Everyone in the Students of Shadow noticed a difference in Tiene that day. She looked poised and confident, as well as beautiful. She deduced she must look amazing because for once Cel did not mention Inaris, and instead, complimented Tiene on how particularly attractive she looked. She felt like she could rule Azeroth.

There was only one person though who Tiene wanted to notice her above all else. And see her, he did. He could not take his eyes off her.

He trained alongside her at the guild as usual, but he seemed a little -distracted.

Tiene smiled to herself. Did Aledine's little pots of paint make that much of a difference? She mused. Or was it more to do with the fact that for once, she believed she was as pretty as any other girl?

Whatever it was, she had never been so glad to have met someone like Aledine. Furthermore, perhaps she would not have anything to correct as far as the "kiss" episode was concerned. Maybe things would go the way she hoped.

As the end of their lessons approached, Camnath made sure she knew he would like to walk her home again. She pretended it was no big thing and said. "Okay."

Walking through the Square, several eyes looked Tiene and Camnath's way. The little clique of girls who were always so quick to move or turn away when she neared, stared at her and her companion. Although Tiene felt good about herself today, a little nagging doubt flared as their eyes followed the young couple. She knew they were whispering about her amongst themselves, and probably not saying very complimentary things at that.

Her stomach lurched when she saw they were crossing the plaza towards them. An involuntary "Oh no," slipped from Tiene's mouth. Camnath looked at her quizzically.

"Hello Tiene," said the girl who led the group, Sedrine. Her name was about as much as Tiene knew about her, having never been privy to their little outings or conversations. The others' she did not know, nor wanted to, neither.

"Sedrine," Tiene replied, courteous but a little nervous too. She was trying to maintain some of the poise she had aired so well all day.

"You look...nice," Sedrine said, not looking at Tiene, but instead casting her almond-shaped eyes over the boy next to her. Tiene's veil of insecurity, however, was soon lifted as very unexpectedly, Camnath spoke up.

"Nice?" he said incredulously. "Is that all your vocabulary can muster?"

Some of the other girls shifted a little awkwardly. No-one spoke to Sedrine Brightspell like that.

The almond-eyed girl stared at him in disbelief. "It was a compliment," she said a little haughtily.

"You never compliment anyone but yourself, Sedrine." He retorted.

Tiene's eyes were wide. There was some animosity between these two. She was curious as to why. Plus, she did not expect the quiet, almost shy, Camnath to be so outspoken.

Sedrine's entourage was trying to stifle smirks by what Tiene could make out. Not exactly what one expected from loyal friends. Their esteemed leader, however, did not notice. "No need to be so rude, Cam," she replied.

Cam? Tiene realised there must be history between them for this Sedrine to call him with such familiarity. She was starting to dislike the girl even more now.

"You are the rudest person I know," Camnath said. "Furthermore, you are nothing compared to Tiene; she outshines you in every way."

Tiene blushed, her butterflies going into overdrive. No doubts about that kiss anymore, she thought!

Almond-eyes smirked. "Really? You have fallen for the runt of the Firefury clan?"

Her term acutely hurt Tiene. Then a voice inside her head repeated words said to her earlier that day, Beautiful and deadly. You are a queen. A vixen. A siren. A goddess! In an instant, she had vanished. Camnath's face broke into a knowing smile.

Sedrine was startled, wary. Tiene stealthed around Sedrine, prodding her as she did so, jabbing harder with each circuit. Miss Almond-eyes squealed and bleated, flapping her arms around trying to ward off her invisible attacker. Tiene finally pulled the decorative clasp from Sedrine's hair, and the girl's unruly mop fell over her face, no longer giving the impression of immaculate grooming.

Sha'al, Tiene whispered, and once more, she was visible to all. "Are you sure I am such a runt now, Sedrine? I don't see you being able to make anything disappear other than a pimple on your snout, and even then you are not very good at it." She pinged her nose, at which Sedrine let out a sharp yelp.

Her little group of minions laughed on the sidelines and surprisingly applauded Tiene, albeit silently. Well, well! Seemed Miss almond-eyes was not as revered as she thought she was.

Camnath lightly placed his hand on the small of Tiene's back and steered her away. He was laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes. His laughter was infectious, and soon the two of them were enjoying the funny side of what had just happened.

