Intro~
On a beautiful sunny day in the Redridge Mountains, I had found an unconscious Blood elf, named Ximka, on the shore of Lake Everstill, Being a person who hates to see people suffer; I rescued him and decided to nurse him back to health. However, my stepfather, a high elf named Thernar disliked it. He tried so hard to be rid of Ximka, but failed every time.

***
It has been a month and a half since, and I felt that after healing of both natural and magical, Ximka should be well enough to go from being bed ridden to being able to walk around a little. He stumbled at the first few guided steps, but as soon as I let go and let him walk on his own, he collapsed to his knees and held his side in pain. I quickly knelt down beside him and muttered a healing spell before helping him over to a large boulder to rest against. Ximka slumped against the boulder and let out a long sigh as he slid down to sit on the ground. He let his golden hair slide into his face as he bent his head down "I'm so sorry miss Lyssera, I'm weak and I have no energy" he whispered in a sorrowful tone. I knelt down beside him, brushed some of his hair behind his elongated elvish ear, and lifted his face with my index finger "I understand; do you want me to take you back inside to rest?" I asked sweetly.

He nodded slowly before using his arms to push himself up, He steadied himself on the boulder before allowing me to take his arm over my shoulder to help guide him back inside to rest. I let out a slow sigh "Sorry, I thought that you might be ready, I guess my healing isn't as strong as I thought" I murmured. Ximka laughed quietly "no, it just takes some time for bones to heal, with magical assistance or not" He replied in a low voice.  As I helped him climb the stairs, Thernar turned out of his room with a basket of iron ore in his arms and paused at the top of the stairs and glared at Ximka, I rolled my eyes and turned my focus back to helping Ximka back to his room.

~~~~~~
Later around dinnertime, I brought Ximka some food and while he ate, I would change his bandages, but when I entered his room, I noticed him on the floor and struggling to stand, I heard him muttering a few words in Thalassian as he continued to struggle. I placed his tray of food down on the bedside table before kneeling down to help him, he flicked my hands away and twisted his hip to turn onto his back "Miss Lyssera, please let me at least try" he sighed out as he tugged at the blankets on the bed. I twitched as I heard a sickening crack, Ximka growled out in pain as he let out a low hiss as he placed a hand to his side. He pulled it away and gasped out to see that it was crimson with blood "by the damnation of the Sunwell, not again!" he growled out in anger, I moved over to him and began to pull away his bandages to help cease the bleeding from his open wound.

I pulled the roll of bandages and a jar of salve from the tray of food, as I opened the jar, Ximka let out a moan of pain as his head began to swirl around "I don't feel so well, I don't think the wound is suppose to smell like this" he groaned out. He was right, his wound was giving out a faint scent of rot; I then placed some salve over the wound and cast a quick healing spell. I wrapped my arms around his torso as I began to wrap his fresh bandages. Ximka gave a small hiccup as he began to look a little green, "Miss Lyssera, please," he begged, but his head fell back as he swooned. I finished his bandages and started another row before pulling him up to the bed.

I placed the back of my hand on his forehead to test his temperature; it was normal, but a little clammy. I walked over to the water basin and poured some water on a patch of Linen cloth. After I had squeezed the extra water out, I returned to Ximka's bedside and gently placed the cloth on his forehead, he shuttered in his sleep to response to the cold water touching his skin. I pulled up a wooden stool and sat down as I waited for Ximka to awaken.

****
A few weeks later, I received a letter of summoning from the abbey in Northshire. Not knowing what to do, I ignored it and went on to my duties in nursing Ximka, but I had received another one a few days after that. I abandoned my apron I'd wear when by Ximka's side and dawned my priestess regalia, I was packing a few items when my mother, Elise came into my room with a worried look on her aged face "Lyss, what about Ximka? Who knows how long you'll be gone this time?" she muttered. I paused my packing and looked at her "I'll try to find a way, I-" my mother stamped her foot on the floor "Lyssera! He has an infection and you're leaving for Northshire which is three days away from here!" she snapped. I let out a sigh and glanced down at the letter on my bed "You're right mother, I guess I'll have to tell them I can't" I replied as I walked over to my desk to begin to write a letter. I paused when I heard muffled thumping sounds coming from the hallway, I turned and saw Ximka struggling down the hallway "Miss Lyssera?" he muttered. I dropped my quill and ran over to him, but he stood up straight and held out his hand "No, I'm okay, I must do this myself" he said in a stern voice.

