Who Woulda Thought?!!

[arvaitha]

Ever since I buried my family so long ago, I had figured that I would forever be alone.......with the exception of my animal companions of course. I have always come and gone at my own leisure, never having to answer to someone nor having someone constantly bugging me as to 'Where are you' and 'What are you doing'. I have seen too many people go through that and I didn't want any part of it. Of course they always claim they enjoy the fact that someone worries over them, but me, Id just rather go and do as I please when I please without having to 'ask' permission. Seemed to me that relationships were too much a hassle to want one. I mean, I could go into battle with a clear mind, or just sit by the sea without a care in the world. Yup...thats the life..........or so I thought till about 2 weeks ago.

It was normal day and I had decided to go up to Expedition Point to help out with some trouble with some of the 'locals'.....some overrun Orc establishment or some such. Anyway, on the flight over I pulled out my comm and turned it on to see if anyone was up and about . There were a couple of new guild mates on that I haven't met yet so I decided to introduce myself. The one they called Dubi, well, he really wasn't much of a talker, but the other one?!!! Balhamr was his name and loud was his game. (Don't think he understood to keep the comm away from his mouth and talk normally) Despite that, he seemed nice enough and just so happened to be in the area so we agreed to meet up at the point and the both of us would head out towards the encampment. I sat waiting on my saber since he said he wouldn't be long and I watch as this crazy dwarf comes nracing up the path with his long red hair swirling in the dust behind him and his beard had flown up into his face. All I could think is what the Hell is this dwarf doing? He commenced to all but slide to a stop in front of me and thank Elune my saber was trained in battle because otherwise I'm sure he would have bolted.

"HAIL!" Oh my....I looked around and yup, he was talking to me.

"Ah....hello?"

"Yew mus be Arvi." It dawned on me this must be Balhamr.

"Well, actually, my name is Arvaitha. But everyone usually calls me Arv."

"OK Arvi....nice to meet ya." You know, I really didn't care for this 'Arvi' business.

"Just Arv is fine thanks."

"Oh ok. Sorry bout that, Arvi...I mean Arv." Hmmmmm.....

So we left the point and headed west. We chatted as we rode about nothing important, but I kept watching out of the corner of my eye that he would keep looking at me and every time I would look back at him, he would divert his attention elsewhere so as though to make it seem he was looking the other way the entire time. After I had enough of his staring at me....I saw his looking again and snapped my head too quickly for him to turn away and busted him.

"What ARE you looking at?" Of course he seemed quite embarrassed to be caught......his cheeks redder than his beard being a telltale sign.

"Oh...ah.....nuttin....I jus...ah...I jus ner seen an elf wit such long ears fore."

Gasp....I was shocked....I was...mortified. I never cared much about my appearance, but my ears?!!! I liked my ears. I thought they were the perfect size and arch...they didn't stick up too much and were shaped just right. To an elf, the ears are a very important feature as they define our very survival....and this....this.....DWARF....telling me my ears were too long??!!!

"WELL....I am so SORRY they are too LONG for your taste, but THEY suite ME just FINE!!"

"Oh, don git me wrong...deys jus fine...jus longer dan I er seen is all. Betcha can 'ear a long way wit dem cantcha der Arvi?"

Oh, the nerve of this......That was it....how DARE he insult me THEN call me that awful ARVI name.

I spurred my saber into a full run leaving that horrid dwarf to his own company. I knew if I stayed I would undoubtedly spew off at the mouth and say something that I would regret later. I thought I had done an effective job in making sure he would get the message to leave me alone and go back to where he came from (presumably beneath a very large rock) and I would just avoid him in the halls when we must both be there at the same time. I had this all worked out in my head when I heard him calling for me from behind.

"ARVI....slow down."

"HEY ARVI....wait up."

I came to a screeching halt and turned my saber around so quickly that he almost tumbled over his horse when it stopped...If I wasn't so mad at the time I'm sure I would have laughed at that, but I was not conscious of the humor of the situation at the moment. He looked at me with a surprised expression and started to say something when I cut him short.....

"Listen here you...you.....you DWARF!! My NAME is NOT ARVI...My NAME is ARV.....Better yet, my name is ARVAITHA! But until you can get it right, it will be MISS ARVAITHA until you DO!!"

He looked at me with a quizzical expression that I found to be extremely irritating and annoying at the same time and had the nerve to ask

"Wot?"

[Balhamr Ironfist]

Balhamr had not seen Arvaitha for several days. Ever since meeting the night elf, his thoughts had been preoccupied with visions of her, although he still wasn't sure it was a good idea.

