besides, I am nothing if not discrete.”

Spike snorted.

“Hmm.” The hunter hummed, their last time together in Frostwall popping back into her mind’s eye. That had only been discrete due to the fact that the garrison was mostly empty at that time. A full guard would have almost certainly caught them in the act.

That and their almost tryst in the forest several hours ago. No, I don’t think you and discrete go together, Archmage.

Yet this tease seemed to have been forgotten by the wizard, as he turned his attention back to the great dragon lounging in front of them.

“Senegos.” Khadgar spoke, the dragon turning his large head back to them. “Now we have some peace, what can you tell us of the Tidestone of Golganneth?”

“It is, as you know, a Pillar of Creation.” Senegos began, shifting in his mana pool and disturbing some of the whelps settled on him. “It was shattered long ago.”

Mage and hunter’s eyes widened, and they looked at each other in disbelief.

“A Pillar of Creation? Shattered?” The archmage breathed. “How?”

“I do not know.” Senegos admitted, bushy eyebrows drawing together. “But I know where the pieces may lie.” He looked out of the Repose. “The Tidestone was kept by the ghostly elves of the great city of Nar’thalas, but it was destroyed an eon ago. Its ruler, Prince Farondis, fell with it. If anyone knows where the fragments lie now, it will be his spirit. Seek out his people amongst the ruins to the south of this place.”

“The ruins...” Khadgar murmured. “They must have been the ones we saw when we were flying in. I did not realize they were still inhabited by the ghosts of the Highborne. They looked abandoned.”

“Yeah.” Draggka nodded, before she sighed. “Agh. I cannot imagine what it be like to wander de land for dat long, unable to cross to da Other Side.” Spike rested his head in her lap reassuringly, his rumble vibrating through her legs. “What coulda happened for dem to all be stuck dere...?”

“The Sundering could have played a role.” Khadgar said. “Didn’t you find a sect of Highborne isolated within Dire Maul, driven to imprison a void terror through a desperate need for magic and to protect themselves from the incoming disaster?” Draggka nodded slowly, frowning thoughtfully.

“Nar’thalas fell not long before the Sundering.” Senegos said. “I do not know how, but the Prince and his people are doomed to live as spirits forever more.”

“Sounds like dey be tamperin’ wit da Tidestone, and it be punishing dem.” The troll mused. “And wit a name like dat, it not be surprising da naga be wanting to be getting dere hands on it.”

“All the more reason why they shouldn’t.” Khadgar nodded, before he glanced up at the sky. “I think that is a mission best suited for tomorrow morning, however. It is getting late.”

Draggka followed his gaze. The clouds above them were now tinged with various shades of pink and yellow as the sun sunk low in the sky, the pale shadow of the Blue Child just able to be glimpsed through one cloud bank. The day had moved a lot quicker than the hunter had imagined, but it had been one full of hectic activity, what with the Legion, withered elves...she could feel the fatigue tugging at her body now, settling into her knees and shoulders. Spirits knew how Khadgar was feeling, what with his magic use.

“Ya right. We should be setting up camp for da night.” She nodded. “Senegos, may we be staying da night at da Repose? Staying wit ya brood be safer den out on da road.”

“You are very welcome to stay with my brood, small ones.” The dragon replied. “Although we cannot offer you anything but the caves as shelter.”

“Oh no, dat be fine enough.” She looked to Khadgar. “Right?”

“Yes, that will be fine.” The mage nodded. “Thank you for your hospitality, Senegos.”

“For helping to save us, it is the least we can do.”

“We’ll make sure the ley wyrms and gyreworms don’t bother you during the night.” Stellagosa said, coming up to them. “The crystal worms are usually docile, but with grandfather ill and the ley lines disturbed, they got out of control. It’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“And da ley wyrms?”

“So long as you don’t damage their crystals, they get used to you quickly.” Stellagosa replied.

Draggka glanced to Spike, who bared his teeth in a greedy smile.

“I’ll...take ya word wit dat,” she said. Well, Spike’ll eat well if they don’t leave us alone. “If ya don’t mind, I prefer to be taking da ley wyrm cave,” she glanced at Khadgar, “if, that be okay wit you?”

The archmage’s eyes held a gentle look of concern, but his smile was sweet.

“No, that will be fine. I trust your judgement.” 

It was only when they were walking over to the caves did he murmur: “Runas?”

“Yeah.” Draggka nodded, keeping her voice low so the dragons wouldn’t hear. “I...I don’t know if I could be sleeping very easy in da cave where I be killin’ him.”

“I can understand that.” Khadgar replied, and the tone of his voice gave Draggka an inkling of why he’d never returned to Karazhan before recently. He reached out for her hand, squeezing it gently when she gave it to him.

The wyrms were less than thrilled by their presence, but when they realized that the pair were not after their crystals, and that they were guarded by a fierce raptor, the creatures left them alone to set up ‘camp’.

The light from the crystals, plants and mana puddles cast everything in an eternal glow, but it didn’t bother the hunter. During the Cataclysm, she had slept in Deepholm’s timeless depths, and had learned to filter out the constant light. At least she had very good company this time.

“I must admit, I did not expect to find myself sleeping among a dragonflight when we took flight from Dalaran.” Khadgar said as he meticulously stripped off his leather armour and cloak/mantle. “I should have expected a few surprises travelling with you.”

“Me? Pretty sure all dis nonsense be caused by you.” Draggka replied with a grin, unrolling her sleeping mat on a patch of clear flat ground. “Ya attract it, like some trouble lure.”

“Mmhmm?” The mage hummed, raising an eyebrow. “I have heard similar stories about you too, you know. Tales of danger and daring, and a certain troll huntress being in the middle of it all.” He stepped towards her, a slight sway to his hips.

