Music: Wish You were Here - Blackmore's Night

Camnath rode his steed at full gallop to Southshore where his guild had rooms reserved at the inn. They were due, next day, to head south-west to Menethil Harbour for the mid-morning boat to Theramore in Kalimdor.

His hurt and anger still burned deep. He could not come to terms Tiene had not so much as mentioned him to anyone. She must have had someone there who she could have spoken with, surely? Yet, according to Brett, Sauren's right-hand, she had not.

Camnath, in comparison, mentioned Tiene whenever he had the chance - be it to his sister, Faealla, his Guildmates, and even his Guild Master, Belaen; to whoever was willing to listen, really. For just over a year, he had spoken about her, dreamed of her, written to her - loved her.

Tonight was going to be their night; the time when they would express how much they meant to each other. Or so he had hoped.

But now she was betrothed to the Crimson Blades Guild Master; the arrogant, son-of-a-naga who swaggered his way through the evening and took great joy in humiliating Camnath in front of Tiene.

According to Brett, Sauren was lying. He did not believe Yathas would agree to Sauren courting his daughter. Brett had a point too when he said Tiene herself would have known. On reflection, she had appeared distraught by the announcement. Camnath also tried to reason the Firefurys were such a close family - Yathas would not agree to such a thing without first speaking with his daughter. And, they were all well aware that he had strong feelings for her. Weren't they?

As he rode hard, thinking all the time, he blamed himself. The more he thought about it he realised he should have gone to Tiene's father first, and long before now. Camnath had known, after all, many months ago, that Tiene was the one he wanted to be with; there was no-one else.

If only he had acted sooner! He snorted, dragging his arm across his nose, wiping the snot away. Then she would've had no excuse not to mention him in front of people! He gritted his teeth. Oh, why did that hurt so much? Did it constitute a denial of her feelings for him? Did she ever feel for him at all?

Tormented though he was by conflicting feelings, he did not want to believe her love for him had been a lie - nothing more than foolish hope. But rational thinking was hard when your heart was breaking into a million shards.

Words from her letters swirled in his mind. They always spoke of her love for him. She used to write of little butterflies swarming in her belly whenever she thought of him. He'd liked that. He choked back a sob.

Suddenly, anger flared. All Camnath could imagine now was Tiene with Sauren holding, touching and kissing her. He could not seem to shake that image from his mind.

But what if he'd made a terrible mistake! She had tried to tell him it was not true - that Sauren was lying. And Brett had been adamant; it was all fabrication. What if the bastard had contrived the whole thing and was forcing himself on Tiene right now?

He yanked on the reins, pulling his horse to a skidding halt. He sat, hands crossed on the saddle's pommel, his head hung low. Excruciating guilt washed over him. He had left her to that terrible fate. He roared aloud, the sound of despair echoing through the night hills. Hurt. Pain. Anger. Guilt. He did not know how many more emotions he could bear.

He spurred the horse on. It was not much further to the inn now. He hoped he could gather his senses before rejoining his colleagues.

*****

The raucous laughter of Belaen Bloodbane rang out. He sat with the two Sigil of Shadow delegates next to the hearth of the inn, downing more ale. They were recounting the evening's entertainment at the prestigious Crimson Blades headquarters. Overall, it had been enjoyable, with good food, laughter, dancing, some pretty girls and plenty of wine and ale.

One of the lads nudged him when he noticed Camnath walk in. Belaen turned, his broad beaming smile faltering when he saw the young elf's face. He turned to his recruits and whispered, then got up and approached Camnath. "Come on, lad," he said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's walk."

They left the inn and turned left to stroll down by the small pier. "So, what's happened, Cam? I thought you and young Tiene -"

The elf folded, fighting to keep control of his dignity. He clung to the rail at the pier, staring out over the sea.

The Guild Master gave him time, standing next to him, leaning on the rail also. The lad was struggling though, and Belaen could almost hear his heart, shattering. He could hazard a guess what had happened, the Crimson Blades Guild Master had earned himself some notoriety in many areas, not least his way with the ladies. "The bastard has her, doesn't he?" he asked.