Outwardly, the casual observer would quickly conclude that the elf couldn't stand the dwarf's company. From the night when they first met, she had bristled at his presence. Uncertain what he had done to deserve such a response, Bal decided to do the only logical thing: keep pushing those buttons until something turned up!

Despite her somewhat amusing insults and barbs, Bal kept finding himself around Arvaitha whenever she made her presence known. Over a few days, the two covered much ground together in Hellfire Peninsula.

Then, she abruptly left. She had indicated that she would be "away" for a while, but Bal had no idea where, or what the cause of her departure was.

While she was gone, Bal tried to find out more about her. He would inquire as to her presence every day, asking if anyone had seen or heard from "Arvi," and quickly changing the subject whenever anyone seemed to be picking up on the dwarf's interest in the elf.

Seeking to find out more information on the elf, Bal tried to get more from Polrena. Although the priest said she did not know Arvaitha very well, she assured Bal that she thought the reason Arv was outwardly hostile was that she secretly was attracted to him! Quoting the famed troll bard, Polrena summed up Arvaitha's actions with the line "Methinks the elf doth protest too much."

The dwarf did not know how to respond to this. His initial reaction was a mixture of shock, awe, and elation. He quickly realized that he enjoyed the idea that Arvaitha could actually be interested in him, although, if this were the case, she sure did have a strange way of expressing it.

Finally, after several days which only seemed to get longer, Arvaitha returned. Bal heard that she had been seen in the Eastern Plaguelands, and promptly flew to Light's Hope Chapel in hopes of seeing her again.

As Bal approached the chapel, he listened in to the guild comm channel, and found that he and Arv were the subject of the conversation! Apparently his "discrete" inquiries into Arv's whereabouts had not gone unnoticed. Muttering a curse upon himself, the dwarf realized that there was a reason he was a paladin, and not a rogue, as matters of discretion, stealth, and espionage were clearly not his forte.

Polrena and Graile were having a discussion which soon eluded the dwarf's comprehension. He had been fairly certain that he had been a subject of the conversation, but now he wasn't so sure. The priest and shaman continued their discussion, which wandered from topic to topic, including such oddities as birds, bees, eels, caves, celebration, dancing, food, drink, and others. Deciding it was beyond him, Bal set his mind back to finding Arvaitha.

He did so shortly after landing at the chapel. After a brief but cordial introduction, Bal admitted he was happy to see Arvaitha. To his delight, Arv said she was also happy to see him, and even went so far as to say she had missed the dwarf's company! Balhamr was practically dancing at the news.

As the pair tuned their communicators back on, Balhamr was surprised at what came next. Arvaitha, listening in on the continuing conversation, was obviously mortified at something. Bal, not really grasping that he and Arv were indeed still the subject of the discussion, did not understand what was so wrong. Arv immediately turned several shades of red, and promptly excused herself.

Bal, more than a little confused, focused his attention on the conversation once more.

Now Graile and Polrena were talking about dancing, sleeping, smootching, and scratching. A glimmer of understanding sparked in the dwarf's eye as Arvaitha returned. Finally putting things together, Bal took his usual, indirect, fine approach to things.

"Oh! Ye're talkin' 'bout SEX," he exclaimed.

Arvaitha once again turned bright red and excused herself. She soon returned, and informed Bal that she needed a drink. When he asked if she had a preference, she replied only "Strong."

Bal saw his window of opportunity. He had wanted to take Arv on a picnic, on a little island just north of Booty Bay, and he saw this as his chance. He floated the idea past Arv, who seemed more than eager to get to just about anywhere besides where they were. She proposed a quick stop in Ironforge, after which they would wing their way south.

Arv's gryphon was significantly faster than the dwarf's, thus, he arrived several minutes behind the elf. Bal quickly realized why Arv wanted to stop in at Ironforge - she was already pretty much sloshed.

Balhamr approached the elf, who was in the middle of flirting with one of the Ironforge Guards. Bal supressed his instict to knock his fellow dwarf onto his back because he realized it was not his fault when he heard Arvaitha addressing the guard as "Bal." The poor girl was so smashed that she couldn't see straight!

Bal gently tapped Arv on the shoulder, and she turned, greeting him with "Oh look! Another Bal! But this one's cuter."

Bal smiled at this, and took the elf's hand to lead her back to the gryphons. He purchased two one-way tickets to Booty Bay, strapped Arv in tight, and the pair were airborne once again.