Draggka’s eyebrow arched up as well, ignoring Spike’s derisive snort.

“Oh? Surely ya know ya can’t be trusting everyting ya hear,” she said, resting a hand on her hip.

“No, but you also know that some stories are grounded on a kernel of truth.” Khadgar replied, a smile playing on his lips that she knew well. “After all, it must be the reason I’m so attracted to you.”

The troll rolled her eyes, unable to stop her own smile.

“I had a feeling you be saying someting like dat,” she said, going to strip her own armour off. “How ya gonna be sleeping tonight, Khadgar? Ya didn’t bring anyting dat looked like camping stuff.”

“Portals, darling.” Khadgar replied, pulling a small one open and reaching into it with one arm. “It helps that we are so close to the ley lines, otherwise I would have to teleport back to my quarters to collect my bedding. I don’t need as much of my energy to support portals, allowing me to make smaller, more specialised ones such as this.”

Draggka tilted her head to the side, setting her equipment neatly next to his.

“Wait, I remember ya sayin’ dat Karazhan be built on ley lines, which be why ya had trouble wit ya portals dere. Why is it different here?”

“An excellent observation.” Khadgar flashed her a smile as he gingerly extracted a bedroll from his shimmering portal. “Karazhan is an anomaly due to the fact it has multiple forces acting within it, including the sheer power granted by the ley line nexus. These conflicts make it unstable, and thus portals cannot easily be maintained with it. Too large a portal could in theory rip the tower apart, though I would not like to think of the consequences of such a disaster.” The mage paused for a moment, his eyes far-away in thought, before he shuddered.

It was a brief pause, as he briskly followed this up with an answer to Draggka’s unspoken question, unrolling the bedding next to hers.

“I didn’t know how long we would be gone for, but I didn’t think we would be gone long enough to require a pack horse. Therefore, I left everything back in my quarters. Within easy reach, of course. That, and I am getting on a bit. Long campaign tramps are starting to get a bit beyond me now.”

“Tink ya can still keep up, old man?” Draggka teased, giggling when the archmage shot her a withering glare.

“I’m not as decrepit as I look, Huntmaster.” He replied primly. “I do believe I kept up with you in our previous engagement.”

“And on Draenor.” The hunter nodded. “I be glad. I like having ya at my side.”

“And I you.” Khadgar smiled, before glancing down at their paired sleeping arrangement, lingering on her sleeping mat. “Are you sure you don’t want something to cover you whilst you sleep? I don’t want you to get cold...”

“Trolls just be needing a mat to sleep on, sometimes not even dat.” Draggka said, sitting down on hers and smoothing it out. “I do be having a blanket for colder places, but I don’t tink I be needing it here.” She glanced to Spike as the raptor settled down next to her. “I always got Spike if need be.” She blinked, and stuttered: “A-And you too, of course.”

Khadgar chuckled good-naturedly.

“I don’t doubt your companion’s warmth and comfort, and I don’t mean to intrude upon his duties,” he said, sitting beside the troll to take off his boots, revealing bright socks that looked like faerie dragon had exploded all over them. “But, if you wish, there’s room enough for you too in my bedroll. I’m sure I can be just as warming and a comfort to you. Though, I do lack a fearsome set of teeth and claws.” He grinned at the raptor, who would have preened had he feathers. Instead, Spike merely rumbled loudly, basking in the attention.

Draggka chuckled at this, and opened her mouth to tell Khadgar that she didn’t mind sleeping on her mat, but then she recalled the morning when she woke in Khadgar’s arms after their first night together. She remembered how warm he was, and how soft his body had been, and the security she’d felt in his arms, and she suddenly realized how much her body ached to feel it again. She longed to just be intimate with him, to hold and be held by him. What kind of fool would she be to deny herself this?

“Actually...I think I be taking you up on dat offer.” Draggka said, smiling shyly. “If, ya don’t mind.”

“As if I would mind sharing with you.” He replied, his smile wide, warm and so loving she felt her heart do a somersault in her chest. “It would be an honour.”

“You be flattering me,” she said, going back to stripping down to her undershirt and trousers to hide the blush growing over her face.

“Is it flattering if it’s true?” The mage asked, dressing down to just his robes, the material flowing around him as his leather armour and belt were removed.

Draggka rolled her eyes, sighing.

“Ya be hard work sometimes.”

“I do my best, dearest.” Khadgar chuckled, flashing her a playful grin.

The bedroll was just big enough to accommodate both hunter and archmage, but it did require them to snuggle close together. Luckily, this was not an issue for either of them. It was only marginally more comfortable than Draggka’s sleeping mat, though it did have a pillow. Yet when Khadgar wrapped his arms around her and tucked her in close to his body, none of the downsides really mattered.

“Are you alright like this?” He asked, lifting his head to look her in the eyes, concern written all over his face.

“Yeah, dis be fine.” Draggka nodded. Spike sat down on the mostly abandoned sleeping mat, curling his body around himself, staying alert for any enemies that got past the dragons now gathering in the cave to sleep too. “You be warm.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want you to get cold.” Khadgar nuzzled her gently. “I know you're sensitive to it still.”

“Yeah.” She couldn’t help but smile at the thoughtfulness, her heart missing a beat. “Tank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He kissed her cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you too.” She squeezed one of his hands in respond, not wanting to twist around awkwardly to return the gesture properly. “Ya know, I could be gettin’ used to dis. Sleeping beside you.”

“As could I. I rather enjoy having you in my arms,” he said, squeezing her gently. “And...waking up beside you.”

“Yeah.” Draggka smiled, turning her head to touch his. “I’d be happy wit dat for da rest of my days.”

