Try as she might, Bernie just could not sleep. She lay, eyes shut, willing sleep to take her but it remained elusive. Going over all she had gleaned from the Lord of demon hunters and the orcs, Galurk and San'ti plus the extra information which Waquro supplied, kept her mind busy and sleep unattainable. 

 Although some of what she'd heard was mere supposition, it somehow made sense and had pieced together some of the strange and unsettling pieces of this Azerothian jigsaw. With a heavy sigh, she opened her eyes and glanced over to where Mel and Mick lay. Both seemed to have found sleep easily enough and the erratic though unobtrusive snores of the two men were almost all that could be heard other than the night time sounds of the swamp.

Marginally cooler than it was during the day, Bernie still found the atmosphere of the swamp overbearing. She needed to get outside. Slowly she sat up and waited until her eyes adjusted to the murk of their large accommodation. 

 A faint glow from the dying embers of the fire allowed enough light for her to manoeuvre her way out of the building without stepping on anyone. The orcs were close together in one section, the soft hides they slept upon arranged in a square, allowing them to store their weaponry in the centre within easy reach if required. She tip-toed past, not wanting to wake anyone. 

She froze as Hagus broke wind rather loudly. In response, Belmar supplied the echo. Orcs were such smelly creatures at the best of times, but this was verging on caustic. She pinched her nose, thankful their rear ends had not been facing the fire or else the Tauren's thick fur may have ended up seriously singed. 

 A sudden desperate need to laugh threatened to overcome her but she managed to suppress it by clapping her other hand over her mouth. She shuffled around the huge figure of Waquro, who seemed even bigger lying down than he was standing. With a final glance around the hut, she wondered if the demon hunters had returned home for they were not inside.

She swept the hides open that covered the entrance and with relief, stepped out into the warm, humid night air. Sounds of the swamp creatures still set her teeth on edge, making her feel vulnerable outside the hut. 

Staying in the shadows of its walls, she stole her way around it, checking for any sign of the Illidari. Nothing. She was disappointed. They were fascinating individuals, mesmerizing, powerful, mysterious and damn sexy in a dark, demonic way. She had chastised herself for thinking so once she discovered that the female lieutenant was Illidan's wife. 

The two Illidari were obviously devoted to each other. She had watched, with a hint of envy, at the respect, consideration and small shows of affection which passed between them during the revelations about the Void. Such tenderness had not been what she had expected of these individuals, particularly not where Illidan Stormrage was concerned. But she had bore witness to the man within the demon, as well as a strong leader who was awarded enviable loyalty from his Illidari. She could not help but wonder what he and Arcaena would have been like in their elven forms, untainted by the fel. She imagined they would be beautiful.

"Is it love, or lust?" A voice in the dark asked. Bernie spun around, her eyes wide trying to locate the source of the voice. "Up here," it said. She glanced to the roof of the hut. There was Arcaena, crouched like a gargoyle, her head tilting side to side like a predator watching its prey. Bernie gasped, a little wary of the female, but not unduly uncomfortable in her presence.

"S-sorry?" she asked.

"Your desire for Drew," Arcaena replied.

Bernie felt herself blush. The question was most personal and unexpected. For a few moments, she was speechless, then clearing her throat, she posed a question of her own. "How do you know which one it is?" she asked.

Arcaena chortled, shifted and glided down to stand in front of the redhead. "Well, does he fill your thoughts every day and night?" she asked.

It was very odd having a stranger asking her such questions but, more bizarrely, a relief to have a chance to talk about her feelings. "Yes," she whispered. "But, the thoughts are mainly of, erm... when we..." She lowered her head, suddenly coy.

Arcaena's elven laughter was warm and friendly. "Ahh, you have mated?"

With hand clasped to breast, it was Bernie's turn to laugh. A little embarrassed still, she replied. "Mated sounds so - businesslike."

The demon hunter smiled and nodded agreement. "Made love, then," she said, watching the redhead blush even more at her words. Bernie glanced around the settlement, feeling all warm and fuzzy as the images of her and Drew flitted through her mind again. "Yes," she replied beatifically. "But, I'm afraid he thinks it was all a ploy to get us here."

Arcaena walked around her, within touching distance. She stopped when she was directly in front of her. "And was it? A ploy?" Again, her head tilted in that curious way she possessed.

"No! I was attracted to him the moment I saw him before I found out that he had actually been here. I was stupid though."

"How so?"

