The Keep

Celebrin met Zijil in one of the dilapidated towers in Hillsbrad. Panting, she ran to his arms. He hugged her close before holding her at arms length and looking at her torn and dirty dress. She blushed, dusting herself off. “Did you have much trouble getting here?” He looked down at his little elf with concern in his eyes. She smiled quickly, “I’m fine now.” Embracing her once more, they sat with their backs to the cement wall, in the shadows where it was cool, escaping the hot sun.

He put his large arm around her neck, resting his massive hand on her much smaller shoulder, pulling her to him and kissing her passionately. “I have a favour to ask of you, my dear Celebrin.” She cocked her head slightly to the side “Oh?” He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself, pulling himself away from her and standing just in time for a female night elf to appear with a large, brown worg trailing behind.

The elf’s eyes grew wide with fear at the sight of the towering troll before her eyes trailed down the wall to where Celebrin still sat. “A troll and a night elf together? What are you doing here?” She looked out of breath and ragged. Celebrin blushed. “Uhm, I was just… fighting and I came here to take a break, and then this troll came along.” Zijil nodded and the elf looked Celebrin up and down, noticing the long black dress she was wearing before looking at Zijil. “How did he understand you?”

Celebrin glared at Zijil “He’s just pretending, I think.” Zijil smirked.

“I don’t think he is.” Celebrin grew red with embarrassment. She wasn’t used to being caught in a lie. “Uhm, so what brings you here?” she asked, trying to change the topic. Confusion was replaced by fear in the hunter’s eyes “I’ve been running for three days! I’m so exhausted!” Celebrin looked in her backpack and grabbed a container of juice. “Here,” she said, offering it to the elf, which she drank down quickly. “I’m Celebrin, you are?” “Moonhuntress, but you can just call me Moon.”

Celebrin nodded. “So why have you been running for so long?” she inquired, as Moon grabbed some watermelon from her bag and offered her some. “Sorry, I only have the two...” Moon trailed off and Celebrin nodded “That’s fine. Thank you” Zijil spoke in orcish at Celebrin, laughing every few minutes at her discomfort. Moon was staring suspiciously at the troll. “Someone is trying to kill me… an undead… I was out fighting and his brother came and attacked me, so I retaliated and killed him. Now his brother won’t rest until I’m dead as well!” Moon’s eyes grew wide with front before she jumped up. “Your robes!” she yelled at the troll. “Your robes look just like his!” She squealed. Zijil laughed and walked out of view.

“Well… I don’t think the troll is undead. But I guess because he’s wearing a robe, he’s some kind of magic user?” Zijil came back around the corner, wearing a different robe. Moon’s mouth gaped. “He changed… how did he know what I said?” Celebrin grumbled under her breath. Moon stood, and dismissed her wolf. “Well, that’s a sure way for him to find me… maybe I should change as well.” Moon walked out of view, eyeing the troll suspiciously. He leaned over into Celebrin, his warm breath on her ear, “You’re loving this, aren’t you?” She smirked up at him, with a slight flush of excitement in her cheeks. She lovingly touched his arm right before she heard Moon’s light footsteps coming around the tower again.

She had changed into a red suit and taken her hat off, shaking her blue hair from side to side. “Ahh, that’s better!” And the words were no sooner from her mouth than she collapsed to the hard rock floor. Celebrin kneeled down to her, trying to fan her forehead with her hands “Oh dear!” she cried “Wake up Moon!” Zijil laughed, “Maybe she’s dead… We can get back to business!” Celebrin looked at him with a smirk on her lips. “Later! Watch her; I’m going to see if anyone in town can help!” Celebrin stood on tip toe, grabbing his left tusk and pulling him down into a kiss. “I’ll be right back!” And with that, she ran off towards South Shore.

In the first building she found a female human. “Excuse me!” She tapped her shoulder “I met this girl, and she was running for he life, and then we talked and she was fine, but then all of a sudden she fainted and I don’t know what to do!” Celebrin gasped for breath. “You can try giving her some water… maybe that will help,” spoke the human, “good luck!” she yelled as Celebrin ran to the inn and purchased the water before running back to where Moon still laid on the ground. Another human, this one male, had come up and knelt beside Moon as Zijil stared at the situation with a twinkle in his eyes.

“I know her” exclaimed the human. Celebrin quickly glanced at him before pulling a bandana out of her pack and soaking it with water. “Come on Moon!” she cried as she put the cool water on her forehead, running it across her cheeks before applying more water. “Moon, wake up” the man spoke softly. An unhh escaped her lips “Who… who’s here?” Celebrin smiled as the human spoke “It’s East and…” he trailed off “Celebrin, I brought you some water from the inn. It’s cold, someone told me it might help” she said as she handed her the water.

She sat up and drank the water quickly. East offered her his arm, and Moon helped herself up. “Are you going to be okay with him escorting you back to town?” Celebrin asked. “Hmm, oh, right… I guess you two have business to attend to.” Moon looked at Zijil, then at Celebrin with confusion and a slight hint of being upset in her eyes before allowing East to help her walk back to town.

Alone again, the couple embraced. “I guess this wasn’t the most private spot after all,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. She smiled, kissing his lips softly. “So you mentioned something about a favour?” He took her hand, leading her inside the tower walls. “I’ll explain about that later tonight, if you’ll meet me? I’ve been without you far to long to be able to explain now” he smiled, glancing at her over his shoulder.