“Mmmm.” He nuzzled her tenderly. “So would I. I just hope that in future, we can do all of this in the comfort of our own bed.”

“Dat seems so strange to me. Our bed.”

“Don’t worry, darling, it still sounds strange to me too. But it’s a very welcome thought.” Khadgar said. “Anyway, we should get some rest. I don’t know what magic would be keeping the spirits of the Highborne trapped here, nor whether said magic still remains.” He gently ran his fingers through her hair, watching it flow through his fingers. “Also we must not forget that they are Highborne, and might not be aware of the various changes Azeroth has undergone since their time. To them I would be merely a child playing at magic, but they would take a very dim view of a troll...”

“Yeah.” Draggka nodded, keeping her movement slight so not to jostle the mage. “I bet dat dey might be a bit cranky too, what wit not being unable to be crossing to da Other Side in so long. Dey might not be takin’ kindly to da living at all.”

“Agreed. We will need to tread carefully, and keep our heads clear. Therefore, rest.” Khadgar said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Good night, Draggka. Sweet dreams.”

“G’night, Khadgar.” Draggka replied, twisting to kiss him too. “May ya dreams be restful too.”

They snuggled close together, and with a raptor looking on, they soon fell fast asleep. Spike glanced around the cave to check that the various dragonkin were guarding the entrance. Satisfied, he uttered a soft rumble, and curled up to sleep as well.

(Previous chapter) / (Next chapter)

[anielina13]

Ael’Yith

[askthenightfallen]

You talked about your family, there, in Zarckenar. Is Ael'Yith your relative?

No. No, he most certainly is not.

Runas the Shamed

[oldgodfanclub]

Also, I don’t wanna be that person, but I found it kinda hot when Ael'Yith called me lowborn dirt.

sorrynotsorry.

[shadowphoenixrider]

Azsuna Awaits (4/7)

(This chapter got LONG, so long I had to split it in two. Although I know some of you like long haul chapters, I feel this one is better at this length. I shall tag my usual good folks: @galleywinter, @highpriestessbriyanna, @sigurdjarlson, @fer8girl and @elfgirl931. You guys rock, I don’t think I tell you enough, including those of you who are reading now! Enjoy!)

(Previous chapter)

The situation at the Whelplands was grim. On the road towards the area were the occasional bodies of whelps that had tried to flee or seek refuge but had perished, lying by the stone path like broken toys. Spike nudged the first two with his muzzle, trying to stir them, but he whined when he realized they already gone. Later he didn’t even bother to inspect them, knowing that they had arrived too late.

The sight broke Draggka’s heart and quickened her pace, curdling a blood-thirst to slaughter whoever would attack such young, defenceless creatures.

They found Agapanthus and his contingent of drakonids and dragonspawn holed up in a cluster of elven ruins, sheltering whelplings and fighting off what appeared to be withered elves. She also found Senegos, or at least a projection of him; its appearance made her do a double take, especially to see the great dragon standing tall, and looking much more spry than when she last left him.

“Don’t you worry, small one.” He spoke, voice strong and echoing due to the magic. “I am still in my pool. It doesn’t take much energy to throw a projection of myself here and there.” Said projection lifted its chin proudly, great white beard rippling as it did. “I may be old and dying, but I am still a blue dragon.”

Agapanthus was grateful to see Draggka had come, and quickly gave the troll some orders: to scavenge the mana crystals growing around the Whelplands to revive as many whelps as possible, and to kill any Withered that got in her way, as well as any that attacked her, looked at her funny; just generally as many as she had arrows for. The dragonspawn also privately asked her to find Stellagosa; she had a habit of jumping right into the fray, and he worried that she may have bitten off more than she could chew. A part of Draggka warned her that the drake’s absence could be a trap set by Cordana; after all, she’d caught the dragon before, and she and the troll had been linked together. Still, the hunter swallowed down her apprehension and agreed to look for her.

The withered elves were very aggressive, and if they noticed the hunter, they’d stagger towards her, spindly arms outstretched and with the tell-tale ‘grasp’ as they tried to feast on the kernel of arcane power she had, or her very lifeforce. Their emaciated bodies were little defence, however, so a well-placed arrow felled them easily, and Spike snapped them like dry twigs with one leaping bite.

Both hunter and raptor took great pleasure from killing the creatures, especially the ones that feasted on the whelps; they were so enraptured by their kills that it only took an arrow into the back of their neck to end them before they even realized what was happening. It also helped save the whelplings that had been attacked, although they were too late for a few. Those that were rescued, however, thrilled their thanks and quickly fluttered off to safety, though Draggka watched them go to make sure they weren’t ambushed on their way.

They found Stellagosa further into the Whelplands, weakly fending off a pack of withered. Spike didn’t even wait for Draggka’s word, barrelling into them with a roar, talons flashing as they tore into purple flesh and bone. The hunter took out the remainder, and any elves that looked like they were going to join the fight. A part of her felt a little pity for the creatures driven mad by hunger, thinking of her friend Cayeli, but the rest of her felt nothing but contempt. They were as mindless as the Scourge now, and would be treated as such; nothing more than a threat to be dealt with.

Stellagosa thanked Draggka for her second rescue, but warned her of a particular withered elf that was stronger, and seemed to have more of his mind than the rest; he’d been the one to attack and drain her, leaving her for the others to finish off. She’d seen him run into the cave further down the path, and urged Draggka to put him down before he did any more damage.

The troll agreed, hurrying in that direction and taking out any withered along the way. It was an unpleasant journey, however; the whelps she found now were either too weak to be revived, or already dead. Her heart cried out in pain to see them; she felt she should at least bury them, to grant them some dignity in death, but there were too many, and the danger of that lone Withered was too great, as was the ever present threat of Cordana. A cave would be a perfect ambush, with only one entrance...Draggka pushed the thought aside and carried on.