At Tiene's house, Inaris gave her a knowing look when the young couple walked into the kitchen, while Duthan welcomed the young elf and invited him to stay for dinner. Camnath happily accepted.

Yathas, who recognised the boy as being a fellow trader's son, also greeted him warmly. It was his turn to make dinner, so he busied himself in the kitchen, allowing the youngsters to relax and enjoy each other's company.

The Firefury house was full of good cheer, even more so when Lor'themar arrived with particular news. Vereesa and Rhonin's wedding date was now made public, and all of the Farstriders and their families were invited to attend the wedding celebrations two weeks from today. Lor'themar looked at Tiene and indicated Camnath with a quick sideways glance. She beamed.

"Would you like to come with us, Camnath. With me?" she asked the young elf.

His mouth broke into a wide smile. "Are you sure?" He looked around everyone. They all nodded. "I would be most honoured then. Thank you." Camnath was delighted.

He then watched as the Firefury's engaged in chatter about their day. Tiene's family were charming and welcoming. They were such a close family, not unlike his own.

He could relate to the bond he witnessed between Tiene and her brothers. He noted how protective they were of her; just as he was for his sister, Faealle. She was three years younger than Camnath, and a little shy but very bright. She was already showing promise in the use of magic. She had aspirations of being a mage. Her hero at the moment was Prince Kael'thas, and as he was studying and working as a blood mage in Dalaran, she planned on doing the same. Sweet.

He watched Tiene as she laughed with her brothers, telling them about the incident with Sedrine. Inwardly, he sighed. She was stunning. It had taken him weeks to pluck up the courage to speak to her at the Students of Shadow.

He had liked how she didn't try to be the same as other girls, like Sedrine and her clutch, for example. Tiene was unique, earthy, and very smart. The first day he saw her, with her golden hair and impish features, he was hooked, although he never gave any hint of it. Even her feistiness was alluring.

When he saw her walk into the guildhall today, he could not fail to see she was even more stunning than usual. Yes, she appeared to have a little lip colour, and her eyes, emphasised, but nothing was overdone. It had, nonetheless, been difficult for him to concentrate. She had won their duels easily that day, but he didn't mind.

Tiene glanced round at him. She smiled and moved over to sit with him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you," she said.

"No need to apologise," he replied. "And I didn't feel ignored. Your family and mine are very similar in the bond we have."

"You have brothers?"

"No," Camnath shook his head. "But I have a younger sister. Faealle."

Tiene smiled. "And are you as protective of Faealle as my brothers are of me?"

He looked at her, the corners of his mouth twitching in a smile. "Very. That is why I do not like Sedrine."

Inside Tiene sighed with relief. She had been thinking along the lines that he and Sedrine had a different kind of history. Camnath explained how Sedrine had ridiculed his sister on many occasions, to the point Faealle did not want to walk past the almond-eyed fiend and her band of harpies. Tiene smirked at his description of them.

"Is Faealle alright, though? I mean is she able to go by them now without worrying?"

"Oh yes, she, like you, is far superior to the lot of them. With Faealle though, it took a lot to convince her so."

She felt all warm inside with his compliments.

Yathas announced dinner was ready.

"Want to train some more after we eat?" she asked Camnath as they walked over to the table.

"Sure, I'd like that."

The next two weeks training went well although there was a little dark cloud hanging above Tiene and Camnath, particularly on the last week she would train at the Students of Shadow.

For all she was excited at going to train with the Crimson Blade, part of her was not looking forward to it, namely because she would not see Camnath as regularly. She would come home now and again certainly, and they would meet up then, but she had grown fond of his walking her home and their little one-to-one training sessions.

He had never kissed her again, something she was somewhat disappointed about, but there was no mistake he liked being around her. Not quite brave enough yet to initiate such little intimacies, she resigned herself to merely hoping he might want to kiss her sometime in the future. Preferably the not-too-distant future.

That very night would be ideal. It was the wedding celebrations for Vereesa and Rhonin, and Tiene was excited about it. There would be a magnificent banquet, music and dancing. It was to be a grand affair. Furthermore, it was to being held at Windrunner Spire on the west coast of Ghostlands.

Both Tiene and Camnath had finished lessons early to go home and ready themselves for the evening's event. Camnath would arrive at Tiene's house around mid-afternoon.