"I did end up hoping that he might lead us here. I suppose in a way, I did trick him, but that was not my initial intention. I care about him." She sighed, "A lot!"

Arcaena lowered her head and resumed her circling of Bernie. She did a few circuits before she spoke again. "Tiene became a good friend of mine," she said, her voice betraying a deep sadness. "I remember when she joined us at the Black Temple. She was desperate to exact revenge on the Burning Legion for all those she had lost, including her husband whom she loved fiercely and unconditionally. Her story is long and full of astounding beauty, as well as crippling tragedy." Arcaena paused, the stirring memories causing her to catch her breath. "She also thought a lot of Drew. The two became close when he was last here..." She noted a change in Bernie at the mention of such affection. She laid a consoling hand on the redhead's arm. "Do not misunderstand, Bernie. In him, she saw echoes of her husband, Camnath. She found comfort, an easing of some of the pain she had borne for years."

Bernie nodded. She knew she had no right to be jealous of someone who had been involved with Drew prior to her meeting him. Yet, oddly, a little seed of envy lay rooted deep within. The Illidari bride stopped in front of her again. "I believe Tiene specifically chose you, so Drew would find the kind of happiness she had shared with her husband. I think she has chosen wisely."

Bernie smirked. "How would you know, Arcaena, you only met me a few hours ago."

"By the way you speak his name, the look in your eyes when he is mentioned. All subtle signs that many would not pick up on. But, I, like Tiene, and you too, are all hopeless romantics. When we feel such emotion, is it a light which burns brightly and endures all attempts at snuffing it out."

Bernie took a deep breath. She liked what she heard, immensely. There was only one dark cloud on the horizon. "I do not think he feels the same though," she said, her tone melancholy.

Music: THE SEERESS PROPHECY (DAYDREAMING) by Achillea



The demon hunter adopted a lop-sided smile, then before Bernie could react, she found herself lifted into the air, shooting up through the canopy of the swamp. Her eyes were wide, panic filling her every pore. Arcaena laughed playfully. "Worry not Bernie, I will not drop you."

"Wh - what are you doing?" the redhead was still frightened. The speed with which the demon hunter moved had caused her stomach to lurch and now here she was suspended about seventy feet in the air, a deadly swamp below and a star loaded sky above.

"We are going to find out if your concern is founded, or not."

"What?" A mixture of dread and euphoria blended into an indescribable cocktail of emotions.

With another laugh, Arcaena soared over the swamp, changing course slightly and heading west. Bernie's knuckles were white as she clung to the female Illidari's arm, careful not to be slapped by the demonhide wings or hinder them from doing their job of carrying them overland. After a few minutes, with the wind in her hair and the oppressive heat of the swamp behind them, she started to relax. Maintaining a firm hold, she smiled as she embraced the sensation of flying through the Azerothian skies.

"Stormwind is a large city though is it not? How will we find him?" she asked, trying to shield her mouth so the rushing air did not make her choke.

Arcaena turned her head towards her. "It is yes, but he is just outside. He is staying with Erik and Gwen." She could tell by Bernie's face that meant nothing to her. "They are friends, and I suspected that's where Drew was staying, so I checked earlier." It seemed the demon hunter had thought it all through.

In a matter of minutes, Bernie saw the cold grey stone of Deadwind Pass below and the spires of Karazhan twinkling in the moonlight. Veering off slightly they then crossed over Darkshire, heading towards the Three Corners before Redridge Mountains and Lakeshire. 

 She marvelled at how much larger the lands were in relation to the game. The rolling hills, mountains and forests were majestic even in the moonlight. Smells of pine, and what she assumed was the many herbs indigenous to the area, permeated the air and rode beside them on the warm draughts. They flew overland with ease and grace. 

Occasionally Arcaena tightened her grip on Bernie and rolled, pulling her wings in then snapping them open again. The redhead at first squealed in fright, then her laughter trailed over the night sky as she revelled in the thrill of riding the currents. She was completely caught up in the excitement of flying but when they started the descent to a small cottage on the outskirts of Stormwind, her nerves kicked in again.

Arcaena glided down to land with ostentatious flair and gently released her passenger. They were next to a lone tree on a hillside which overlooked a small waterfall to the north and plush meadows to the east and south. Below, on the winding path, a little white cottage nestled in a dip in between the two hills. A faint plume of smoke was pulled from its chimney and carried on the spring breeze before melting into the night sky. 