They soon arrived in Booty Bay, and the drinking had only just begun. Arv produced several bottles of various beers, ales, and rums, sampling most of them herself. Feeling they were in a relatively safe place, Bal decided to indulge himself a bit as well.

It was not very long before the couple were both three sheets to the wind. Suddenly, something caught Bal's attention. The giant, Mok'rash, who inhabited the island north of the town, was yelling taunts and threats to all those in earshot.

It's difficult to say whether it was the dwarf's natural courage, his desire to impress the lady with a feat of strength, or if it was just the liquor coursing through his system, but whichever it was, Bal quickly stood up and dove off the docks to begin swimming out to the island where the giant waited.

The swim took a little longer than it could have, given the fact that Bal was weaving this way and that, but he eventually found his way to the island. Shaking himself dry, he wasted no time, immediately drawing his weapon and charging the giant. The battle that ensued was fierce, but quick. Aided by Arvaitha and her two pet gorillas*, the four quickly toppled the giant. Satisfied that things were safe, Bal and Arv sat and resumed their drinking activities.


* Actually, the second gorilla turned out to be Valand, who was in the area and decided to check up on his friends, but due to his drunken state, Balhamr did not recognize him.

[Celera]

(LOL. Very nice!)

[Vangelis]

(( Hehe. Just one thing: the famed TROLL bard? ))

[Balhamr Ironfist]

I ain't up on me poetry, but Polly sez 'e wuz a troll, an' I ain't questshunin' Polly when it comes ta dat.

-- Bal

[arvaitha]

I wish this gryphon would land soon. These last few days were extremely draining and my whole body seemed to ache. I was now heading towards the Eastern Plague lands to tie up some loose ends for Carlin Redpath that I had been meaning to do but didn’t have the time. However, feeling the way I was, I decided to take a detour and stay in Aerie Peak for a couple of days of recouping.

I arrived about noon. The sun was shining and the weather was crisp and warm unlike the heat of Hellfire or the cold of Dun Morough. It was perfect. I entered the stronghold to procure myself a room and headed there straight away once I had paid. The room was ordinary, but it was well kept and the linens were clean. I dropped my bags in the corner as well as my armor and decided to take a quick nap before dinner was to be served. A fire was already burning in the fireplace, so I curled up in the quilt that laid on the edge of the bed, wrapped my arms around the pillow and snuggled into the bed. I closed my eyes thinking a nap was exactly what I needed.

…………………………………………………
The noise of all the commotion stirred me from my sleep. All I could think was how was an elf to get any sleep around here with all the noise. I threw the quilt off me and noticed that the air was a little chilly. I knew I had just checked the fire before I fell asleep, how could it be out already? I walked over to the fireplace to poke once again at the fire and saw that instead of logs, it was a pile of ashes. Did I sleep all night long? I didn’t even realize I was that tired. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

“Yeah, who is it?”

“Its jus me madam. I’m da maid ‘ere an I brought ya some breakfast. You ordered it when ya came yesterday.” Wow…I really did sleep all night. I went to open the door and the young female dwarf came in and placed the tray on the table. Whatever it was smelled delicious and had my stomach grumbling.

“Is der anythin else I kin do fer ya?” Her accent reminded me of someone, but at the moment I couldn’t think of whom, so I thanked her and tipped her on the way out.

I sat at the table and looked over what she had brought me. Meats, cheeses, eggs of some unknown bird, and bread. Elune bless the dwarves cause there was also a mug of ale. I didn’t realize how hungry I was since missing dinner yesterday, but before I realized it, I had eaten every crumb on my plate and washed it all down with the ale. And I enjoyed every bite. With a very satisfied sigh, I got up to get dressed. I decided I was going to spend my day fishing.
………………………………………………………..
It was the perfect day for a fishing expedition. The sun was just barely over the horizon, promising a beautiful warm day. I laid a blanket over the sand that I had brought with me and cast my line into the water. I had found a twig while walking here that I was able to prop my pole on till it got a bite and settled my backpack as a pillow after pulling out my hat that magically produces ale. After drinking the ale, I made myself comfortable by laying my head on my backpack and pulled the hat over my eyes to shade me from the suns rays. The sound of the water lapping, the warmth of the sun, and the affects of the ale soon had me drifting off to a peaceful slumber.
I awoke to find that something was tugging at the line of my fishing pole. Before it could get away, I pulled in the line and found that I caught a fish big enough for dinner. The sun was going to be setting soon so I packed up my belongings and headed back to the stronghold. Once there, I handed the bartender my catch and asked him to cook it up for my evening meal while I went to change.
When I came back down, I saw that a place was waiting for me at the bar, so I sat and ordered an ale until my food came. I didn’t notice at first, but as I looked around I realized that I was the only who was not a dwarf. A couple of them glanced my way, but it seemed as though they were quite used to outsiders traveling through.

