*Glancing at the pond a moment, he sighs, then looks back at her. Unable to hold her eye contact, his eyes lower to their laps, and he reaches up to pat her hand on his left shoulder.* No, not the shatterin'. Twas the thrice damned undead. It's gone Sari. I've lost it all again.

Watching Tristien closely, Sarynae sighed, squeezing his shoulder tightly in support. "Oh I'm so sorry... That is a terrible terrible... Oh my..." She pressed her forehead against his "Nothing is ever truly lost forever Trist..."

*He shakes his head slowly, raising his gaze till he is looking her in the eyes, his face drawn and haggard, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep and stress, now rimmed in barely suppressed tears.* Aye, but the home of me youth, the home I always held out hope o' findin' again. The home I finally did find, and even met people that remember me as a wee lad, tha' home is gone, destroyed, scorched earth under layers of damned blight and plague. Those people are shambling abominations of what they once were. Tell me Sari, please, ye be a priest. How can the gods o' good suffer such ta walk about? *His eyes seem to plead for some sense of sanity.*

She shook her head slightly and closed her eyes, "I do not know the answer to that, why would the Light let such a thing happen to the world. We have lost so many people, close ones for some of that. If there was a way for me to change what has happened I would do so in a heartbeat." Sarynae sighed slightly, trying to grasp at the words that would help heal his pain. She could see that the torment of his losses were tearing him apart. "I do not consider the Forsaken to be anything but the scourge. If there was anything I wish to remove from this would it would be such."

* nods slowly, taking in her words, scratching his beard but not bothering to brush away the hair that dangles over his eyes* To me, their all undead now. I had hoped, a little bit more than was cautious, tha' the so called Forsaken woulda remembered themselves by now, tried to salvage what little bit of humanity that remained ta them. But ta do this, and so much more. I was at Wrathgate, Sari, I saw what they did. They spared nobody, Alliance, Horde, or Scourge. They don'no care about their pasts. They don't have any humanity left ta them. And ta think... *he pauses, taking a shuddering breath* ...they, they took me brother Sari. Vedor is in their hands. Even if he continues as an undead, he's no longer me brother, or is he? I jus' don'no. *finally gives in, lowering his head and sobbing quietly for a moment.* Twice now, twice I've seen me home destroyed, twice I've seen me people slaughtered. Twice I've lost me brother, me only living family left. *sighs* Is it a curse on me. Must the ones I love always suffer and go, and I have ta carry on... feelin' this way?

"They took Vedor?!" Sarynae sat back a little at the news, a shocked look upon her face. The face of the human who had held her hand and brought her over on the boat came to her memories. The man who had helped her brave her fears of the open ocean and introduced her to so many friend. She closed her eyes, her shoulders dropping. "I'm sorry Trist... I didn't know." The elf felt her own eyes tearing as the thoughs and feelings she had been keeping at bay threatened to rush over her. She took a deep breath to steady herself and placed her hands upon his cheeks. "Vedor will always be your brother, even if only in spirit. I am sure he would want to be laid to rest rather than to spend is life walking the world as a scourge if that is something the forsaken has decided for him. I'm sorry Trist... I really am..." Sarynae held his gaze for as long as she could. "You are not cursed, these things happen. If I could change it I would but... there is always the hope that he will be ok. Vedore did seem to be one who could take care of his own."

*nods, having had enough of tears. fiercly wiping at his eyes, as if angry at some betrayal on their part, he reached up and gently wipes the tears off one of her own cheeks away with a forefinger.* Now there, enough of these. It's good ta cry, but ye can'no let it take yer head. *chuckles and looks down his nose at his own soggy beard* Course, I could probally follow me own advice a lil' better. *shakes his head and glances across the lake at the cemetary* I jus' fear I'll be buryin' more o' those I love afore this is all said and done. Like me girly. She's gone missin' too. I'm not sure why, but I jus' can'no bring meself ta mourn her loss yet. Like a naggin' voice in me head, tellin' me ta hold out a bit longer. *glances back at her* Ye remind me a bit o' her sometimes, ye know?