One of its windows had the soft glow of candlelight, flickering, rippling. Arcaena faced Bernie. "Wait here," she said. "I told him I would be bringing him a surprise."

Bernie, shocked, reached out and caught Arcaena's arm. "Wait! You planned all this already? When did you decide to do this?"

Arcaena flashed her lop-sided smile. "When Illidan took your arm and we found out about Tiene. And when you enquired about Drew. I excused myself for a little while as you all discussed things in the hut."

The redhead stared in disbelief. "Do you make it a habit of matching people?" Bernie smiled, nerves tugging the corners of her mouth.

The demon hunter's smile faded slightly. Her voice, although soft, held a tremor of uncertainty. "I do not know what the future holds for any of us Bernie, or how many will survive this fight with the Void. Although my husband has been prophesied as having a major role in this war, we still do not understand in what capacity. Therefore, I want everyone to have the chance of a little happiness at least. And..." she said, her cloth covered eyes turning to the cottage, "... the young man down there, deserves to be happy, as do you."

Bernie's breath caught in her throat. The sentiment was beautiful even in the wake of its potentially dark outcome. She simply nodded as Arcaena flew down to the cottage. 

Gingerly, she stepped behind the tree, keeping a keen eye on the demon hunter. Arcaena moved to the back of the cottage. Light spilt onto the ground where she stood - a window opened. Bernie couldn't help but smile. It was almost cloak and dagger, like errant teenagers sneaking out in the middle of the night for a frowned upon assignation. 

Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Drew emerge from the window. Even from her location, she could see he wore his shirt open, his toned midriff on display - her heart beat a little faster again. "Please, please do not send me away," she whispered to the breeze. "Just hear me out, Drew, please!"

She continued watching with bated breath. For some reason, Arcaena walked instead of flew up the hill with Drew. Perhaps she was telling him what the "surprise" was? A moment's panic set in as she visualised him turning abruptly and heading back down the hill at the news. 

As he neared, she felt herself starting to tremble. She flattened her back against the tree trunk, her heart beating so loudly now, she could literally hear it. Looking down at her chest she swore she could even see it pounding under her T-shirt. Their conversation drifted up the incline on the night air.

"What are you up to, Arcaena?" Drew asked his tone light, friendly.

"I told you - a surprise," the demon hunter replied.

"But why out here?" He laughed. It was plain that he and Arcaena got on well. 

"Nowhere better," Arcaena replied. "It's a lovely, warm, starry night." Their feet scuffed the ground in front of the tree as they drew to a halt.

"What has that to..."

This was her cue. She took a deep breath then slowly emerged from behind the trunk. "Hello again," she said.

Drew did a double-take when he heard her voice. He locked eyes with her, his mouth open in mid-sentence. He turned back to Arcaena, who stood with her usual lop-sided grin, flitting her head side to side as if she was oblivious to the awkward moment in front of her. 

"Umm..." Drew managed, before closing his mouth.

Then Arcaena feigned surprise. "Oh! Begging your pardon. I will be in Stormwind for about an hour, then I will come back for you," she directed at Bernie. Silence. She nudged Drew closer to the redhead. "Be nice!" she whispered to him, then in a flash, she kicked off and soared away.

Drew's eyes surveyed the ground in front of his feet. With hands on hips, he remained quiet for a few moments, lightly shaking his head.

"Drew?" Bernie's nervous voice broke the quiet spring night.

With gaze still fixed on the ground, Drew finally answered. "Hi." Arcaena's master plan became clear. He looked up, his eyes meeting Bernie's again. "She's something else, isn't she?" he said with a nod of his head in the direction Arcaena had flown.

"Yes, she is." Bernie replied nervously. She couldn't bear any awkward silences between them, so she decided to just say what she needed to and have done with it. He seemed affable enough right now so perhaps it was best to strike while the iron was hot. "I'm sorry. I know you think I used you, but it wasn't like that I swear, at least not to begin with..." She winced at her poor choice of words when she saw his jaw tighten. "I mean - at all! It wasn't like that at all. Well...maybe a little...Oh god!" 

She slumped her shoulder against the tree. Inwardly she was kicking herself. Normally she was confident enough to speak her mind and explain things coherently, but somehow this was proving too much. It was a constant dance of words, two forward and three back. She exhaled loudly, irritated by her ineptitude. "I really like you, Drew, that was never in doubt. Even had you never been here, or played Warcraft, I would have still liked you. There, I've said it, now make what you want of it." 