More bodies of drained whelps littered both the mouth of the cave and inside it, enough for dread to sink into her stomach. She’d seen at least a dozen of Senegos’s lifeless offspring, if not more...Had any of those she’d saved been enough? The hunter forged that dread into conviction, and stepped into the opening, nocking an arrow to her bow.

The withered elf had clearly made this cave his home, if the tattered pelt on the floor that he was curled up on was any indication, resting in a fitful sleep. He was as thin as all the others, but whilst the others had been stooped over, moving in savage, animalistic yet almost zombie-like ways, this one slept as Draggka would expect an elf would. His skin was a dark greyish purple, with ornate tattoos carved into his skin that looked hollow, as if they would be filled with something - magic? His hair was white and long, and still somewhat clean and cared for, indicating that he did indeed hold more intelligence than his withered cohorts. The troll still couldn’t work out what kind of elf he and the others were, though. Their colour and ears made her think of the night elves, but she’d encountered enough of them to know that none of them 'withered’ like the blood elves did, and these bore a striking similarity to the Wretched. I wonder if Khadgar knows about them... She mused.

The elf stirred then, and Spike tensed; she had to act now. Draggka raised her bow and pulled the arrow back, aiming to get his neck and kill him instantly with one shot.

Either the elf heard the bow creak at full draw, or he was more awake than he looked, but as she loosed the arrow, he jerked away, the arrow burying itself into the pelt under him. He turned angry purple eyes on her, and the troll noted that he was considerably more elf than his mana zombie peers, just from the clarity within them.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He demanded, accent smooth but very foreign. “Don’t you know who I am?”

“Ya be da one who killed dose whelps.” Draggka replied coldly, reaching for another arrow. “I be dere revenge.”

“You are beginning to anger me!” The elf cried, before he suddenly screamed. “I’ll kill you! I’ll drink the mana from your broken bones!”

He lashed out in what felt like an instant, the magical drain grasping at Draggka’s very being with a hunger that caught her off guard. She swore loudly, fumbling for her blunt arrows - the only way to interrupt such an ability non-magically, but the sensation suddenly shifted from grasping for something else. She glanced down in confusion to see energy streaking out from her pockets - The ley crystal, of course! It must still have some energy left from reviving the whelps!

Spike roared furiously as Draggka was assaulted, and charged directly at the elf, teeth bared. Said elf seemed to realize his mistake as several kilograms of angry scaled death leapt at him, knocking him flat to the ground and breaking his drain on the crystal. The raptor opened his jaws wide, going to bite the elf’s face off, when he managed to grasp the beast’s jaws, just managing to stop his imminent death.

“Wait wait wait!” He cried, spindly arms trembling with the effort to hold the snarling raptor back, wincing at the smell of his hot breath. “I surrender! Please, please call your friend off!”

Draggka frowned, nocking another arrow to Thas’dorah and drawing closer.

“Why should I do dat?” She asked flatly. Spike didn’t continue to push, but his fierce visage was enough to remind the elf of his intentions.

“Please forgive me, my friend. The hunger pangs from feeding on such raw energy...it clouds my judgement. I fear if not for the mana crystal you carry, I may have done something I regret. I am truly, truly sorry.” He glanced up at her as she got closer.

Put an arrow in this miserable wretch and end him, sneered her bloodthirst. He sucked the life out of the whelps, he deserves to die.

To kill a person who has surrendered is dishonourable. The rest of her said calmly. We must give him the chance to atone first. Did Khadgar not give you the benefit of the doubt?

Draggka scowled for a moment before she spoke.

“Let him up, Spike,” she said in Zandali. The raptor glanced back at her as if confused. “Let him go for now. But keep an eye on him.”

Spike snorted, glaring at the elf, but he stepped off his chest. Switching back to Common, Draggka said:

“Alright, I be letting ya go dis time. But if ya betray me, I let him kill ya. Understood?” She nodded to Spike, who seemed to be waiting for a chance to strike at any moment. Not that she blamed him.

“Oh yes, yes of course,” he said hurriedly, scrambling to his feet, “I wouldn’t dream of betraying you. Not with such a fierce companion at your side.” He smiled at Spike, who growled menacingly in response, curling his lips. “I hope you can see beyond my tattered robes and desperate behaviour. I am not a monster.”

Draggka looked down at the whelpling corpses, and back to the elf.

“Ah, yes.” The elf wrapped his arms around himself. “The fruits of my desperation. I am not proud of them. But watch. I can prove that I can move beyond such despicable ways. I am not some mana-addled freak, like the rest of those wretches.”

She scowled, the two sides of her warring with each other once again, but honour won the bout once more.

“Alright. I be givin’ ya a chance to prove yaself, but if any harm be coming to da dragons, I will kill ya,” she said.

“I quite understand.” The elf nodded. “Just...could I have the remains of that mana crystal? Just to keep me going.”

The troll handed it over, watching him drain it quickly and his eyes brighten, some of the lines around his gaunt face easing. Curiosity stirred within her; what kind of an elf was he, and how had he come to be as addicted to magic as the high and blood elves were? Her dislike of him silenced her tongue, however. He’d killed the young, and the young of dragons at that. He was not to be befriended.

When they arrived back at Agapanthus’s camp, the drakonids were immediately on guard, pointing their sharp polearms inches from the withered elf’s face.

“He be with me.” Draggka said casually. “He says he be wishing to help, so I be giving him a chance to make good.” She looked them in the eyes. “If he tries anyting, I will kill him in a heartbeat.”