My little brother, Garandell poked his head into the hallway from his room as Ximka started walking again, Ximka cringed in pain but continued to walk, when he reached me he placed a hand on my shoulder and nearly collapsed, but he steadied himself. He looked at me and gave me a worried look "I feel that I'm keeping you from your duties…" he whispered woefully, mother walked over and help me bring Ximka over to a chair to sit in. "my duties are nursing you back to health. I'm finished with my training at the abbey, they only want me as an example to the novice priests," I answered. Ximka sighed, "You should still go, I don't know much of human customs, but it could be important," he muttered, I went to protest, but Ximka held out a hand "I shall be fine on my own for now, I'm strong enough to walk around," he added.

I smiled "But I could be gone for a very long time, and I'm three days away from the Abbey, what if you get hurt and need my healing skills?" I asked in a pleading tone "As the days pass, and I regain my strength… So does my ability to reconnect to my healing abilities as a paladin. Go on to the abbey, I will be fine" he reassured. I let out a sigh before turning away "let's just hope you are right, Ximka. I'd hate to leave you here where Thernar can bully you," I muttered; as I picked up a gilded jeweled staff from a rack "He won't bully him, because I guess I'll help take care of him in your absence" mother intervened with a sigh.

******
While at the abbey, I received weekly letters from mother on Ximka's progress, she stated that he began showing improvement in his walking and that he is starting to help around the house. She even mentioned that he helped Thernar with his transmutations in alchemy by smelting the ore he needed, or help repair the swords he kept for Garandell's training.  With each letter I received, a smile would stretch upon my face, Ximka was finally starting to fit in with the family, though it will be hard having someone allied with the horde to be in Redridge, he could be mistaken as a spy and taken away to the stockades, or killed.

I heaved a heavy sigh and tucked away a letter in my spell book before walking passed a novice talking the ear off another novice as they both walked into the library. I walked out into the garden and welcomed the summer sun; the soothing sounds of fountains became utter bliss as I felt myself relax, but when the feeling of someone entering the gardens appeared, and my euphoric solitude shattered and went back into being a want buried deep within my mind.

I opened my eyes to see a masculine brunette figure leaning against the wall on the opposite end of the gardens, a red scarf was wrapped around the neck as he gazed at me with familiar brown eyes "excuse me sir, the abbey gardens are closed to the public after three" I announced. The figure shifted before pushing himself off of the wall and making his way over to me "My apologizes priestess" he muttered, my eyes widened when I noticed the figure's face in the light "Victor? Victor Johnston?" I asked in surprised. The figure smiled and bowed "I knew you would remember, Lyssera" he replied.

"So, you became a rogue, even after I have shown you the possible outcomes" I sneered, Victor rolled his eyes "my mind was set" he answered in what seemed like he had said many times over the years. I crossed my arms "I'm afraid you have to leave, your kind isn't allowed in the abbey" I huffed out as I began to walk away, Victor seized my wrist and threw me against the wall "why in such a hurry?" he questioned with a smug tone. I shot an arc of light at him, pushed myself away, and hurried inside where it would be safe.

~~~~~~
When I arrived home a week later, I saw Ximka in the field with my younger sister, Lyrsa picking wildflowers, I smiled as I climbed off the back of my horse and for a moment, our eyes met, my breath caught and my only reaction was to look away and continue leading my horse into her stall. When I turned around I saw Ximka coming around the corner, he wore a white linen shirt that looked a little too big on him, he seemed to walk with less pain than before, "it seems that you are doing better," I murmured as a smile stretched upon my face. "Indeed I am, I owe my thanks to you for helping me" he replied as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head, I placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled "you are welcome, now, let's head inside before it gets too cold" I replied in a sweet tone.

Mother smiled when she saw me enter the kitchen as she set a loaf of freshly baked bread on the table "just in time for dinner Lyss" I smiled at her "I seem to always be doing that, I guess it must be your cooking that brings me home in time" I joked. Mother laughed gently and pulled me into a hug "either it is me, or you have been wearing peacebloom oil" mother whispered into my ear "the gardens at the abbey have fresh peacebloom, the scent is so strong it must of sank into my clothing" I lied, but as mother pulled away to face me, she knew I was lying. "Yes, peacebloom is a flower with a strong fragrance" she replied as she turned away to pick up a plate of food.

