Stormwind

~Listen to Tears Of The Forest by David Arkenstone~

The next day Rose met Mike outside of her place so that they can start their hour long walk into the kingdom of stormwind to do this quest from the King.

The sun was shining and the birds where chirping in the trees all around the forest, Rose knew this wouldn't be easy, but yet she was determined to do this quest for the King of Stormwind now that she had Mike to protect her, and even her boyfriend Aarie was coming with, who was going to sneak into the quest any ways, even though he wasn't chosen for this quest.

Rose followed Mike past the little village of Groggum. He was a quick walker. "Dang, can you kind of like slow down for me? You sure walk fast." Rose said out of breath. Mike turned to look at her and he couldn't help but laugh. "Sure thing miss..." he said slowing down finally.

"We've got about 20 more mins to go up North till we get to the kingdom of stormwind." Mike said smiling with his white eyes and brown hair flowing in the wind. Rose looked behind her to notice some one behind a tree. It was Aarie, he was finally caught up to where they where, or Rose finally noticed him. He was using his Shadowmeld move. He was quite good at it too. Aarie was out of shadowmeld and winked at Rose from behind the tree, he was in leather pants and his metal chest piece was on, he also had on a mask over his mouth.Mike wasn't paying attention he was busy looking at their front surroundings. Rose smiled brightly back at Aarie secretly. Then she turned back around to follow Mike.

The road to Stormwind was long on foot about an hour walk. Theres trees of all shapes and sizes along with small houses on either side of the dirt road as they walked up North. Of course Rose has never been in these parts. That being said her parents had her home most of her life to up to 17 years of age.

They where in the Northern Forest called Gold Well. This place was called Gold Well because there was an old well in the middle of the road up near stormwind that people threw gold into and made wishes.

Mike and Rose finally made it next to the old well. "Got any wishes you want to make?" Mike asked Rose and she shook her head to say "I don't believe in wishing on a well. I think it's silly." Rose said laughing. Mike shrugged at this. "You never know in this world we live in. Some people say it grants several more years to your life. Some say it blesses you." Mike then proceeded to walk towards the entrance of Stormwind. There where two guards on either side of the entrance covered in very heavy metal gear and helmets. One looked human maybe because there's wasn't any long elf ears sticking out, and then the other guard had elf ears sticking out of their helmet with meddle earrings. Rose stared at them wondering how uncomfortable they must be. They didn't even move an inch. Only their eyes would move to make sure nobody did anything stupid. They where very well trained guards, also very well paid.

The entrance to stormwind had a long wooden old bridge with the guards on either side and big brick walls looking like a giant castle. To get inside they have to summon some one to let down the huge wooden gate.

Mike walked up to the guard on the right to have them lift down the gate. They had to stand several feet away so they wouldn't get squashed by it or have dust fly into their eyes. Rose was getting more nervous the closer they got into Stormwind. She fiddled with the brown leather gloves that Aarie had made for her that one day from the wopertingers skin. Every body part of the little animals contain good luck so legend tells.She also carried the left paw of the little creature, to ward off evil spirits for this quest that she wasn't even sure what it was about yet.

As they walked slowly into the castle, they noticed it was a huge place that contained shops and so much merchandise, and also tons of different types of people doing many things. There was a little boy and girl chasing each other around with a rag doll. One kid was a vampire and the other was a human. To the right of them was a couple of people playing music and one was a male dwarf singing for money with his scraggly brown beard.

"This is so incredible! So many people, and so so much going on all at once." Rose said looking all around them. Mike smirked at her. "Indeed it's incredible here, but one can't help to get lost here, especially for people who've never been around these parts. Stick by me closely please. It's my duty to make sure you don't wander off." Mike said eyeing her from the corner of his eye. He turned around to see a human lady walking up to him in old dusty clothes trying to sell a basket full of breads. "Only 1 silver ! I've got 3 different types of breads here ! Come, try a piece." She said trying to give a chunk to Mike. He waved his hand then said "oh no thank you miss, we are on a mission. Maybe next time." She frowned and then proceeded to go to some one else.

Rose smiled at her as the older woman walked on by with the breads. Then she turned around to see if she could spot Aarie in the crowd. Sure enough he was there hanging out with his mask on still looking at bows and arrows at one of the booths. It would be kinda hard for Mike to see if it was really Aarie there or not. Rose then turned around so Mike wouldn't notice. But then she saw he was a little ahead of her. "Shit" she said out loud to herself hurrying up her pace to catch up to him. She had to swerve around a young couple in front of her way. A blue woman with a night elf man. "Crap! Sorry excuse me!" She almost ran into them. They moved quickly out of the way.

