2 months prior

Talyn Bladesong walked through the large circular city of Darnassus. The ancient city spanned across the western border of Teldrassil, and had been the capital city of the Night Elf race for centuries. Darnassus was a sanctum compared to other cities Talyn had been to. Tranquil and serene, beautiful and regal. While other cities like the human city of Stormwind, or the dwarvish city of Ironforge were far too industrial, Darnassus was full of natural splendor and wonders of what Mother Nature had to offer her world.

Darnassus had been built atop a massive tree the night elves had named “Teldrassil”, which meant “crown of the earth”. This tree was so massive that it reached high up into the sky, above the clouds, and stretched outward for miles into the Veiled Sea. It’s expansive boughs were enough to house an entire civilization. And that’s exactly what it did.

There were streams, mountains, roads and even entire cities living atop Teldrassil. Talyn had been born here and though he’d ventured out of the city on official business on occasion, Teldrassil was mostly what he knew. This tree had been here for thousands of years and would remain here long after he was gone.

He had joined the Sentinel army as soon as he was old enough. Talyn had always enjoyed sparring with his brothers and knew that he wanted to serve in Moon Guard. His mother was supportive of his decision, though Talyn could tell that she worried for his safety in her motherly manner. Two of his other brothers followed suit, while one brother became a skilled metalsmith and stayed close to home.

Talyn rounded a corner in the Temple Gardens. Many seasonal iridescent flowers were glowing in the moon and starlight that shone down through the leaves above. The shimmering starlight bounced off of his silvery Darnassian armor, and made dancing reflections on the marble pathway beneath him.

His flowing, dark blue hair was usually pulled back in a tight tail in case he got into a scuffle, but tonight, it was neatly kempt and loosely flowing down his back in long waves. His scruffy beard had also been tamed tonight.

The garden was at its full glory tonight. All of the moon pedals were opening and reflecting the moonbeams all around. The sweet smell of peacebloom and the earthy smell of silverleaf wafted through the garden and struck his nose in a pleasing amalgamation.

His steed, a silvery-blue colored night saber named Misty, padded silently beside him. She had served as his mount for several years. In full night saber fashion, she was moody, and stubborn, but Talyn would have it no other way. She had gotten him out of many rough spots; fending off bears, wolves, and even satyrs on occasion.

Talyn heard the soft twilling of a bird nearby, and stopped for a moment. Misty had heard it too. She lifted her great head into the air and sniffed the air in heavy huffs. At once, her demeanor changed. She hunched low into her predatory stance, her tail flicking in anticipation.

The air around them grew deathly quiet. Talyn instinctively reached down and placed his hand on his sword, but did not draw; lest it bring attention to himself. Talyn listened intently. He thought he could hear breathing coming from off to their left, in a bush. He stood there in the quiet and waited, staring into the thick greenery of the shrub.

Then he saw them. Two reflective, yellow eyes staring back at him. They stared for a moment, then blinked, disappearing completely for the instant they were closed, then reappearing. It was then Misty pounced. The great, grey cat pounced into the bush and out of Talyn’s sight with a guttural growl. He heard a feminine grunt of surprise in response, followed by sing-song laughter and then purring from a very large cat.

Talyn rolled his eyes in amusement and released the hilt of his sword. Then, he walked around the side of the bush, just behind a small tree. A black panther with glowing runes running the length of its front and back legs was rolling around in the grass with Misty. The two were playing; swatting each other with their great paws and gnashing their teeth at each other. The runed panther was laughing as it did so.

“Good to see you can put Misty in a good mood. She’s usually cranky,” Talyn remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

The panther looked up sharply, still laughing, and before Talyn’s very eyes, began to change form. The great cat’s body glowed a silvery glow and shifted into the form of a beautiful, female night elf now standing before him. She wore a navy and violet cloak with blue and green swirls running through it. Her purple hair spilled out in curls down past her shoulders and covered most of the bodice of her purple robes.

Misty looked up at Talyn and grunted at him in a plea to continue playing. The female night elf scruffed Misty’s great head, causing the cat to lean hard into the show of affection.

“You really should be nicer to Misty, you know. She’s an intelligent saber,” the female elf said soothingly.

“Is that your professional, druidic opinion?” Talyn said more softly as he approached the elf. Her scent was earthy and natural, like the flowers in a meadow. The odor was heady; intoxicating.

She approached him, and they stared at each other, unblinking. She reached out for him and they embraced for a long moment.

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“I was wondering when you would return,” she whispered on an exhale. “You have been gone for so long.”

He cupped her chin in his hand and looked into her silver, glowing eyes. “Sorry, my love. We had to secure a few of our strongholds in Ashenvale. They’ve been a favored target of the Horde lately for some reason, and we’ve needed to strengthen security measures.”

“I know. I am glad you are back, safe,” she said.