They were understandably reluctant, but they snorted and let them through, Senegos’s projection appearing in front of them moments later.

“Who is this?” Senegos asked, eyes boring into the spindly elf next to the hunter.

“I am Runas, son of Indarril, formerly of Suramar.” The elf said, bowing politely, the raptor directly behind him growling. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Senegos’s muzzle twisted with distaste, an almost perfect mirror of Spike’s expression.

“Nightfallen.” He growled. “I do not trust you and your kind.”

“I understand, good dragon.” Runas replied. “My people have earned your distrust. Allow me to make amends.”

“We will see.” The dragon said coldly. “You are lucky that my strength is not as it used to be.”

Runas looked thoughtful.

“Pardon me for any offence, but your dragon says he is not as strong as he used to be? I know why. Runas can fix that, my friend,” he said, looking to Draggka. She wanted to retort otherwise, her fur prickling uncomfortably, but the hunter kept quiet for now.

“One of my kind, Ael’Yith, pulls ley energy from the very ground of Azsuna. I can take you to the location of his mana siphons. It’s not too late to undo the harm the others have done. You’ve done well to trust me.”

Draggka and Senegos exchanged a look.

“Those monsters are pulling directly from the ground. That explains why not even my mana pools can dull my pain.” He murmured. “I don’t trust him, but without the power of leylines, we are nothing.”

The hunter looked the emaciated elf over again, wariness still prickling over her skin.

“Alright, Runas. We believe ya. Show us da way.”

True to his word, he did, only stopping momentarily to drain another mana crystal of its energy. His mouth, however, didn’t stop, something that Draggka couldn’t decide was the effect of withdrawal, or just his usual self. It did remind her of Khadgar, though.

He lead them to place Senegos knew as the Ley Ruins of Zarkhenar; a large collection of ancient Highborne buildings, most ruined, but one still intact, surrounded by huge glowing fissures with crystals sprouting from them, which had to be leylines running close to the surface.

And full of the mana-hungry so-called Nightfallen.

Runas did not react very well to so much raw mana emanating from the ground, and begged Draggka to go down and find as many mana jewels or crystals as she could, so he could keep focused and find a solution to take down the large mana pylons that Draggka could see wedged into the glowing blueish purple cracks. Senegos asked her to run amok whilst she was down there, destroying as many smaller siphons as she could, and kill any Nightfallen that dared stop her. The troll was more than happy to oblige.

One Nightfallen in particular was not happy about her meddling, and he yelled at her from the tower of the intact Highborne building for trying to steal ‘his’ mana, hurling arcane bolts at her from above. They were fairly easy avoid if she kept on the move, and Spike would occasionally distract the blowhard into casting spells the wrong way. Draggka was sure he was the Ael’Yith Runas had referred to, and silently contented herself with the knowledge that one of her arrows would permanently silence his crowing. That or Spike would. Eventually.

When she returned, Runas gorged himself on the mana crystals, whilst Senegos spoke to her, his voice stronger, and his projection more solid and clear.

“Thank you, Draggka,” he said. “Those siphons almost did me in.”

“Ya feel better now?” She asked.

“Yes. I no longer need your friend’s assistance, but he insists on helping me recover.” The projection tilted his head slightly, as if looking at something Draggka couldn’t see. She chuckled softly.

“Dat sounds like him. He be a stubborn kodo, but don’t let him drain himself. He might be needing it later.”

She thought the old dragon smiled.

“There is little danger of that here. He does not draw much from the leyline.” Senegos’s face hardened, and he turned his gaze back to the ruins. “I sense the draw now, in the tallest building of the ruins. One of those cretins must have tapped deep into the leyline, and be drawing from it that way.”

“I tink dat be da Ael’Yith Runas mentioned. He been hollering at me an’ throwing arcane bolts at me whilst I were busy.”

The troll swore that the dragon was smirking now.

“Maybe it’s time you paid him a visit,” he said softly.

“I agree.” Runas said suddenly from Draggka’s side, making her jump. He smiled. “Thank you for those crystals, my friend. I knew I could count on you.”

“Ya figure out how we can be taking down dose pylons?” She asked. “I not be having da stuff needed to make anything dat explodes. Dat an’ dey zap me when I get too close.”

“The pylons only react against ground targets, yet they’re defenceless to anything that attacks from above.” Runas explained. “If you send your whelplings against them, they can fly close enough to them to destroy them.”

“Runas...” Draggka began, seeing Senegos’s eyes narrow.

“Trust me.” The elf said. “They are too small for Ael’Yith to hit from above. They will be able to do it.”

The dragon’s nostrils flared, and his lips curled into a snarl.

“I still do not trust Nightfallen, but it seems we have little choice.” He snorted with frustration. “I will call the whelplings. But if you deceive me, prepare to face the wrath of a dragonflight.”

“I was once a noble elf, good dragon.” Runas said, bowing his head. “I know the meaning of honour.”

“Even so, I will entrust them to you, Draggka. Send them back as soon as the pylons are destroyed.” Senegos said.

In a couple of seconds, a flock of blue whelplings appeared, fluttering around the projection of their patriarch, before they began to circle Draggka, chattering nosily and hissing and spitting crossly at Runas. To his credit, the Nightfallen stepped back away from them, clasping his hands together.

“I...I think it would be better if I stay here,” he said softly. “Good luck, my friend.”

“I’ll look afta dem.” Draggka nodded to Senegos.

“See as you do.” The dragon huffed. The gruff tone prickled her fur, but she couldn’t blame his annoyance, when his brood was so precious and so fragile.

