Sarah's eyes flickered open. The light in the room was soft and subtle. Disorientated after her sleep, she blinked a few times trying to get her bearings. "Where am I?" She tried to push herself up.

The young draenei rushed to her side. "You must stay still," the girl said softly. "Allow me to examine you. We can discuss your whereabouts later."

"I'm dreaming," Sarah tried to rationalise, whispering the possibilities to herself. "Or... unconscious?" Her mind started to relive the traffic jam. "Oh my god, I've been in an accident!" She patted her body in several places, then clasped her hands to her face. There were no signs of serious injury that she could tell, just a few grazes and bumps to her head, shoulders and neck.

A small laugh came from the foot of the bed. The man, Khadgar, had retreated to a seat next to the base of the bunk on which she lay. He watched with mild amusement as she frantically checked herself for injury. Sarah stared at him, both in awe and admiration. Her memory of his administering a potion came to the fore. This had to be a dream, her way of handling whatever had happened to her in real life. As such, she wanted to enjoy this; it was after all, her "safe place", this fantasy world. Her panic eased and she braved a little roleplay. "Khadgar?"

He flinched. The draenei woman shared a look of surprise with him. "You...know me?" he asked. "I am at a disadvantage, forgive me. You are...?"

She had never paid much attention to this character in the game as she had others. There was no denying, however, here and now, in the flesh, he was very charismatic. "Sarah," she finally managed. "Sarah Metcalfe."

A knock came to the door and she heard heavy footfalls enter the room. Another draenei came into view. This one was male, and huge! He was a distinguished individual. Perhaps a paladin, she thought, taking his attire and armour into consideration. The draenei male smiled at her, inclining his head in salutation, before turning to the Archmage. "Khadgar, we must make haste. The King awaits." He had a deep resounding voice and the signature accent of the race. Sarah smiled to herself.

Khadgar sighed a little irritably, but nodded in agreement. "Alright, Ocel. I will meet you outside." Ocel turned and left. Khadgar rose from his seat, moved along to the side of the bunk and looked down at her. She guessed he was in the region of six foot, perhaps a little more. Very subtley, she inhaled his scent, another thing she remembered from earlier.

"Well, nice to meet you Sarah, but for now, I have some matters of importance to attend, so Lukha..." he gestured to the young female draenei, "... will see to your needs." He hesitated a moment, then turned to leave.

"Wait!" Sarah held out a hand in protest, just scuffing his robes as he almost passed outwith her reach. She needed answers and she didn't want him to leave. Was this a dream? If so, what answer would he give her, she wondered. A tiny part of her was also clinging to the insane hope that all of it was real. While she found this strange experience both exhilarating and unbelievable, she wanted to know what had happened to her. Was the Archmage merely a representation of perhaps a doctor in real life; a trick of her mind to help her get through this? But, if (and she knew deep down it was pointless hoping, but still...) if this was real, how did she arrive here? Where exactly was she?

The Archmage faced her once more, his steel eyes softened. "We will talk later... Sarah Metcalfe." With the hint of a smile, he inclined his head, then turned and left the room. Sarah raised herself up on her elbow and stared after him. She continued to watch the door even after he quietly closed it.

"You have captured his interest," her young nurse, Lukha said in the familiar draenei accent.

Sarah looked round at young woman. She was lovely, more so than they were even portrayed in the game. Sarah smiled half-heartedly. Answers it seemed would have to wait, so in the meantime, she was going to roll with it. "Another new specimen for him to study I guess?" she enquired.

The draenei looked at her quizzically. "Specimen? That is a strange way to describe yourself. But I think, Sarah Metcalfe..." Lukha's eyes twinkled, "...his interest in you is more than merely scientific."

Sarah guffawed. "You interpret a polite nod and a smile as a come-on?"

"A 'come-on'? I do not understand." Lukha's brow furrowed and she tilted her head, inquisitively.

"Flirtatious behaviour," Sarah explained.