Mike made a sharp turn down a tunnel inside the castles wall. It looked a little dark, but thankfully there was torches on the sides of the brick walls inside. "Mike slow down!" He turned around and sighed at her. He stopped once again, staring at her slightly annoyed with his white eyes that reminded her of his creepy wolf form. "I'm sorry... I got a little left behind there and almost ran into people trying to catch up to you! Like I said, you walk way too fast. Maybe cuz your a wolf..." she said catching her breath. Mike shook his head and then tilted it like he usually did. "You should work on your quickness then. You will learn soon enough. Might as well take my hand so you don't get left behind. What if a horde where to sneak in here and snatch you away? Then what?" He asked being serious and reaching out his hand for her as if she really needed to hold it being in a relationship already with Aarie. Rose shook her head and said "I can't hold your hand... I mean I'm already taken and like holding my boyfriends hand." Mike rolled his eyes at her statement and laughed, he then grabbed her hand firmly and pulled her along. "This is business, no time to flirt. Although, I wouldn't mind it a bit. And you aren't even married to him yet so it won't make much of a difference any how." Mike half smiled at her taking her further into this tunnel. Roses eyes grew wide. "Ohhh umm ok then..." she said not wanting to pick an argument right now. She wasn't very sure of this weird place. They where heading under the castle to meet with the dear king of Stormwind.

They walked a little deeper under ground in the tunnel now reaching an old wooden door with meddle on it and a big meddle knocker. Mike took it and slammed it against the door loudly for some one to open it. He still had his hand over Roses hand, he didn't even notice he still was gripping onto it firmly in a protective way. Rose looked at their hands and sighed nervously. He took his thumb and rubbed it against the back of her hand. Her face turned red and she looked away pretending she didn't notice that. 'You freaking flirt!' She yelled in her head.

Loud echoing footsteps could be heard on the other side of the large door. "Who is it ? And are you here on behalf of the King?" A loud voice spoke that sounded like a middle aged man. "It is I, Mike on behalf of the chosen quest by the King, along comes a young Night elf woman, also chosen for this quest. We come in peace." Mike said and then bowed his head. The door opened with a loud click. A medium sized dwarf opened it with bright brown eyes and a red long beard. Smiling excitedly he raised his hand and patted mike's shoulder. "Welcome brother!" Van said and then he went to look at Rose and his eyes grew wide. "Well look what we have here! We meet again young Las!" Van then went to grab Rose and hugged her tightly lifting her off her feet even though he was shorter than her in hight, but Van indeed is a strong Warrior Dwarf. Rose gasped for air. He had meddle gear on as well as his huge hammer on the side of his belt almost dragging to the ground. "Sorry lad." He said and then set her down. "I just get happy to see familiar faces again! Specially pretty ones like yours." He winked at her. Rose smiled shyly. "Your that dwarf from the restaurant." Rose said happily.

Van rubbed her shoulder with his thick glove. "Indeed, it be I." He said with his Irish accent. Mike smiled at Van and continued to pull Rose with him into the room. There was a big throne with an old dark red carpet. A man with a big golden crown sat there with a golden cup in his right hand that had red rubies on it. The king was tall, he also had medium length black hair and bangs that sorta went over his eyes. He also had leather pants on and a golden chest plate. As Rose went closer to him, she couldn't help but notice his eyes where striking red like the rubies on his cup. Rose froze in her place staring at him. He was strikingly handsome and not that much older than she was. He was about 25. He had peach skin and nice lips and chiseled sharp jaw with barely a prickly black beard on it like he hasn't shaved it in a few days. He was swirling around the red liquids in his cup with a board look on his face. He sighed then lifted his eyes to see Mike standing and bowing to him, along with Rose not knowing what to do but stand there. Mike tugged her hand and whispered "you need to bow!" He whispered yelled at her. She gasped and quickly went to bow before the king.

The Vampire king of stormwind flared his eyes at the young Night elf woman. Not seeing her in this kingdom before or anywhere else he wondered where she was even from. He rolled his eyes loosing interest quickly after the thought of her. He sighed bored and said "Sir Mike, you are where on behalf of that quest correct ?" He said with his rich but handsome voice. Mike's nodded not looking up at him yet. "Good. I see you brought that girl the Priestess found for me. This quest will teach you both many things." He rubbed his chin and set down his glass.

Rose couldn't help but be afraid of him reading her mind since that's what Aarie told her about vampires. But in this case what he said was only a rumor that he heard. Vampires are strong creatures but they didn't have the abilities to read others minds.

The King cleared his throat then said. "Why are you still holding that girls hand? Are you newly wedded lovers ?" He scoffed with an irritated tone. Mike quickly let it go. "Apologies your majesty." Mike said biting his lip.