05-13-2010, 08:28 AM
Southshore - Present Day
The traveler wandered into town carrying a small pack over one shoulder. He stopped to survey the area briefly before slowly plodding forward. Had anyone bothered to notice they would have seen a fellow who was tall and lean yet moved with ballet-like grace. He wore no armor nor carried any weapon save a small dagger that dangled from his belt. He was draped in a long heavy grey cloak with a hood that covered the back of his head and ears. The hood concealed him but not enough to hide the distinct blue and white facial markings of a night elf that were apparent along the lines of a handsome face.
The only odd feature the stranger bore, were a pair of strange elaborate engineering style goggles that covered his eyes. Though odd, goggles like this were a common enough accessory that the towns people still regarded him with little concern as he made his way along the streets. To them he appeared as any other traveler that passed through their town daily. A merchant perhaps, or a mercenary looking for work.
Making his way along the street, Kardwell suddenly ducked into the nearby stable to recheck his disguise. Though no one in the town had paid him any attention he still felt as though at any minute someone would see right through him. He looked at his reflection which stared back in a nearby pail of water, but he barely even recognized himself. The blue and white face paint hid his skin tone well, and the night elf clothing had been easy enough to gather. The original owner, after all, would no longer be needing it. The goggles had been necessary to hide his strange yet instantly recognizable blood elf eyes, but he still could almost not bear how stupid they looked. Upon his return he would have to speak to Lucinther about making something a bit more fashionable.
There was a noise from behind followed by a human voice.
"Can I help you good sir?"
Kardwell bolted upright then just as suddenly calmed himself and turned slowly to face a young human lad. The boy was young, perhaps fourteen or fifteen. A stable hand perhaps?
Though Kardwell had memorized a few human phrases he still did not know enough of the language to pass as such. He understood that the boy had asked a question and deduced he was asking if he had wanted anything. Kardwell simply shook his head "no" and attempted a smile. The boy merely shrugged and went on about his business. Kardwell leaned against the barn wall and shed a sigh of relief. It was then that he heard a distinctly familiar female voice.
"Good day to you Mister Carver."
Karwell knew that voice. It was burned into his memory forever. It came from just outside the stable door. As he slowly peeked around the corner he had half expected to see her there...an undead mage wearing magnificent robes of purple and gold.
The girl he saw instead was dressed in the simple garb of a barmaid with a brown linen skirt and red corset tied under her breasts. She was beautiful with long dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that sparkled in the evening sunlight. She smiled at a man passing by with a large bag of flour slung over his shoulder.
"And to you Miss Caroline." The man tipped his hat and went on his way, and the girl returned the gesture with a slight curtsey, and then crossed the street where she entered the town pub.
Kardwell watched the exchange from the shadows of the livery then retreated and braced his head against the wall. Beads of sweat broke out all over his face threatening to smear the blue lines which had been painted there.
Dispaya's age had seemed timeless and her wisdom was great, but this girl appeared to be no more than nineteen or twenty years of age if even that. A feeling of doubt crossed his mind. Could that really be her? How could she come here? How?
Even when her location had been revealed to him during his recent adventures he still had a hard time believing it could be at all true. She was one of the great Horde mages. She stood against Ragnaros. She faced down minions of the Lich King single handedly. She is revered by trollkind, dragonkind and all manner of people on two worlds, yet here she is in a small human town. My heart can barely stand the torture of it, he thought.
Kardwell spat on the ground and then calmed himself. This would be a poor place to lose his temper. With a sigh he crossed the road and swung open the pub door. He was now more determined than ever to see her.
***
2
A tall lean elf in a hooded cloak entered the town pub and looked around from behind strange dark goggles. Though his ears and hair were hidden by his cloak, the elaborate designs on his face made his race apparent. The patrons barely regarded him as he made his way to a corner table and plopped down in a seat there.
He spied the object of his quest standing behind a long bar at the far end of the room, making polite conversation with several patrons there. She smiled and giggled like a school girl. Her skin was no longer white and her eyes no longer glowed, but it was Dispaya all right. He could never forget such a face nor her giggling laugh.
As he stared he remembered her. The long conversations they had shared and times spent together ricocheted through his mind. He remembered the Northrend Ball and how they had danced. He had wanted so desperately to reach out to her, to connect in some deeper way, but had then been unable due to his own inner demons. She had helped to purge him of those same demons and he knew even now he could never repay her. How do you repay someone for restoring your very soul?
His thoughts were interrupted by a second serving wench who dipped in front of him asking a question.
"...sir? I asked if you would like something to drink or eat perhaps."
"Drink." He recognized that word. He forced a smile and nodded a simple "Yes. Mead..err...please."
"Very good sir."
With that she was off. The blonde haired server went to the bar and said something to the girl with dark hair that Kardwell watched, and she nodded and looked in his direction. The blood elf felt his heart sink at her gaze and he had to battle himself not to flee from this place in sorrow and anger.
She poured a glass of the delicious honey drink but instead of the blonde it was the dark haired girl herself who brought the glass over. Kardwell looked down at the table almost afraid to look up when she next appeared beside him and set the glass before him.
"Anything else for you today sir?" she asked with a smile.
"err...no...no" The elf mumbled almost under his breath.
"You look quite weary. Have you spent a long day on the road?
She spoke in the human tongue and this was something Kardwell was not used to hearing from her lips. To Kardwell her words came across as something closer to, "You lhjju iutyrre weary. hwne you jhyrg day on uyt road?" He knew the word "weary" however and feigned a simple answer.
"Yesss," he muttered taking a sip of the mead. "Weary."