A long pause ensued before Camnath responded. "Aye."

"I'm truly sorry, lad. Perhaps things will somehow - oh, I don't know, Cam. I can't possibly imagine what you're feeling right now."

"Everything!" Camnath said with a shuddering sigh. "Anger. Hate. Pain. Guilt."

"Guilt?"

"I just left her there, Belaen! I'm hurting because she has never mentioned me to anyone in a year! How stupid is that? It's hardly important considering the circumstances. And I've left her. With that..."

"Devious little half-breed," Belaen finished. Camnath hung his head, defeated. "The cold hard fact is though lad, if you had tried to do anything, he would have killed you, maybe even hurt Tiene as well."

"I should have tried..."

"No, Cam. You are good, don't get me wrong, but he is a superior assassin, and I'm sorry to say, probably always will be. That is no defamation to you, lad. Merely a fact."

"Why couldn't I see it coming? She mentions him in her letters all the time..."

"Of course she does. He's her Guild Master, part of her everyday routine. That does not mean she felt anything for him - other than professional respect. Do you mention me when you write to her?"

Camnath lowered his head. "Yes, but..."

"But bugger all, lad! My point is, it means nothing. And quite frankly Cam, the only person she needs to speak to about you, is you." Belaen knew his words would not comfort the boy, but sometimes it was necessary to say it how it was, for healing to start. "There is something else you should know."

Camnath turned his head and looked at his Guild Master, his friend. "What?"

"I found out tonight, from two of the guilds you applied to in the Eastern Kingdoms, that Sauren had a hand in the refusals you received." He watched the young elf's eyes harden. Belaen attempted to ease the tension a little. "A decision they regret now, having met you this evening and hearing of your achievements." He soon discovered his attempt had fallen flat.

"He what?" Camnath's anger started to rise again, on another level. "So, he made sure we weren't even on the same continent?"

Belaen nodded. "I can't see any other reason, so yes; I have to be honest."

"Bastard!" Camnath hissed.

"You have no argument from me on that front. However, several guilds have been having second thoughts about Sauren's - direction these days."

Camnath turned to face Belaen. "His right-hand also hinted at something tonight."

"Brett Hornsby?"

Camnath nodded.

"Now he's a good man. You can trust him."

Camnath nodded slowly. He hoped Belaen was right because he had asked him to watch over Tiene.

He told his Guild Master what Brett's suspicions were, of the involvement with a renowned mage and Caer Darrow. As it happened, similar whisperings had occurred at the Gathering. It seemed the affluent Sauren Nightflame had alienated quite a few within the network.

Belaen suggested they discuss it more in-depth once they were back in Kalimdor due to the people who owned Southshore were the very same family who held Caer Darrow. Camnath agreed.

"In the meantime lad," Belaen said. "Going by what I saw and heard of the lovely Tiene Firefury, I think there is much more to her than merely her purity. She is strong. She will cope, whatever he does to her. She is, after all, a Firefury. Perhaps it is just not your time to be together yet. But don't give up on her."

Camnath shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, pain still in his eyes. "I think I have given her reason to lose faith in me, though."

His guild master spoke again. "I know you love her, and I'm pretty damn sure she loves you, Cam, really I am. I sense your paths will cross in the future when the time is right."

Belaen patted Camnath on the shoulder, then returned to the inn, leaving the young elf to lick his wounds and consider Belaen's words.

Camnath stared out over the sea and its moon-kissed waters. He recalled the night he and Tiene stood on the beach near Windrunner Spire. His lips quivered with a winsome smile. "A' da'tad ordan dordie,* Tiene. Always."

"Learn to use your womanly charms Tiene, it may, in the future, be what saves you. You are more powerful than you realise."

Tiene's eyes flickered open, the echo of Aledine's voice vanishing into the void. She lay on her belly; arm draped over the edge of the bed. A sheet covered her from the waist down.