The hunter returned to the ruins, cloud of whelplings in tow, most flying just behind her, though some settled onto Spike’s back, chirruping excitedly as they rode their ‘steed’ onwards. Spike seemed charmed by the little whelps, playfully nipping at them as they dive-bombed at his head mischievously. Draggka chuckled at the sight, and despite the current situation, she wished Khadgar was by her side to see it too.

Ael’Yith lobbed insults and arcane bolts as soon as he saw the troll again, and the whelps’ chattering turned deadly serious, focusing on keeping close to her and Spike. When Draggka reached the first pylon, staying just out of range of its safeguards, she gestured to the whelps hovering around her.

They rose in a cloud of scaley bodies, diving down on top of the pylon, shooting blasts of ice from their mouths, and ripping and tearing anything they could with their claws. After a couple of moments, the pylon gave a loud groan, crack tearing across its surface from top to bottom, before the mana it was holding blew it apart, the backlash of energy rippling Draggka’s fur and exciting the whelplings, their eyes flashing with arcane magic and battle-lust.

Ael’Yith was apoplectic.

The hunter had long since tuned out his screaming habdabs, moving quickly to avoid his magical missiles and guiding the whelps in the direction of the other pylons. They were only too happy to oblige, and Draggka watched proudly as they destroyed the structures that were their guardian’s bane. She had a feeling they’d like to rip Ael’Yith apart too, but the troll had promised to keep them safe, and she wouldn’t risk them in the confrontation.

They were reluctant to leave her, but they did eventually, offering wheezy whelp barks and nuzzles to her or Spike before they returned to the Repose.

Ael’Yith was sequestered in his tower alone, copious amounts of crystals jutting out of the walls and floor in evidence of the leyline he was drawing from. He was a lot healthier looking than the other elves outside, and dressed so regally it made Draggka ill just looking at him.

“Did that dragon send you, interloper?” He spat. “Or was it that beggar Runas?”

“Neither.” Draggka replied, nocking an arrow as Spike crouched low. “I came to shut ya up fer a few seconds.”

“How dare you speak to Azsuna’s new prince in such a way!” He cried. “I will make you kneel, peasant!”

Spike gave a roar and charged, only to be swiftly blasted away by magic, whilst Draggka unleashed a rain of arrows against him. Most slammed uselessly into the arcane shield Ael’Yith had conjured, but one or two got through, including a blunt-headed arrow straight to the elf’s throat, interrupting one of his casts against her.

“You’ll pay for this, savage!” Ael’Yith snarled. “You rats aren’t fit to touch the hem of my robe!”

“Bold of ya to assume I want to do anyting else but kill ya.” Draggka muttered, smirking as his distraction allowed her raptor to leap upon him, shattering the shield and tearing gashes down his back.

“Argh!” Ael’Yith launched his attacker back with an explosion of arcane energy. “Enough of this! If we cannot use the leylines in peace, then we will feast on the dragons instead!”

“No!” Draggka let fly with as many arrows as she could, but Ale’Yith disappeared in a flash of magic, her missiles either flying out of the nearby window or breaking as they struck the stone walls. Spike’s jaws also snapped at thin air. “No no no...!”

The troll scrambled to her feet, heart and mind racing. there was no way she could outrun a teleporting mage, and with no way to signal across long distances, Senegos had literally no warning that he and his brood were in danger from a mad elf and his ‘army’ of withered heading straight for-

Khadgar.

Draggka stumbled onto the tower’s balcony, just as Stellagosa flew over.

“Draggka, grandfather said you might need-” She began before the hunter cut him off.

“Ael’Yith escaped! He be goin’ to da Repose wit de others to drain Senegos!” 

The drake’s golden eyes widened, her wings almost missing a beat in her shock.

“What?! Then there’s no time to lose!” She grasped the railings of the balcony, perching in an truly ungainly manner just long enough for Draggka to jump onto her back before she took flight again, scooping Spike up in her paws. The raptor made a whining noise, signalling his uncertainty at this arrangement, but he did not resist. Probably because he didn’t want to be dropped.

The hunter flattened herself against Stellagosa’s back in a desperate bid to speed her wings, yet she watched the ground below swarm with withered elves, all heading to one place...

“It’s not too late.” The dragon spoke. “We’ll jump the mountains to cut them off. Hold tight!”

Draggka wrapped her arms tightly around Stellagosa’s neck as her powerful wing-beats thrust them higher into the sky. There was no sensation like it, and experiencing it upon a dragon’s back was second to none. She was honoured every time a dragon allowed her to travel on their backs, and a part of her savoured it now, even though other worries occupied her thoughts.

“No, no...They’re everywhere!” Stellagosa cried, Draggka’s eyes popping open to glimpse the withered swarming down the path to the Repose. Her heart leapt straight into her throat as she desperately scanned the crowd for her mage, praying to her loa to keep him safe.

“Khadgar!” She cried, torn between holding onto the dragon’s back, and leaping down to carve a bloody path through the withered to find him.

“We’re too late...” Stellagosa murmured. “I’m s-”

Her head suddenly snapped to the side, just as there was an immense explosion of arcane energy, sending the limp bodies of elves flying, clearing a brief opening to reveal the origin point.

“I see him!” Stellagosa gasped. “Hang on, I’m going in low.”

“Throw Spike!” Draggka urged as the withered started to close in again, arms outstretched to grasp at the mage. “He buy us da time we need!”

“Are you sure?” The drake glanced back at the hunter, but Spike roared an affirmative, gnashing his teeth eagerly. “Okay, here goes!”

She cautiously hurled Spike down onto the withered advancing down on the archmage, the raptor letting out a blood-thirsty shriek as he literally fell upon his first victim.

With her front feet free, Stellagosa gave her own roar, spitting balls of ice at the ones going for Khadgar’s back, and pouncing upon those she missed, sweeping her tail around to clear a space for them all. From her perch, Draggka loosed arrows upon the others, felling them like swathes of wheat under a rainstorm.