“I am back for a time. I thought we could take Sasha and Misty out for a few weeks while I am on leave? I don’t have to return to my duties for a fortnight,” he said, releasing her from the embrace.

Misty, bored with the conversation, began entertaining herself by chasing frogs into a small pond nearby.

The female elf’s face grew apprehensive. Talyn could tell something was wrong, but what it was, he could not say.

“What is it, Druwyna?” he asked.

She looked up into his eyes, hesitant, as if she were picking her words carefully. “I am leaving out in the morning. I have… an errand to run for Malfurion,” she said with an air of nonchalance.

“An errand? Where? I can go wi--”

“No,” she blurted. “Sorry, I mean.. You can’t. This is a special mission and a special request straight from the Arch Druid, and it needs to be handled with someone with my… skill set.”

“Look, I know I’m not the stealthiest, but that doesn’t mean I can’t at least go with you, and stay behind once we get where you’re going?”

“You are very sweet, Talyn. But, you are right. Stealth is not your forte. Honestly, it’s a wonder we haven’t been caught here already…”

Talyn entwined his thick, calloused fingers between her soft, slender ones. “Says the druid that’s been rolling around, giggling like a human school girl with my cat?” He smiled with the jest, but then his face grew more serious. “Have you given any more thought to my proposal?”

She sighed and averted her eyes from his stare. “Of course I have, Talyn. I think of it every day. You know I want to.”

“Then let’s do it,” he said quickly. “We can go to The Temple tonight. No one has to know… until you are ready.”

“Oh, Talyn,” she said with a soft chuckle. “You are always in the moment. You know why I want to wait. Why we need to wait. You just got promoted Sentinel-Captain, I have my work with the Cenarion Circle. We would never have time for each other right now. We need a few years for things to settle down.”

“What I want to settle down, is us. We would make it work. Besides, you’ll forget about me in a few years if I don’t make you take the vows now,” he said, jokingly.

“You are not making me take anything. And I could never forget you. You are my soul. Where I go, you go. That will never change,” she said, placing her hand softly against his cheek and then embraced him once again.

**********

“We need to do something NOW!” Talyn’s fist slammed down hard on the table.

Talyn had lost his temper, but he did not care. He was angry, and betrayed. Afraid.

“Captain, I can see that this matter is of importance to you. But we cannot just send an army every time someone wanders around behind enemy lines and gets captured. You know that,” the Sentinel-Commander stated earnestly.

“Ambassador Ravenheart did not wander around behind enemy lines, Commander. She was sent there by the Arch Druid. She went there on his command. And all of the things she has done for Darnassus? She is raised in the highest of station with our city, is she not? She has fought on the front lines in Outlands against the fel orcs as well as in Northrend against the monstrosities created by the Lich King,” she does not deserve the fate of being left to rot in an orc prison.”

Talyn swallowed back bile from that statement. His stomach was churning, and he felt that he might heave right here in front of his commanding officers. How could she do this? How could Druwyna not tell him this was her errand? Had this been the reason she’d not accepted his proposal yet? Because she knew? And she didn’t tell him? Didn’t trust him.

And why would she? He’d have never let her go. He’d have found a way to stop her. She must have known that. And now she was alone. In a dark, filthy dungeon, with those savages doing goddess-knows-what to her.

“Commander. I am requesting 50 soldiers. I’ll go to Stormwind and get help from the human King if I have to. I have to try.” Talyn’s voice cracked as he held back his emotions. He needed to get it together. He was not acting as an officer in his station. He was going to lose this argument with his Commander, and he would have no way of helping Dru then.

His Commander hit him with a long, knowing look. “Hmmm,” she said after what seemed like an eternity. “Ambassador Ravenheart has been a true asset to Darnassus, Stormwind, and many other nations. Perhaps you are right, Captain. I will send you to Stormwind with a single battalion of troops to attempt to get a search party assembled. Hopefully the Warrior King will aid you. Word has it that Malfurion has been there for some time now. Since he was the one to get her into this, I would start there with my request to help.

“You are NOT to engage in all-out warfare with the enemy. Is that understood? This is Rescue ONLY. If your little band destroys our fragile truce with The Horde, you will answer to me, do I make myself clear, Captain?”

“Aye, Commander. Crystal clear,” he said.

“Dismissed, Captain. And good luck. You are going to need it,” the Commander said and turned on her heel and walked away.

**********

As Talyn stood in Stormwind with his troops ready to go through Fireplume’s portal, his heart pounded. What if he failed at this mission? What if they could not find her? What if she was already gone from this world?

No. He shook the thoughts from his mind. He had to remain vigilant, positive, and focused. He could not dwell on the negative.

He closed his eyes and shut out his thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he did the only thing he could think of. Something he had not done in many years. He prayed to Elune for guidance and her blessing. When he finished his silent prayer, he gave the order for his troops to march through the portal to Theramore Isle.