Tiene wore a silk ice-blue gown, cinched at the waist. The bodice shaped, cut low at the back and adorned by a deep cowl which swept down from her shoulder straps. She wore her hair up and had twisted soft ringlets from her temples. She heard her father calling up to her, announcing Camnath had arrived.

"One moment," she replied from her room. Using the little pots of pigment she received from Aledine, she applied the finishing touches to her look. With one more check of her reflection, she swept out of her room and downstairs.

As she entered the living area, five pairs of approving eyes greeted her. She was momentarily caught off guard, quickly checking her skirts had not snagged on anything, or her straps had slipped. No, all was as it should be.

"You are...beautiful!" Camnath smiled, stepping forward. "You will outdo the bride."

Yathas hid a smile. Tiene's brothers shared a knowing look at the young elf's reaction. "That's more gold you owe me, brother," Inaris whispered to Duthan, trying not to laugh.

"Not quite, Inaris," Duthan whispered back. "That was not a request to court her."

"It is the prelude." He snickered.

"The wager is still ..."

"Behave you two," Lor'themar interjected with a smirk. "You will embarrass them, or worse, infuriate Tiene."

A small ripple of laughter spread between them.

Music: Celtic Dream Ronana Hardiman from Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance

https://youtu.be/yRw17CfpcCM

Tiene never even noticed their shenanigans, she was too busy blushing and trying to keep particular little wings under control.

Camnath himself was so dashing in his cream shirt, dark russet pants and long length midnight blue jacket. He stepped forward and gave Tiene a small floral clasp with beaded ribbon strands. "My mother made this for me to give to you," he said. "She is very gifted in making adornments and accessories for many of the garments my father makes."

The gesture so touched Tiene. "It's lovely, Camnath. Thank you! Would you mind?" she said, indicating she would like him to fix it to her shoulder strap just above her bust.

"Of course," he nodded, but then seemed a little bashful at touching her there.

Duthan nudged Inaris to stop him snickering at the poor boy. Lor'themar did the same to Duthan who was struggling to hide a chuckle himself. Yathas gave all three a warning look. They fell silent, duly chastised.

"Well then, are we all ready?" a voice boomed cheerfully from the doorway. Dar'Khan.

Tiene did not know he was going to the wedding. She glanced at Lor'themar, who just shrugged.

"The portal awaits, " the Magister said with a flourish. They all turned and headed out the door. As Tiene passed Dar'Khan, his mouth curled up in approval. "You look exquisite, my lovely," he whispered.

She kept walking, refusing to acknowledge his taunting. Camnath glared at him from under long dark lashes. The Magister smirked as the young couple stepped through the portal.

The Windrunner home, adorned with garlands, and the lighting like fireflies hovering up the slope to three majestic towers, was breath-taking. It sat like a giant crown atop the hill overlooking the sea and the village below where most of the wedding guests assembled.

Guests roamed throughout the small paths and gardens, chatting, laughing, eating and drinking. Music provided by a small group of elven musicians added gaiety and dancing to the already busy wedding reception.

With people dressed in their finest, and the village decorated beautifully, the entire setting was quite breath-taking. Everyone met and congratulated the bride and groom who welcomed all to their happy event.

Vereesa was as striking as her sister Sylvanas and stunning in her gown of pale lilac.

Rhonin was red-haired, tall and proud. Although his face was full of laughter and good spirit on this day, there was no mistaking he was an incredibly talented mage capable of great power.

Camnath escorted Tiene around the tables where food in abundance, and drinks of all kinds was readily available. The couple danced, and sometimes they sat talking and laughing.

Tiene saw Lor'themar dancing with a woman she had not seen before and asked Inaris who she was. It was Lady Liadrin. She watched, smiling, as she witnessed a very different Lor'themar. This one was genuinely smitten.

Her brothers were quickly snapped up too, by young women keen to dance and have fun. She looked around for her father. He was talking to a burly man. Human, he was and seemed to know her father well judging by the way they laughed and clanked goblets together.

Camnath and Tiene looked at the beach and decided to go for a walk. The moon was high, and the sea embraced the shore in gentle waves. Tiene looked out over the sea. Even with the hilarity and music behind them, there was a majestic serenity over the water. She had no idea why, but the thought of her people having crossed great distances to come to these lands flitted across her mind. The sounds of the waves lapping reached her ears.