With this attack, they seemed to have cleared a small space of protection away from the withered; a few stragglers were easily picked off, whilst the bulk of the group were either already in the Repose, or appeared to retain enough sense not bother them any further.

For the moment, that was moot; Draggka leapt off Stellagosa’s back and almost straight onto Khadgar, throwing her arms tightly around him.

“Spirits, I’m so glad ya be okay! I thought I lost ya...” She had to forcibly hold back the tears that threatened to leak out of her eyes, swallowing down the sudden rush of emotion.

“It was a close run thing.” Khadgar murmured, wrapping his own arms around her. “If you hadn’t have shown up when you did, I fear I might have been overrun completely.”

“I’m sorry, I woulda warned ya if I could-”

“I know you would.” He replied, gently squeezing her.

It took a moment for Draggka to realize that she was hugging Khadgar a little longer than would be expected for a casual friend, and she sensed that there were many eyes on her. She pulled back to notice a small flock of whelplings around them, watching curiously and some chittering with what sounded like amusement. Others were hovering around Stellagosa as she rumbled to them in Draconic and checked them over.

Khadgar blushed slightly as the the hunter looked back to him.

“Ah, well, I might have told Senegos and the little ones about our...partnership,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “He’d already worked out that we were more than friends, and I didn’t see a reason not to tell him the full story. When the withered began to attack, Senegos told me to take as many of his whelps as I could to safety.” Khadgar sighed softy, shoulders sagging. “I...I think I lost a few.”

“Ya did ya best.” Draggka said, squeezing his hands.

“You both have,” Stellagosa said. “But this many withered threaten to wipe out our brood completely. If you can find some ley crystals when you go to grandfather, please use them to heal the others. I will stay here and protect these whelplings.”

“Are you sure?” Khadgar asked. “If any more come down the slope, you’ll be overrun, and we won’t be able to help you.”

“We’ve taken out a good many of their number. If any more start arriving, I’ll take them to safety in the mountains.” Stellagosa replied. “Please don’t worry about me. My grandfather needs you more.”

“Alright.” The archmage nodded. “Then let’s not waste any more time.” He gripped Atiesh tightly, turning towards the Repose.

“Ya coming wit?” Draggka asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Of course!” He flashed her a brilliant smile. “I recall a promise I made to a certain troll about fighting by her side. And I have every intention of keeping it.”

She couldn’t help the grin that slowly grew across her lips, nor the little skip her heart made. But the anxiety was still there.

“Are ya sure? Dey eat magic, so you be a prime target for dem.”

“Maybe, but they would have to get close to me first.” A flicker of magic danced around his fingers. “Not to mention that this time I will have a charming huntress-”

“Hunter.”

“-hunter, and a fearsome raptor backing me up.” The wizard smiled. “I think I will be just fine.”

“Alright. But stay close. I don’t want to be losing ya.” Draggka said as they started down the hill.

“Don’t worry, my dear, the feeling is mutual.”

They made quite the team as they pushed into the Repose. It helped that the withered elves were not very smart, and as soon as they sensed Khadgar, their only notion was to get to him as directly as possible. Often straight into a fireball, arrow, or jaws of a raptor. Spike acted as their vanguard in case any tried to outflank them, and Draggka and Khadgar proceeded to pick the withered off at leisure, the hunter collecting up her arrows as she went. It was just like being back on Draenor, feeling the arcane twist and flex around her as Khadgar cast his spells, its thrum almost comforting and lulling her into a battle-trance.

The Repose itself was as to be expected; a messy battleground of dragon and withered elf, some holding their own, whilst others were collapsed on the ground, chests heaving rapidly or otherwise laying still in a way that chilled the bones.

Senegos himself was fighting valiantly, a complete opposite from when Draggka had last seen him in the flesh. Great sweeps of his massive tail and giant paws sent withered flying into broken heaps, though they continued to swarm over him like ants.

“He appears to holding his own rather well.” Khadgar commented. “Come, we should see to the less fortunate.”

They managed to find some big ley crystals by the mana wurm cave, uprooting them with little trouble (the wurms were too busy mobbing the elves that had blundered in their home), and then proceeded to attend to the stricken dragons.

Most were thankfully clinging into life when they found them, Draggka and Spike standing guard as Khadgar used the ley crystal to revive them. The drakes gasped out their thanks before taking wing to get away from the throng of withered, some hurling down bolts of ice at them in pure displeasure. The archmage did revive a whelp that looked vaguely familiar, and it let out a wheezy bark as it fluttered back into the air, eyeing them both with bright, intelligent eyes before it flew off, Spike watching it go intently.

A couple of dragonspawn and drakonids had been downed by the mana-hungry elves, and they attended to them as well, Spike savagely ripping into one elf that was leaning over a dragonspawn, ready to suck the life out of them.

“Thank you, both of you.” The dragonspawn Draggka recognised as Cedonu said as he climbed to his feet. “Senegos was wise to trust you.”

“It be our honour to help.” She replied, Khadgar nodding in agreement.

“We’re all grateful for your aid.” Cedonu said, before he frowned. “I must join the others, but as I fell, I saw one of the Nightfallen slinking into the larger caves.”

“The withered are ruled by their need to feed on magical energy,” Khadgar murmured, his silver brows furrowing, “they have no reason to go into the caves when you are all out here.”

“Dat sounds like Ael’Yith, dere ‘leader’.” Draggka said, Spike uttering a low growl in response to the name. “We better go an’ take him out before anyting bad happens.”

