Elunara was drawing beneath the tree on the hill, when Jordan appeared.
"Is it ok to sit?"
She smiled. "It always is. I enjoy the company."
Jordan sat down, and Darguni crawled into his lap.
"Oh, hey."
"He likes people. You should visit more often." She ran her hand on the soft fuzz of Darguni's head. "Jordan."
"oren?"
"Close enough, my little love."
Jordan played with him. "He really is adorable." He sighed.
"Why are you here Jordan?"
"Huh?"
She shook her head. "Don't play dumb. You and I both know you've never done this."
He frowned. "You told me to figure out what I wanted. I decided that, for the immediate need, I just wanted to be beside you. I thought, perhaps..." He nodded. "Perhaps if I spent more time in your company, then I would figure out if it's something worth doing."
"I can't fault your logic." She shrugged and returned to her work.
He resisted the urge to play with her hair. Instead he focused on entertaining the baby. "Renwa and Zelinnia, it just seems so illogical, and yet you look at them and they're perfect for each other."
"Mm, I agree."
"I guess nothing seems odd in your world view."
She laughed. "People who avoid their hearts are an oddity to me."
He winced. "I guess I deserve that."
"You're not the only person that could refer to, dear."
"Yeah." He pushed a lock of her hair back behind her ear. Realizing what he'd done, he dropped his hand and stared at the child.
"It has always been my belief that a person should seek out that which they desire most. Even if the object of their affections turns out to be less than expected, at least they took the time to find it. This belief is why I never fit in among my own kind. I was not willing to conform to the standards set out before me. I made who I am work for me in the end, and that's the important part."
"Are you trying to tell me we wouldn't be compatible?"
She shook her head. "Jordan, the things I know about you, could probably fill a teacup. I can't tell you if we'd be compatible or not. What I am saying, is that I think you should see this through, but don't be disappointed if you find something you dislike. I'm no one's fantasy, Jordan. Renwa can tell you that."
"I know you're not." He stared down at Grogek. "But I have convinced myself that... seeing this through, will be the answer I'm looking for."
"All I ask," Elunara put a hand over his. "Is that, no matter what happens, you will stay. Renwa would be crushed if you left, especially if he finds out it was over me."
He took her hand into his and kissed the back of it. "I promise."
"Dude..." Andrew frowned up the hill. "Is Captain Jordan putting the moves on Elunara?"
Joseph shook his head in disbelief. "It sure likes like it. Wonder if General Grogek noticed."
Andrew shrugged. "No idea, man. This could get ugly."
The gesture did not go unnoticed by Grogek. Only Elunara would have recognized the makings of a smile on his face. The bangle remained on her arm, where it had been since it'd been given to her. He didn't need to see that subtle reminder that she belonged to him. Tulani held a special place in his heart, but Elunara was his soul mate. Regardless of how hers branched.
Jordan had no idea why he was standing in the center of Elunara's house, staring at her things, but he was. He wandered around, looking at the amazing pictures on the wall. It didn't matter that most of them were naked men, they were remarkably well done and no detail over looked. He was fairly certain that each individual hair on their bodies was even placed correctly.
She had left a shirt hanging over the back of her chair. He picked it up and breathed deeply. No one smelled like Elunara. He ran his fingers along the back of her books. Tulani's desk was very neat and organized, even the little pins and needles lined up in a row. But Elunara's was messy. Some of the papers were left out and he pushed them aside, surprised to see her working on the casual portrait of him. In fact, it made him happy to see that there were quite a few. "I wish he'd smile more." She'd written in a corner.
He looked in the baby's room and was delighted to see the portraits she'd chosen to hang, and of course, the pictures of silly little animals that children so often loved. It wasn't his intention to have any, but it wouldn't bother him to be in Darguni's life. He stepped back in to find a furious Elunara approaching the baby's door. She stopped and blinked at him.
"Oh, Jordan. I thought someone had broken in."
"I'm sorry, you said I could read your books, and I was looking at the pictures you drew. I really like your sabre cat pictures."
"Yeah, they'll always have a special place in my heart." She laughed. "I left poor Yondre in Darnassus. I haven't seen her since."
"You were a hunter?"
She shook her head. "Mount."