She cast her eyes to the ground, affording small glimpses at him from under her lashes and strands of hair that floated on the breeze. She held her breath as she waited for some sort of response from him. Of all the things she imagined he might say, what he eventually uttered was not one of them.

"I gave your note to a panther," he said.

Her head snapped up. Had she heard him right? His eyes were still on her. A light breeze rippled his shirt, opening it more, displaying his toned body. She heard herself groan, and quickly shifted a little further behind the tree, embarrassed by her involuntary vocal admiration of his physique. "A panther?" she asked, not daring to look at his body again, but desperately wanting to.

She thought he was holding back a snicker as he replied, "Yes. Rishuul is her name. She belongs to a hunter I know."

"That note?" Bernie asked, her brow pinched. Why was she embarrassed about this? It's not as if a panther can read. Or can they, here in Azeroth? she wondered. She inwardly cringed.

"Yes, unless you tied another one to me which I haven't found yet," Drew replied. His voice held a little laughter still. 

Her lips twitched. "Wh - why? Why did you do that?" She peeked around the tree again, watching him closely.

"We have something in common Bernie. Allegedly, we are both a part of what's going on in Azeroth. So, I gave your note to the panther - to erm ...sniff you out." He quickly turned his head away. She was uncertain whether she saw the hint of a grin or a grimace. 

Staring back up at the sky she tried to work out what he was doing. Was he making fun of her? Perhaps that was good. It eased the tension. Didn't it? Or, was it sarcasm? She slowly inched round the trunk, but when she looked, he wasn't there anymore. She stepped forward, craning her neck further round.

"Rishuul didn't know what to make of it either," he said, causing her to jump. He'd snuck around the other side.

She slammed herself against the tree trunk again but turned her head towards him.  Hands in jean pockets, he stood mere inches from her, staring at her. Try as she might, she could not stop her eyes sliding down his body. The night breeze seemed to know what she craved and aided her view by catching his shirt and rippling it out from his physique. She lowered her eyes, focusing on her feet.

Her breathing quickened as he came to stand in front of her. Placing one hand against the trunk close to her head he leaned in.  She trembled as his breath caressed her cheek. "The problem is Bernie, I'm not sure whether you are telling me the truth or just spinning another yarn," he said. There was no trace of humour in his voice anymore. She lifted her eyes to meet his - they were dark, accusing. Moments later he pushed back and turned away from her, both hands firmly in his pockets again.

Disappointment flooded her. She had so hoped his earlier mirth was an indication he did not think badly of her. Now, she just wasn't sure.  "It was never a yarn," she said, a tad pathetically. "I swear it. Please Drew, hear me out."

Music: FOREVER MY HEART Miriam Stockley 



He didn't move other than tilt his head and look up at the sky. Gingerly, she moved forward and stepped up beside him, chancing a sideways glance. Words screamed through her head at a hundred miles an hour prompting her what to say. The odd one shouted louder than its predecessor, then a lull until another made itself prominent. 

The next one fell, unbidden, from her lips. "Tiene," she said. Seeing his body tense from the corner of her eye, she quickly carried on. "I'm not sure how long she has been inside me, but I know it was before I met you. I've been having strange dreams for weeks, some were tranquil and beautiful, others harrowing and upsetting, but always very vivid. From my understanding, she was very fond of you, Drew. You comforted her."

She waited, hoping he would respond. He remained rigid, staring at the night sky. When nothing seemed forthcoming, she sighed heavily, then turned and moved back to the tree. She slumped down. All she could do now was hope the time passed quickly so Arcaena would come back for her, or perhaps the demon hunter wasn't that far away, could see things were not going well and come back earlier than planned. 

One thing was certain, Drew wasn't for trusting her. Not that she could blame him, she supposed. That stupid note!! Then there was the portal in the flat. Mick's taunting words didn't help either. But, if she had it all to do again, she wouldn't change a thing - well, maybe the note - but she wouldn't want to lose the time she had spent with Drew. 

A painful chest spasm gripped her. So this was love? It wasn't at all what she had romanticised it to be. Unrequited, for one thing, had not been part of her fantasy. And falling too quick as well was definitely a fools game. Better to be cold, unfeeling and distant, she thought. Tiene had been wrong about her, and her hopes for Drew to be happy with Bernie were way off the mark.

The silence was unexpectedly broken. "Her husband resides in me," Drew said. "His name is..."