She fixated on a large black mass on the floor. Her eyes focused; it was her dress from last night. Her eyes moved slowly to where Sauren's silver-grey suit lay in a crumpled heap. The full horror of last night came screaming back.

Her eyes shifted lazily to the right, where she saw a naked foot. Her gaze continued upward, and her Guild Master and violator confronted her. With one foot poised on the seat, and forearm resting on his knee, he just sat, watching her. His eyes were still aflame, hungry. She held his gaze, strangely defiant.

"Good morning," he said, his voice deep and gravelly.

She didn't answer. She just continued staring.

He lowered his foot from the seat, displaying himself in all his glory. He was comfortable sitting there, naked; no inhibitions whatsoever.

"Once you see him in all his magnificence, and feel him, you cannot resist." Of all the voices in her head, the last one she wanted to hear, was Lexie's!

As much as she tried to shut out the girl's voice, it nevertheless, steered her gaze towards Sauren's finely toned body once more. Her eyes dropped to his chest where she noted two parallel scars, long since healed, ran over the serpent and dagger tattoo. The snake seemed to slither with each deep breath he took. Another deep, jagged scar traced down his left side over his ribs.

Her eyes met his once more, silent, judging. Lexie had been adamant that one day, Tiene would become Sauren's pet and understand how she'd felt. But, Sauren had forced himself on Tiene. There was nothing irresistible about that! She would not want him as Lexie did, ever.

A small laugh, although it was somewhat humourless, rumbled in Sauren's chest. "Speak to me, Tiene."

She closed her eyes and turned away, moving further onto the bed, and curling her arms around the pillow.

The bed dipped slightly as Sauren's weight perched on its edge. His long slender fingers combed through Tiene's golden hair "I did not mean to hurt you," he said. "I swear I didn't."

Still, she remained silent, her skin not even flinching under his touch.

Her refusal to look, let alone speak to him brought an edge to his voice. "Speak to me." His tone implied he did not know how to deal with her reaction. From what she'd learned from Lexie, Sauren was unaccustomed to women refusing to acknowledge his prowess.

He had been used to women moaning with pleasure when they lay in his bed. But when Sauren had deflowered Tiene, not even a gasp fell from her lips. When he'd taken her, she'd shut down. No fight, no flight. Nothing. The lively, talkative, vibrant woman of last night while she danced in Camnath's arms, was no more.

He was becoming agitated with her lack of response, and she heard the rage inside him starting to build again. "Do I need to beat you to make you utter something?" he said.

Clever, she thought. Those words unlocked her silence. "Beat me if you must," she replied quietly, still staring at the wall. "Bruises at least heal."

He flipped her over and pinned her arms at either side of her head. Her eyes were blank. "I would never beat you, Tiene - you know that. I wish you would just..." He shook his head, trying to find the words. But Tiene suspected the veil which had possessed him last night could re-emerge.

"Beg?" she asked, finally looking at him. "Scream, perhaps?"

"Want me," he replied in a rush. "I want you," he whispered. "More than I have ever wanted anything or anyone."

"You had what you wanted last night." She raised her chin; the marks of his grip, still fresh on her skin.

Abruptly, he punched the pillow next to her head. She didn't even flinch. "No! I didn't, Tiene!"

She remained quiet, assessing the situation. She saw his rage, but she too had anger, and it was simmering, biding its time. Still, she needed to test the water. "I thought you liked a willing participant, Sauren; like Lexie. I wasn't willing! What drove you to do this?"

He faltered, momentarily stunned at her recalling such a thing. She caught him off guard - forcing him to look at what he had done from a different perspective. Confused, his voice softened. "Have you never wanted something so badly, Tiene, that you just had to take it?"

Her breath hitched, catching in her throat. Inaris. He said that very same thing after the weaponsmith had hit him. Why such memories? Vendel'o eranu*, she wished inwardly.

She swallowed and fought to keep her voice level. "No! I haven't. Moreover, how demeaning! Whatever was in that vial last night, worked. It immobilised me enough for you to take what was not yours for the taking."