Her palm felt the caress of his fingers, and she smiled as Camnath took her hand. He moved forward. His gaze dropped, shyness overcoming him. Then he took a deep breath and looked up into her eyes again. "I'm going to miss when you go," he said quietly.

"I'll miss you too," she replied. Her heart was beating madly.

"Maybe I could come to visit you?"

"That would be nice. And I will come home now and again - to see you."

He inched closer, leaning a little forward until his forehead touched hers. Tiene's butterflies were doing loop-the-loop and dive-bombing everywhere. "Tiene..." he whispered, his head tilting, lips almost touching...

"There you are!" The unmistakable voice of Dar'Khan came from their right.

A groan rumbled in Camnath's chest. "I don't know him, but I swear, I am going to kill him one day," Camnath whispered, extremely irritated by the intrusion.

"You will need to join the queue then," Tiene said, equally agitated and bitterly disappointed their 'moment' was interrupted. She took a deep breath, composing herself, and looked up. "Dar'Khan. To what do we owe the pleasure," she said through tight lips trying to mask her annoyance.

The magister smirked as he noted the expressions on the young couple's faces. He had timed his interruption perfectly it seemed. "Your father wishes to speak with you, and I volunteered to come and find you. Now wasn't that nice of me?"

"Quite!" she replied. She turned and started heading towards the village, Camnath following close behind.

Dar'Khan grabbed the boy's arm. "I wouldn't get too cosy there, boy," he warned him.

"No, you wouldn't. Because it isn't you whom she is interested in is it?" Camnath spat back. Shaking his arm free of the Magister's grip, he glared at him before turning and catching up with Tiene.

The magister sneered. "You will regret your disrespectful ways, boy. All of you will - one day," he muttered under his breath then followed slowly behind.

Yathas was still talking to the man Tiene noticed earlier. They were both quite well into the wine by the looks of things, although her father had never been drunk as such in front of her, she could tell he had been enjoying himself.

Camnath had caught up with Tiene placing his hand on the small of her back. She turned to him and smiled. Reaching her father, she stopped in front of him. "Father, you wished to speak with me?"

"Ah, Tiene. Camnath. Yes, I want you to meet someone." He gestured to the human beside him. "This is Brett Hornsby. He was, and still is a trainer with the Crimson Blade."

The man smiled lopsidedly, "Well, I was a trainer in your and Lina's days, Yathas. Now I am more the guild banker, looking after the finances and such like. Pleased to meet you Tiene, your father has been telling me all about you."

She smiled. What was a member of the Crimson Blade doing at the wedding though, she wondered. Did he know the Windrunners? "It is a pleasure, Mister..."

"Oh, please call me Brett. I always think Mister makes me sound so old. "

"Brett, it is then," she nodded. "So are you with the bride or the groom's party?"

"Groom! I've known Rhonin for more years than I care to mention. But that is not the only reason I am here."

"Oh?"

"Someone else wished to meet you and invited themselves along when they knew I was coming." His voice was low, bordering on hushed. If Tiene was not mistaken, she thought Brett was a little incensed.

Tiene glanced at her father. Yathas cocked his eyebrows and smiled. Then he and Brett stood aside.

From behind the two men, appeared another. This one, considerably younger, had platinum hair which he wore in a side-parting, with three tightly woven plaits resting over the mass of hair.

Possessing some typical elven features - the high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, tapered ears (although not nearly as long as most elves) - Tiene guessed he was also half-human. His face bore two thin scars on his left cheek. Dark brown eyes held a degree of menace and an equal share of charm. He was handsome, tall, of athletic build and immaculately dressed.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he approached the group, stopping in front of Tiene. Displaying notable flair, he bowed, never releasing her gaze then, taking her hand, he brushed his lips across her knuckles. "Enchanted," he said, his voice gravelly and controlled. "I was most keen to meet the new generation Firefury, soon to join the Crimson Blades."

"Thank you," she said, not sure what else to say. "And you are?" she ventured, even though she guessed who this charming individual was.

"Your soon-to-be mentor, Tiene. I am Sauren Nightflame."

Although she did not know it at the time, she stood before the man who would change her destiny - in more ways than one.

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