“So, do you get many outsiders that stay here?” I saw the bartender wasnt busy.

“Outsiders? Aye, dey come by and leave jus as quickly. None seem ta stay more den a day or two. How bout yew, lass, are ya gonna be stayin awhile?”

“No…no. I just needed a short leave to relax and always thought it was nice here. On my way to the Eastern Plague lands to lend a hand actually.”

“Oh aye. I’ve eard dey be lookin fer help…especially wit everone goin through da portal n all now. So, are ya travelin alone or ya have someone meetin ya?”

“Oh well, I’m quite alone. Besides my gorilla that is.”

“Looks ta me dat an elf like yew shouldn’t be alone. Must be pertty lonely.”

“Not really. I have always traveled alone so Im pretty used to it. Besides, Gorgy is sometimes more company than I need."

"Aye, I see what ya mean. Me? I jus as rather come home to me woman an da wee ones underfoot. Der's always a fire burnin in da harth and a warm meal on da table. Nope, nuttin like it. Still git my hands a sweatin and the butterflies in me stomach when I see me Gronda waitin fer me at da door waitin fer me ta come home." With that, he shook his head and waited on some new arrivals.

I thought about what he had just said. I have never been able to be around someone more than a couple of days before I had to be back on my own. And what he said about having sweaty hands and butterflies in his stomach sounded more like a bug I had last week whenever...............the realization of what was happening to me drew me to a stop.

“Ya look like yew’ve seen a ghost. Ya ok der Miss?” The bartender brought over my dinner that I now had no appetite for.

"Yeah........I mean yes, I'm fine thank you." He gave a look and left me to my meal. I played with my fish, and under normal circumstances, Im sure it would have been delicious, but as it was, it tasted like tree bark. I ate a few bites, then pushed it away.

"Is everthing to yer likin? You didnt eat much of it?" The bartender looked at what was left of my plate when he brought me another ale.

"Oh, its wonderful. My eyes seem to be bigger than my stomach." He accepted this and removed my plate.……………………………………………………


I had a lot to think about on my trip to the Eastern Plague lands. Just finding out that my heart may be in trouble…..with a dwarf no less…..left me with a huge sense of confusion.
I have never been in love before. I have never had a ‘relationship’ with someone other than my brother and my friends. Even then, those were not until recently. Maybe finding something to do will help me with my predicament. Maybe Carlin will have something to do that will help.

I landed at Lights Hope Chapel and headed straight for Carlin Redpath.

“Welcome Back Arvaitha. Are you back to help?” He shook my hand at my approach and I noticed he seemed to have aged since I had last been here.

“I am. What do you have for me today?” He filled me in on the local trouble he had been having and much of those problems were stemming from Stratholme. I decided to check the comm. to see if anyone was interested in accompanying me. The first person to answer me of course…was Balhamr.

Without realizing it, he was already in the area and was looking for me. Somehow he had found out I was here and was on his way to find me. I was heading north towards Stratholme to meet the others when I see this white horse charging towards me. I watched as the rider wave at my direction and slowed as they approached. I was slightly apprehensive about this encounter because I had a feeling I knew who it was. The rider stopped in the front of me and took of his helmet. He had a glitter in his eye and a smile that showed his happiness and all I could do was stare. My belly was doing flip-flops, my hands were slipping off the reins, and I was mad…….why does he do this to me?

“HAIL!!” Yep, loud as ever.

“How’re ya doin der Arvi?” Arvi…heh. How could something that I absolutely could not stand, seem to now be cute coming from a dwarf?

“I’m…..I’m fine. Thanks.” I felt nervous and didn’t know why.

“So…I…um….I ah missed ya…..while yew were gone.” He turned three shades of red and I at that moment thought he was the cutest dwarf I think I had ever saw.

“I…ah….missed you too.” I don’t know why, but I did.

He started to stutter and smile even more. His eyes widened as if not believing at what I had just admitted and actually became speechless.

“So…” I said “Why don’t we just head over to Stratholme and wait for the others?”

“Aye…yew jus follow me….an be careful too!” Be careful he says…….be careful of whom?