He gasped. "That was merely an elixir to prevent you from becoming impregnated. Your lack of response was your own doing, and it was - infuriating!"

She stared at him, incredulous. "Talk about planning! I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies then."

She could see he was offended by her words, even though they reflected the cold, harsh reality. She wriggled, trying to get out of his grasp, but he wasn't for letting go. His eyes drank in her nakedness.

"You hurt me last night, Sauren," she said.

Releasing one of her hands, he traced his fingers over her throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't..."

She slapped his hand away. Instantly, her anger returned. "I don't mean that! I meant what you said to Camnath, what you implied. You knew fine how I felt about him."

"I remember you did feel for him when you started here. But you never spoke of him much after. With his choosing Kalimdor, I assumed the romance was all but over. I thought just friendship remained." He spoke matter-of-factly.

"Assumed? You saw us together last night. Did that look like it was over to you? How can you be so cruel, so unfeeling?"

He stared, surprised. "You think I'm unfeeling?"

"You have no compassion! Lust and desire are all you know. They drive you to get what you want - at whatever cost, it seems!"

"And what of your precious Camnath?" He kept his voice low, in its usual gravelly tone. "Where were his feelings last night, Tiene?"

"You destroyed them!" she spat.

"Did I? So easily? Perhaps they were not strong enough, then. He turned and walked away from you!"

Sauren's eyes bore down on her. "I, on the other hand, am willing to fight for you."

The memory of Camnath's departure stung, no less so after Sauren's rather brutal reminder. She loved Camnath. But did he love her...really? She believed he did - once, and she hoped he still did.

Focusing on the man above her, her anger bit once more. "You read my letters..."

Flummoxed, he laughed. "I did not Tiene." He rolled his eyes. "I merely guessed that you mentioned me based on the assumption you would tell him of our missions and training together. I confess I made that up."

Her brow furrowed. Why was she even considering anything which this man said could hold an ounce of truth anymore? Her eyes suddenly hardened. "Show me the letter then," she said flatly.

He inched back. "What?"

"The letter. The one you said my father sent you."

His mouth twitched, and his eyes avoided her.

"Prove to me you didn't lie about that too."

He didn't move, but she had already seen where his suit lay on the floor. Swiftly, without warning, she ducked under his arms and dove for his jacket.

Taken by surprise for only a moment, he grabbed her, but they both fell to the floor in a tangle. He wrestled the jacket from her hands, only to see she had the envelope. She fought like never before, pushing him away, kicking out, until finally, she managed to see the writing on the envelope. It was her father's. Her heart sank. So it had been true?

Sauren attempted again to relieve her of it, but she elbowed him away. She cast the envelope aside and unfolded the letter. As her Guild Master tried once more to free it from her hands, her heel caught him just short of somewhere rather precious. He grunted and shifted, ensuring she could not work that move again.

Her eyes skimmed the letter before he could make another attempt at snatching it. By then, he knew she had read it.

"It's only a letter confirming a consignment of armour ready for delivery," she whispered. "Nothing whatsoever to do with courting." She looked up, glaring. It had been a ruse. A bluff. A lie.

Her rage and pain over the deceit erupted tenfold. Lashing out she slapped, punched, kicked and scratched him. Launching herself forward, she pushed him over and continued to beat him. "You evil bastard!" she screamed.

Her fury escalated; he was smiling, laughing - his perfect teeth on display. He grabbed her wrists, preventing her from continuing her physical onslaught. He seemed to be enjoying her tantrum, and it infuriated her even more. "I hate you!" she hissed.

He rolled her over, pinning her hands down on the hard floor. His raw desire surfaced once more. Lowering his weight on her, he continued grinning. "No, you don't hate me, Tiene, you know you don't. But carry on, bring out your fury. Embrace the rage."

She continued to struggle, but he was too strong, keeping her pinned beneath him. She felt the sting of tears and blinked them away.

"Look at me Tiene," Sauren said, his voice seductive, trying to tempt her.

Defiantly, she stared at the crumpled clothes on the floor beside her, furious at the way he had deceived her and Camnath. Raging did not come close to how she felt, but she refused to look at him.