“Agreed.” Khadgar nodded grimly, and they set off at a brisk pace to the caves Draggka had once ventured inside to help keep Senegos alive, ready for confrontation.

As they entered, they heard a soft voice off to their left.

“Hello? Is that you, my friend?”

Following it around the corner revealed an emaciated Nightfallen standing in a smaller version of Senegos’s pool; more a puddle, in honesty. The elf was trembling badly, hands scratching at his skin as he coughed violently.

Draggka’s fur prickled as Khadgar readied himself for a fireball.

“Wait, Khadgar!” She cried, clasping his hand. “I know dis one! Dis be Runas, he be helping me to save Senegos in da Whelplands!”

The wizard stopped his cast, but his expression was stony and unconvinced.

“Really? But they’ve been hunting the dragons for their magical energy.”

“Yeah, but he be making amends fer what he’s done. I trust him, Khadgar. Let me at least be talkin’ to him.”

His expression didn’t shift, yet he dropped his hand to his side.

“Alright. I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said, though not unkindly. Draggka wanted to point out that if he could give the Horde (and by extension, her) another chance after all the things they’d done, then he needed to give Runas that same courtesy, but she sensed that there was no time for a debate.

“I be here, Runas. It’s me.” She jogged over to the elf, feeling Khadgar’s stare boring into them. “What are ya doing here?”

It took a moment for the Nightfallen to focus on her, his purple eyes dull and hazy.

“I...I came to warn you. Ael’Yith...He, he has a construct...” A violent coughing fit wracked his body. “He’s, he’s waiting to strike...when least expected.”

“The withered are being used as cannon fodder.” Khadgar murmured. “We need to stop this Ael’Yith before he gets to Senegos.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t...have come sooner.” Runas spoke softly, a large shudder gripping his entire body. “I am weak, my friend. The hunger is devastating...consuming my very mind. It is taking every ounce of my energy to just...just...” Another coughing fits, his fingers clawing deep into his skin, leaving ugly furrows behind them.

“I be here, Runas.” Draggka looked back at Khadgar anxiously. “Da ley crystals, Khadgar!”

The mage shook his head, showing her the dull stone.

“Cedonu took the last it had,” he said softly. “Draggka, I think-”

“C...Can you hear me, my friend?” Runas spoke, pulling the hunter’s attention back to him. “I...I cannot see you any more.”

“I still be here.” A hard lump was forming in her throat that she could not clear. Spike whined softly.

“I think...perhaps it is time to say goodbye, then.” Runas looked in the direction of her voice, but his eyes were unfocused, looking through her. His skin was paler than she’d ever see it, and he looked so frail he reminded her of...of...

“Khadgar...” Draggka’s voice was heavy, with the tears burning fiercely at her eyes.

“It’s too late,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, Draggka.” Runas croaked. “For letting my last few hours...mean...something...”

And then he was gone. Runas’s eyes glassed over, his posture slumping into that of a full withered, jaw hanging loose along with his arms, finger knuckles scraping the water’s surface. Despite her pain, the troll readied herself for Runas to launch himself at her, but he didn’t. He just stood, head lolling limply to the side, before he lurched mindlessly away, ignoring them completely.

“Runas?” Draggka called uncertainly, feeling Khadgar come to her side and thread his arm around her shoulder.

“He’s gone, darling. I’m sorry.” Spike whined again, resting his head against her legs.

“But why he be...?”

“I think...” Khadgar’s eyes flicked over the scene. “I think the mana pool is sustaining him enough not to frenzy and actively hunt for magic. If he stays within it, he will be harmless. Mindless, but harmless.”

Draggka swallowed hard. She found it hard to believe that she’d formed a bond with Runas so quickly, but the pain in her heart, the tears rolling down her cheeks, and the tight lump in her throat were all very real.

“I can’t leave him like dis,” she said.

Khadgar blinked at her, brows furrowing.

“Dearest, we can’t bring him back. Once you succumb to the addiction of the arcane, your mind is lost forever. And if what he says is true, we don’t have long until Ael’Yith shows up with his construct.”

“I know, but...” She shallowed hard. “I can’t leave him like dis. He be deserving better den to be trapped like dis, and fer da dragons to be finding an’ killing him later.”

Draggka took her hunting knife from its sheath, approaching the withered Runas. Spike was at her side, watching carefully, ready to defend her if need be. Runas was almost docile, compliant as Draggka took hold of his head, lifting his chin just enough to bare his thin neck. She felt her hand resist at first, but she managed to lay the blade to his neck, feeling his heart pulse underneath it. The hunter prayed that she hadn’t seen a glimmer of recognition in those dull purple eyes as she drew the blade across, slitting open every vessel she knew was there as her vision blurred with the new tears flowing down her cheeks.

Runas choked softly, his hands grasping at her briefly, but the tide of blood was unstoppable, incapacitating him in seconds. As his feet gave way, Draggka held him tightly, gently, reverently laying him down into the pool, and watching the light leave his eyes.

“I be sorry, Runas.” She managed thickly. “I hope ya find peace from ya hunger, wherever ya be goin’. May ya gods being keeping ya safe.” With a hand that trembled, she closed his eyes.

Draggka just stood for a moment, staring at the body floating in the mana pool, slowly turning its sparkling pink surface red. Spike nuzzled his body against her in comfort, before she felt Khadgar move behind her, encircling her with his arms. She turned into him, choking out a loud sob, grasping at his robe to ground her. He held her tighter, pressing a kiss to her head, and allowed her to mourn her lost friend.

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[shadowphoenixrider]

The current scene I'm writing in fic

Khadgar: Hey

Khadgar: Hey Ael'Yith.

Khadgar: Hey Ael'Yith, look at me.

*Ael'Yith looks*

Khadgar: Bitch.