The elf attempted to smile as he spoke, trying to follow his advice. She brushed away his tears for him, her fingers tangling in in his hair. "I wouldn't try to bury them yet, there is always hope that they were able to escape the Shattering and all the chaos that entailed after..." Sarynae glanced towards where he was watching before turning back towards Trist at his next comment, "Who? Colleen?" Sarynae frowned slightly, trying to keep her own flutters in check. "She is missing also?"

*nods slowly and sadly, but still grins* Aye, she went off on some mission right afore the dragon came. I still hope she's alright, hells, I still kinda feel it. *he grins again* She's.... resourceful. A tougher nut than she appears. Oh sure, most o' it is bluster, coverin' a sensitive, vulnerability, but's she's survived worse I think. *laughs* An' don'no frown, it was a compliment. Ye both act, well, no ye don'no, but, well she puts on a growl an' a bite when she really is jus' a scared lil girly, and ye put on happy, sunshine faces and flirty words, when really this be all new and suprisin' ta ye. *grins wickedly and winks*

"I am sure she will be fine. She is a fighter, one who knows how to suvive in the wilderness." The nightelf smiles, trying to help lift his spirits. "And flirting is something I do well, I haven't hear you complain about it." She sits back down next to him, smoothing down her skirt as she did so. He looked like he needed something to distract him from his own mind and his own worries that were draggin him down. "It seems that is something you need back in your life. Mister, i am sure you haven't even though about a pretty face that isn't in dire need in a long while."

*laughs, trying to decide if his reply should be in the same vein as hers* Aren't they all in dire need of a handsome, strapping warrior, to save them, if not from danger, then bedroom boredom? *laughs at himself, glad to finally have things off his chest*

Chuckling lightly, Sarynae patted his knee. "Hmmm... Well if it is a pretty little thing in the sheets, that is always a noble cause. Quite a number of damsels in distress would be thank their lucky stars if they ever had once such as you be their personal hero." She leaned in a little closer and her hands moved up to kneed at his shoulders. "Now mister, you sit down here, there are some who say I have healing hands."

*moans with pleased delight as she works his overtensed muscles, slightly conscious of the knots of scar tissue she surely must feel* Aye, tha' ye do, tha' ye do. *glances out over the lake, lost in silent thought for a moment, he allows himself to slowly lean back into her, feeling for the slightest indication he has overstepped his bounds* This some o' tha' magic ye people's be famous about?

Sarynae pushed Trist a little further back so she could get at some of the more awkward knots. With nimble fingers she worked her way down his chest, making sure to soothe away the stress of his muscles. "No magic here, just pure skill." She chuckled lightly as she worked, moving back to his shoulders and pressing in deeply. "There, we'll see if that doesn't help you some. Nothing like letting yourself relax a little to help rub the stresses away."

*blushes slightly beneath his hair, some of the ragged strands hanging down his face, rustling in the slight breeze from the ocean down below.* Aye then, skill it is. I honestly have ta say, I could really get used ta this, though, if Colleen was aroun', I would probally be pickin' up me fingers off tha ground bout now. *sighs* But, I'll no worry bout tha' if'n you don'no, fer now. *closes his eyes and settles back on his elbows, reaching his hands up under her knees and gently massaging the back of her calves with his thumb, imitating her motions on a smaller scale. * Ti' fer tat, only fair.

"Well tit-for-tat... I supose that could be fair. As for Colleen, I am sure she would appreciate the need for something to help you relax." Sarynae chuckled musically as she spoke, her hands still working. She bent over him, her long pale hair brushing softly against Trist's neck. Quietly whispering in his ear she added, "Is there any spots that need -special- attention?" The nightelf winked merrily, hands moving slowly down.