"Oh." He walked around the room. "I'm not interrupting, am I? I wasn't sure and your sign wasn't out."
"No, I just came back from a consult." She began tucking papers away.
He watched her as she tucked the papers away, organizing them in her way, putting things together, and changing arrangements. She emptied her board of used pages and tucked them neatly away.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want a book?"
"I... I hadn't gotten that far yet."
She raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" She sighed and pushed away the board. "Jordan, why are you here?"
"I..."
"If you're not honest with me, this will never work."
He scratched at the back of his head. "I guess I just wanted to understand you. Not in whatever is written in those things, but the now you." He shook his head. "It sounds stupid, because I will need to read those eventually, but that's not what I wanted... I kind of want to see how I would fit into your life, if that's where we go."
She crossed her arms and considered him. "Fair enough. What did you want to know?"
"I guess... what is your routine?"
She laughed. "Well, that's complicated." She tapped a finger to her cheek. "Well, Grogek usually wakes first and gets ready for work; then Tulani most of the time, because she's just so damned efficient. I'll get out of bed and watch them. A kiss good bye and Grogek hauls out his axe. Then Tulani and I discuss who'd taking Darguni while he's fed his breakfast. There's a place for him up at the tailor shop, or maybe I take him. A kiss good bye and she heads off to the tailor's. After that I either have a free day in which I work on my art, wherever I decide to take it, or I have an appointment, either here or at their place of choosing. Depending on my mood, I might have appointments all day or one or two. When the day is done, I'm usually home first, Tulani next, followed by Grogek. Sometimes, if she had a big order, Tulani might be later. Then, Either Tulani and I have our special sessions," She winked. "Or Tulani works on her sewing while Grogek and I have our special sessions. We usually collapse in the bed, and Tulani heads to hers."
He listened with avid interest. "Wait, Tulani has her own bed?"
"When she first joined us, sleeping in the same bed as Grogek made her nightmares worse. It was just better for her to have her own bed."
"Tulani has nightmares?"
"Not so much anymore. She does from time to time when something is upsetting her."
"Does... she ever... join you two?"
"Fairly often." Elunara shrugged. "She has absolutely no interest in men, but she will participate with me if she is feeling frisky with it."
"Huh."
"No one but Grogek and I occupy the big bed. It's kind of sacred. Tulani is allowed on it, and has been known to crawl into it if she has a nightmare that didn't wake me up first. She usually returns to her own bed as soon as she can."
"I understand that." He murmured. He stared at the monster sized bed. Finally, he shook his head. "I wouldn't be comfortable in that one anyway."
She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"I'm not sure what I hoped to accomplish." He frowned.
She laid a hand on his arm. "Well, you tried, and that's something."
He brushed the back of his fingers on her cheek. "Sometimes, I lie in bed and think about you." He whispered. "It never occurred to me why, until you were taken from us."
A knock on the door shattered the moment. Elunara opened the door.
"You have to come; a messenger from the King himself has arrived with some boxes!"
Elunara and Jordan looked at each other before following the man to the center of town. There a messenger wearing the royal crest was flanked by two large boxes. When he was satisfied that everyone was present, he held up a paper.
"I am to read this message first." He cleared his throat. "Forgive me for this has taken longer than it should, time is warped between us. It has occurred to me that I may have been hasty in my actions previously. This is to correct an over sight. Signed, King Varian Wyrnn." The man put the paper away as everyone began murmuring to themselves. He pulled out another paper. "It is my royal decree that I promote General Johnathan Renwa to the Rank of Admiral, and all duties implied. It is also by Royal decree that based on previous records; I promote Captain Jordan Shryke to title of General. May you both use them in good health. I expect both of you, in the harshness of your environments; figure out your roles on your own. Enjoy the new armor that will reflect your rank and positions. P.S. To the now Admiral Renwa: Congratulations on your impending nuptials to the Blood Elf Zelinnia." The man handed both sheets of paper to Renwa.
"I must be going now." He saluted and then followed the two guards.
Elunara snickered. "Admiral Renwa. I never thought I'd see the day." She whacked him on the back.
"Does this change anything?" Zelinnia peered over his shoulder.
"Only in Stormwind." He murmured.