"Look at me!" he demanded.

Slowly, she turned hateful eyes toward him, her mouth tight with rage.

His eyes were dark, lustful and something more lurked which she could not identify. She dropped her eyes to his mouth and those perfect damn teeth.

"I have fought my desire for you for a year," he said, his voice low, raspy. "I could have taken you the very first day you arrived, believe me, I wanted to, and I almost did. But this is about more than just satisfying my sexual needs."

She raised her eyes to his again. Really! She thought sarcastically.

His brown eyes had softened; they were warm, almost tender. "I do not know what you have done to me Tiene, but I sometimes think you have possessed me. So much so, that I did what I did, to have you here. Like this," his eyes roamed over her body. "With me."

Somewhere in the distance, a voice. Lexie. She sounded almost smug.

Sauren's lips hovered over Tiene's, his warm breath ghosting on her face. "I know you think you loved that boy, and I have no doubt he loved you - once. But, he left you, Tiene. He doubted you. And I - I would kill for you." 

Music: Human by Rag'n'Bone Man 

https://youtu.be/L3wKzyIN1yk

Warning: Mature content follows, namely of a sexual nature until the last 6 paragraphs

The fight left her, and she closed her eyes. Sauren had voiced the very thing which she was hurting her the most. Why did Camnath walk away? Why did he not fight for her?

Lexie: "You will succumb to his charms..."

No! Camnath walked away because he would have lost the fight, she reasoned. This beast above her was a far more skilled assassin than her beloved, and if Camnath had challenged Sauren, he would be dead, therefore unable to be with Tiene, ever. This way, there was perhaps a chance for them in the future. She desperately had to believe that.

The female voice scoffed in the distance.

She opened her eyes again and looked at the naked man above her. When he had taken her in the night, she had closed herself down during the act. But, now she was fully conscious, fully aware of him. She was in a situation which had no quick exit. She had to remember Aledine's words.

Aledine: "Do not be ashamed of your body. It can serve you as a weapon, as good as any dagger. Under the right circumstances, of course."

Sauren moved his weight slightly. "I will be good for you, in every way, I promise. And professionally, we will be invincible, precise, synchronised. Deadly."

Lexie: "When he takes you..."

Tiene: No, I must not listen.

But she knew what was next. Sauren thrust forward, brutally. She almost screamed as she felt him slide inside of her, but she capped her voice, biting her lip.

"I will give you unlimited pleasure," he said before his mouth crashed over hers. His kiss was deep, tongue probing.

Lexie: "You will want him..."

"Want me, Tiene." Sauren's gravelly voice drew her attention. "Enjoy me." He pushed up and watched her, intently, as he continued to thrust inside her.

She was acutely aware of his body with its serpent tattoo and the way his muscles rippled as he moved within her. It was intoxicating. A strange new sensation was building, deep down. She found herself wanting to surrender to it, for it to amplify. A small sound escaped her lips. She knew this was wrong, a grave betrayal to her heart's desire. But it felt - so good.

Aledine: Never underestimate yourself or your abilities as a woman.

Tiene moaned, the sound, unbidden. She felt a warmth spreading in her body, rising, pulsing. She was responding, even though she was trying not to. Her barriers were crumbling - she was surrendering. And equally, she knew Sauren had noted the flush beginning to rise on her skin. He ploughed into her, deeper, faster.

Her eyes were bright, almost glowing as the sensation kept building. She imagined his serpent tattoo wrapping itself around them, binding her body to his, its tongue flicking her skin with a seductive hiss in her ear. Temptation.

A deep sigh came from her. Her body started to writhe, her hips meeting with his. Reaching up, she grabbed his platinum locks and pulled him down. Her mouth frantically covered his. She nipped his bottom lip with her teeth, and he drew his head back, momentarily surprised, tasting blood on his lip. His tongue lapped the red liquid, and he smiled.

His hands gripped her hips, pulling her to him roughly, hungrily. The fire in her belly rose, threatening to consume her. She shuddered, unaware of what her body was experiencing, but, for some reason, she did not want it to stop.