*Tristien's eyes snap open under his crimson locks, straining to look up at her. Momentarily he struggles with himself before carefully replying* Ah, Sari... ye don'no how tempting tha offer is. Yer truly a beauty, and such a spritely bein', able ta lift me spirits with jus' a touch to tha' arm.... *sighs and relaxes back into her, chuckling softly* Damnation woman, how temptin' it is. But *winces as every male part of his body rebels against him* but, would it be right. Would I feel good abou' this in the morn? Tha's a question tha' would haunt me. *laughs a little louder* I'm, no, we're jus' lucky Im no' drunk right now.

"Well there is only one way to find out..." Sarynae smiled softly but her hands did not stray further down. "But if that is your wish I shall respect it. I do not want to be the one to go between what you and Colleen have together." The elf leaned back a little, brushing her fingers against Trist's ear slightly before working on his neck and shoulders some more. "Though, drunk or not, I am sure there is still a part of you who doesn't mind the playing."

Lady, drunk or no, it's a game that's minutes from bein' played if this continues. Lemme be the one ta say it straight. If I wasn't otherwise involved, ye 'n me wouldn't be here discussin' the proposition, but enjoyin' tha' afterglow. *smiles lightly at the thought, 'accidentally' allowing his hand to stray up her inner thigh a small, not totally indecent way before pulling it back.* It gets harder and harder fer a naughty man ta walk the straight 'n narrow. Especially when he don'no mind the playin', not one wit.

Sarynae nods quietly, her fingers not missing the beat, smoothing out the rest of his shoulders with a skillful air. She shivers delicatly as his fingers run up her leg for a moment, knowing the teasing to be as such. "Well then I should not let this go further than this for I do not wish to stray." Shifting slightly she drew up her knees, rising as she did so. Turning to face Trist, the nightelf kneeled back down and placed a pale hand upon his cheek. "Your Colleen is a very lucky one at that. Don't ever let her go."

*reaching up, he gently places his hand behind her head, twining his finger's in her silky hair. Pulling her down, he gives her a full, warm kiss on her lips, lingering for a second before pulling away, faces inches apart, staring into her eyes. * Thank you Sari, for understanding, for listening, for bein' a balm on me soul when it was needed. No matter what comes of things in the future, yer always goin' ta be one truly dear to me heart. *presses his forehead to hers, for a moment, his voice whispering in her mind, 'I will always remember', then letting go gently and sitting up, stretching quickly before rising and offering her his hand to rise.*

Pressing into the kiss, she brushed a hand through his crimson hair smiling back at him. "As you will be for me." Sarynae takes his hand and stands by him, pulling him into a warm hug of her own. "Remember Trist, no matter what happens, I'll be here for you to talk to. Your the heart and soul of our Dream, we would falter without you. If there is anything I can do to help, please never hesitate to ask. We care about you... -I- care about you Trist. While I'll never be Colleen I will always be your friend." She let him go, a few tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.

*smiles, attempts to speak, but snaps his mouth shut. After a moment of staring at her, he nods slowly* This may be the end of this now, or it may be the start of something. I can't honestly say. No, yer not Colleen, yer someone entirely different and wonderful in a whole other way. An' I'll be tha' first ta say here an' now, if Colleen does no come back, if she does, and things don'no work out, I'll be findin' ye. Or it may happen even afore then. I can no' honestly say. *he smiles warmly* An at this point, I'm no' so sure what I'd want. Now don' cry lady, lemme take ye home.

Sarynae nods softly, placing her arms in his. "I'll be waiting here for you if that should happen." Tapping Trist softly on the nose she chuckles, "Yes, lets take you home. After all the healing, you should be sleeping like a baby tonight."

*smiles and steps back a pace, sweeping his cloak behind him with one hand and gesturing at the path ahead with the other.* After you m'lady. *reaches out and takes her hand, locking his fingers into her, holding her hand and swinging it playfully, skipping a step or two to make her giggle*

The End