Lukha smiled, lowering her head. "Oh no, the Archmage does not flirt. But, he has done more than just smile and nod at you," she said as she finished tidying away the bowl of water and healing potions that lay on a table next to the bunk.

Sarah raised her eyebrows in a quizzical fashion. The young draenei continued smiling as she explained, "It was he who remained by your side since he found you in the forest. It was he who mopped your brow, and applied the balm to the grazes on your forehead and shoulder. He stood outside when I checked the rest of your body of course, for any sign of other wounds, though. He is always so respectful, and decent...and kind..." Sarah heard Lukha sigh a little. Did the draenei have a little crush perhaps? Lukha blinked then continued, hurriedly. "We could not tell if you had any internal injuries though, as our healers were required out in the field, so we...I mean Khadgar, watched over you."

Sarah lay back down on the bunk, astounded by Lukha's words. "So, the Archmage nursed me?"

Lukha nodded as she sorted the blanket around her patient. "He was concerned about you."

Sarah felt honoured. She nestled against her pillows, smiling as the story unfolded. "So, just how long have I been here?"

"He brought you here two evenings ago."

Sarah bolted upright. Her head swam at the suddenness of her movement. "What?! I've been unconscious for almost two days?" Even in her dreams she didn't conjure up time so specifically. She clasped her forehead and waited a few moments for the dizziness to fade. The syndrome felt a bit too real for her liking. You don't actually feel such things in dreams, she thought. Slowly, she swung her legs over the side of the bunk.

"I advise you not to get up so fast, Sarah." Lukha came round by her side, concern etched on her pretty blue features.

"I'll be fine, thank you," Sarah assured her, "just give me a moment please." The lightheadedness faded, but her mind was starting to work overtime. Her fingers kneaded the sheet below. It was very real indeed. Glancing around the room, she took in every detail. A small chest of drawers with a mirror sat against the wall next to a tallboy. Both looked in need of renovation. Another sideboard was host to a bowl and pitcher along with Lukha's little medicine case. Two landscape paintings, not particularly good ones, hung crooked on the wall above. Some burned down candles sat, dilapidated, on tarnished candleholders.

As Sarah straightened, Lukha watched with mild concern. The last thing the draenei wanted was for her assigned patient to collapse and suffer more injuries. Positioning herself alongside Sarah, she made ready to catch her if she stumbled.

Sarah smiled her appreciation. Oddly, in contrast to the rest of the room, the rug underfoot was plush and she wiggled her toes over the soft pile before she slowly rose and put weight on her feet. She was a little wobbly to start but with Lukha's steadying hands she smiled and made small steps forward. "And who was that man who came for Khadgar?" She asked, stumbling a little as she tried to speed up her progress.

"That was my uncle, Vindicator Ocel," Lukha took hold of Sarah's upper arm and cupped the elbow in her other hand for more stability. "He is visiting from the Exodar. He has some business here. He and the Archmage are great friends."

Sarah acknowledged with a nod. Still on slightly unsteady legs, she ventured to the small window on the north facing wall. Lukha released her hold of her as she had the sill for support now. Sarah pushed the window shutter lightly and it opened in one smooth motion.

Her jaw dropped as she drank in the vista. A tall cathedral spire dominated the view to the west, and slightly to the east in the distance, the unmistakable bastions and battlements of an impressive keep. Large gulls swooped towards the vast harbour off behind the cathedral, where she could just make out masts of ships some of which were departing to destinations she could readily guess at.

Her breathing was rapid and her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it quite plainly. She leaned on the sill of the open window. Suddenly, how she had come to be here, and whether it was dream or not, didn't matter anymore. 

Closing her eyes for a moment, she let the breeze carrying the sounds and smells of the city gently brush her cheek and play with her hair. Half anticipating the city to have vanished when she re-opened her eyes, she sighed loudly when her expectations were unfounded. There it was. In all its glory; the sun just breaking through the clouds and bathing the buildings in a warm, yellow glow. 

Her lips split into a broad smile as she embraced her arrival in the city which she had become familiar with through her computer screen.

"Stormwind," she breathed.

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