She stared at Sauren. A thin sheen of sweat had developed on his skin, and his eyes were darker than she had ever seen them before. He wore a look of rapturous joy.

She gasped, almost screamed. Her back arched and she clawed at the floor.

"More! Give me more," Sauren enthused, his voice feral. He thrust into her harder still.

Lexie: "You will want him, again and again..."

Tiene: Yes!

Her back and shoulder blades burned from the friction against the floor but she didn't care now. She watched Sauren closely, and he was magnificent, wild, insatiable, utterly erotic. The wave of euphoria swept over her again; she howled - all control abandoned.

Spurred by her reaction, Sauren closed his eyes, and with one brutal, final thrust, he called out as his release came fast and plentiful. He threw his head back in the throes of his orgasm, his platinum braids flicking over his shoulder. His rhythm slowed, body shuddering, the serpent tattoo pulsing as his chest heaved then he lowered himself over Tiene.

She lay, panting, skin glistening. Sauren's hair fell forward, covering both their faces as his mouth hovered over hers. A thin film of salty perspiration lined his top lip. Tiene licked it away along with the small amount of blood that still wept from her bite.

He smirked, his breath, hot and sweet on her cheeks, and his eyes, deep mahogany, burning hotly. "Now ..." he panted, "...Now, I have what I wanted, Tiene."

*****

Tiene entered her rooms and immediately went to bathe. She scrubbed harshly, furiously, dousing her womanly parts over and over.

Her back and shoulders still burned from the contact with the wooden floor. Loading the cloth, she squeezed the soothing water over the grazes. She dabbed her throat. It still ached from last night's assault, but it didn't look as angry as she thought it might. How ironic, that she was now marked as Lexie had been.

Then, it hit her - like a lightning bolt - shame. And it was utterly debilitating.

Her dreams lay shattered; the turn of fate had been but a consignment of leather goods, and a man whose insatiable carnal appetite had her in his sights all this time. She had gone through a whirlwind of emotions; sadness, fear, anger, regret, guilt. Bliss! She crumpled, her body curled up in a tight ball, sobbing.

She knew not how long she had sat in the tub, but the water was lukewarm. Gingerly, she stepped out and grabbed a towel.

Then, she moved through to her bedroom and sat down, facing the mirror. Staring at her reflection, she wondered who she had become. She was someone else yesterday; a young woman eagerly looking forward to the Gathering, a night of dancing and frivolity. Love. But, it had ended very differently from how she had envisioned.

Aledine: Learn to use your womanly wiles. You are a queen. A vixen. A siren. A goddess!

Tiene shook her head, wanting the voices to cease. But Aledine refused to be silenced.

Aledine: You are more powerful than you realise. Did you know you can kill a man with your thighs in the throes of passion, did you know that?

Tiene looked closer at her reflection. Tiene Firefury stared back at her. She was the daughter of two of the most significant rogues ever known in Azeroth.

As such, she was a fighter, a rogue - beautiful and deadly. There was no way this fiend, Sauren Nightflame, was going to break her. She would match him. He could have her body, but he would not have her soul - nor her heart. She hated him. Didn't she?

For the lies and hurt, he inflicted upon her beloved Camnath - she would never forgive him.

For the devious plot, he'd hatched to bed her - she would never forgive him.

For her body, enjoying him and wanting more - she would never forgive him - nor herself.

Above all, she would never forgive herself. Lexie had been right. "You will want him, again and again..."

She fought off another well of tears. No more! She would not cry about this ever again.

Reaching over, she opened the little cabinet beside her bed and pulled out the box in which she kept Camnath's letters. She pressed them to her lips. "My love," she whispered. "He has robbed me of the gift I wanted to give to you, and although I will never be able to right this wrong, I will do whatever I need to, to make him pay. I just hope that one day, you will be able to forgive me."

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* A' da'tad ordan dordie - You have my heart

* Vendel'o eranu - Help me forget

Thank you for reading!!! 

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