"Camnath. I know," Bernie finished. She glanced up as Drew turned to face her. Perhaps it was the soft moonlight, but he appeared immeasurably sad. She looked to the skies as a shooting star passed overhead. Wistfully, she made her wish but doubted it was worth the effort. Slowly, he walked over and sat down beside her, leaning against the tree. Her eyes remained fixed on the skies.

He inhaled deeply. "Tiene's story is very sad, " he said softly. "She..." He looked at her.

It was not what Bernie wanted to hear right now. "Please don't, I do not want to know. Not tonight anyway. I heard from Arcaena that she went through a lot of pain, but I do not want to listen to specifics. I couldn't bear it." Her voice betrayed her own sadness.

Scuffing a bit dry earth underfoot, Drew brought his knees up and fastened his hands round them. Leaning his head back against the trunk, he looked skyward again. "Fair enough," he replied.

An agonising silence stretched out between them. Eventually, Bernie got up and paced back and forth, looking towards Stormwind. This had been a pointless exercise. Drew would never think she was genuine. 

"Are you keen to leave now?" he asked, noting her agitation.

She flitted her eyes in his direction then resumed her vigil of the sky above the great Alliance city. "Well, you're not exactly riveting company."

"Considering the circumstances I think I'm doing pretty well. It's not every day I get stabbed in the back." His foot kicked at the dry dirt.

She was tired of always being a sullen victim and blamed for every mistake of her heart. Bernie spun round. "I told you I didn't use you. But you know, now I think of it, perhaps you are a user yourself."

Drew's eyes widened. "And how do you arrive at that conclusion?"

"Let me see," she said, her voice hardening just a shade. "That night I met you and you started to tell me about this place, how you came to be here, one thing came across very clearly. Your feelings for Sarah..." 

Drew flinched, but Bernie carried on, ignoring his visible discomfort. "You used her in a way, did you not, to get here too? Following her through like some infatuated little boy? Then you see Tiene.  A substitute perhaps for the one whose heart belonged to someone else? You are a hypocrite, Drew. You sit there, licking your wounds, the injured little puppy, but you are far from innocent yourself."

He pushed himself up from the ground. Dusting himself down, he moved towards her. She stepped back. "It wasn't like that," he said, shaking his head.

"No, of course not," she responded. "Never is with guys. I made a mistake, I admit, but it was not done through malice or as a means to an end. However, here's the real twist. Your dalliance with the demon hunter has somehow brought me here - she 'lives' in me, she chose me. Have you considered the possibility that is was she and her husband who drove us together and ultimately brought me here too?" He stepped nearer. Again she moved back. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't feel anything for you at all, I am merely a puppet, a useful commodity. You didn't complain at the time though, as I remember."

His eyes lowered. Her words hit a few nerves.

She sighed heavily. "I don't know Drew, maybe we are just pawns, driven by two lovers within us who ache to feel what it is like to touch again, to love once more. Perhaps we all get used somehow - and foolishly mistake it for something else." At that, her voice cracked. 

She turned away and leaned back up against the trunk. She sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand before searching the skies again through moist eyes.

Once more, his voice directly beside her caused her to flinch. "Bernie, I'm sorry. I didn't think. I never meant to hurt or use anyone."

She huffed and continued searching the sky for her transport back to Stonard. He stepped around her. Feeling miserable, she tried to avoid his gaze, lowering her head.

His voice was softer. "I've never looked at my actions the way you perceive them, but now you've put it forth - very astutely, I might add -" A hint of atonement rang in his voice. "I dare say I am guilty."  He ducked down, trying to see her face behind the red strands that floated across her face in the breeze. He reached out and gently lifted her chin. His brows pinched as he saw a solitary tear trace down her cheek. He wiped it away gently. Eventually, she lifted her eyes to his. He sighed. "Remove that ring," he said, tapping the small piece of metal in her lip, with his thumb.

"No," she said, shaking her head.

"Please." He stepped nearer.

"Why?" There was nowhere for her to go, her back was hard up against the tree now.

With a slight upturn of his lip, he replied. "Because it scratches me when I kiss you."



Her breath hitched. Had he forgiven her? His smile broadened as his thumb stroked her chin.

A small piece of jewellery made an inconspicuous sound as it bounced off the dry dirt and vanished under dancing grasses. Then gentle sighs were carried away on the soft breeze of an Azerothian spring evening.