******
After dinner, I helped Ximka change his bandages and I was relieved to see his wound closed up and infection free, it was only a rough line across his torso now "you weren't kidding" I chuckled softly, Ximka laughed with me "what? You didn't believe me?" he joked. I smiled as I continued to wrap his bandages, when I had tied them off; Ximka placed a hand upon my head and smiled at me before placing his lips on my forehead. I saw Ximka flash blue before vanishing and hearing Thernar outside yelling in Thalassian, I ran to the window and saw him outside with Ximka on the ground holding his chest with a frightened look stretched upon his face.

I ran outside just as Thernar's hands started glowing and him muttering a spell "Thernar stop! It wasn't anything like that!" I shouted, Thernar stopped and turned his gaze at me, his eyes looked murderous "you're over reacting dear" muttered mother as she came up beside me "how am I over reacting Elise?" snarled Thernar. Mother sighed "poor Ximka was just showing affection and you think it's alright to turn him into a sheep?" questioned mother in a irritated tone, I walked over to Ximka's side and helped him up "I'm sorry sir, but in my family, it is how we show our thanks" Ximka muttered.

Thernar clenched his fist, causing his knuckles to pop, he whirled around so fast, I almost did not see his fist strike Ximka "Stay away from my step-daughter blood elf!" Thernar growled as he teleported away, Ximka sat up halfway and muttered out a few curses in Thalassian as he held his cheek "By all that is holy, that hurt," he muttered out in pain. As Ximka removed his hand, I saw a small cut on his cheek "come on Ximka, let's get you cleaned up" mother muttered as she held out her hand. Ximka accepted it and helped me stand once he regained his balance.

Ximka held a damp linen cloth to his cheek as mother mixed together a salve in a clay bowl "this salve will sting a little, but it will heal up that cut quicker than you can mutter a healing spell" she murmured, I brushed some stray tendrils of hair from Ximka's face and placed a few fingers on his hand. "I'm sorry for Thernar, he has never been this protective before" I muttered. Ximka sighed "I've been through worse, back when I was only an adept paladin, the champion of my order would give me lashings every time I would mess up in my training" he replied in a quiet tone.

I placed a soft kiss on Ximka's cheek before moving away to let mother place the salve on his cheek "Thernar probably won't come home tonight, he's probably in his sanctum in Dalaran," I told mother as I started cleaning up the medicinal herbs. Mother let out a sound of acknowledgment "he was still over reacting, If your father was here, he'd only tell Ximka to not do it again" mother replied with a sad tone, I turned and watched mother place a bandage on Ximka's cheek. "It'll be okay mother," I murmured as I placed my hand on her shoulder to comfort her "he died a hero so we could be safe, and we are," I added.

Mother nodded and wiped away a stray tear that escaped her eye "let's not dwell on the past, shall we?" mother said as she took a deep breath "agreed" I replied.

~~~~~~
I woke up in the middle of the night with a sigh, the moon illuminated my room, bathing it in silver and reflecting off my dressing table mirror. I climbed out of my bed and shivered as my feet touched the cold wooden floor of my room, I crept over to my dressing table and sat down, and I lit a small candle then picked up a brush. As I started combing my hair, I started seeing Ximka's smile through my mind's eye, I felt myself smile and my cheeks start to burn from a blush, I let out a quiet sigh and picked up a glass bottle filled with clear liquid, when I opened it, a fragrant scent invaded my senses. I dabbed some of the liquid along my collarbone and behind my ears before sealing the bottle up and blowing out the candle.

I moved from my dressing table and pulled on a cloth robe as I made my towards my door, as I opened it, I saw Ximka there with his hand raised as he was about to knock on my door, I smiled and watched his Blood elven eyes brighten as they matched my own. He pulled me into his arms and pulled my face up to place his lips on my own, I felt my ankles strain as I rose up to the tips of my toes to wrap my arms around his neck, He pulled away and smiled at me "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself" he murmured.

I smiled at him "no need," I replied in a whisper, Ximka smiled again and kissed me cheek "I love you" he murmured before pulling me into another kiss.