"Oh you poor dear." The dark haired girl stated. Let us see if we can help you relax a bit." With that she suddenly reached forward and lifted the goggles from his eyes. A brief flash of glowing green escaped before Kardwell could grab her hand and force it away. With his free hand he re-adjusted the goggles over his eyes. He feared his cover was now blown. If she saw and did not know him, alarms would be raised. He would have to fight his way free.
As he held her reaching hand in his, something else happened and he sensed something. He wasn't sure at first but yes...there it was...all around her...he was now sure it was the presence of mana! Yes! Yes! He was positive. He of all blood elves could never mistake that. He looked directly into her face now to see who or what she really was. But the only look the dark haired girl returned was one of shock followed by puzzlement, and then, a look of shame or regret.
"Oh dear...sir...I am...so sorry...I only meant to...I am so sorry sir...your eyes...I bet they were injured in the war...I should never assume..."
Kardwell merely waved her off and smiled.
"No..need to...apolo...err..say sorry miss. All forgive you."
She stood straight and insisted again at her foolishness and then offered a free round of mead on her to which the elf nodded "ok."
Slightly disheveled she made her way back to the bar. Kardwell looked around the inn but none of the patrons were paying him any attention whatsoever. He was still safe...for now.
At that moment a glass slammed hard on the bar and one of the patrons spoke up loudly.
"Caroline...give us a song luv!"
With that, others there chimed in as well.
"Yes a song a song...sing for us...sing..."
"Caroline." The name rang in his memory. At the mention of the name his mind drifted back to a great battle that raged beneath Undercity. He had been there fighting beside her. Then she had fallen but he had saved her. He remembered her looking towards him in the midst of that fierce battle with a smile and knowing wink. And now her face faded and was suddenly replaced by the the face of the simple human girl now blushing at the head of the room.
Caroline reached for a mandolin which rested beside the fireplace. She sat on the hearth and began to strum. As the room fell into silence, Caroline began to sing, and her voice was so unmistakable to Kardwell that he nearly burst. It was the same voice he remembered from the moots of long ago... sweet yet haunting and melodic. Kardwell felt an ache so deeply in his heart it felt as if someone had plunged a knife into his chest, and yet he too was mesmerized by her song and could not bring himself to stir.
Tried to take it all away
Learn her freedom just inside a day
And find her soul
To find their fears allayed
Tried to make her love their own
They took her love, they left her there
They gave her nothing back
That she would want to own
Gold and silver rings and stones
Dances slowly of the moon
No-one else can know
She stands alone
Sleeping dreams will reach for her
She cannot say the words they need
She knows she's alone
And she is free
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
Then she met a hollow soul
Filled him with her light
And was consoled she was the moon
And he, the sun, was gold
Eyes were blinded with his light
The sun she gave
Reflected back the night
The moon was waning almost out of sight
Softly ocean gypsy calls
Silence holds the stars awhile
They smile sadly
For her where she falls
Just the time before the dawn
The sea is hushed
The ocean calls her
Day has taken her and now she's gone
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
No-one noticed when she died
Ocean gypsy shackled to the tide
The ebbing waves were turning
Spreading wide
Something gone within her eyes
Her fingers, lifeless, stroke the sand
Her battered soul was lost
She was abandoned
Silken threads like wings still shine
Winds take pleasure, still make patterns
In her lovely hair
So dark and fine
Stands on high beneath the seas
Cries no more
Her tears have dried
Oceans weep for her the ocean sighs
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
Renaissance
Ocean Gypsy lyrics
As the girl Caroline finished her sad lament the room remained in silence. They had heard her sing before but never a song so sad and moving as this.
Caroline set her instrument aside and looked around at all of the patrons staring. As she surveyed the room she came to notice the now empty corner table. The hooded stranger was gone. Caroline excused herself and disappeared into the kitchens.
(Continued in Part 2)
The traveler wandered into town carrying a small pack over one shoulder. He stopped to survey the area briefly before slowly plodding forward. Had anyone bothered to notice they would have seen a fellow who was tall and lean yet moved with ballet-like grace. He wore no armor nor carried any weapon save a small dagger that dangled from his belt. He was draped in a long heavy grey cloak with a hood that covered the back of his head and ears. The hood concealed him but not enough to hide the distinct blue and white facial markings of a night elf that were apparent along the lines of a handsome face.
The only odd feature the stranger bore, were a pair of strange elaborate engineering style goggles that covered his eyes. Though odd, goggles like this were a common enough accessory that the towns people still regarded him with little concern as he made his way along the streets. To them he appeared as any other traveler that passed through their town daily. A merchant perhaps, or a mercenary looking for work.
Making his way along the street, Kardwell suddenly ducked into the nearby stable to recheck his disguise. Though no one in the town had paid him any attention he still felt as though at any minute someone would see right through him. He looked at his reflection which stared back in a nearby pail of water, but he barely even recognized himself. The blue and white face paint hid his skin tone well, and the night elf clothing had been easy enough to gather. The original owner, after all, would no longer be needing it. The goggles had been necessary to hide his strange yet instantly recognizable blood elf eyes, but he still could almost not bear how stupid they looked. Upon his return he would have to speak to Lucinther about making something a bit more fashionable.
There was a noise from behind followed by a human voice.
"Can I help you good sir?"
Kardwell bolted upright then just as suddenly calmed himself and turned slowly to face a young human lad. The boy was young, perhaps fourteen or fifteen. A stable hand perhaps?
Though Kardwell had memorized a few human phrases he still did not know enough of the language to pass as such. He understood that the boy had asked a question and deduced he was asking if he had wanted anything. Kardwell simply shook his head "no" and attempted a smile. The boy merely shrugged and went on about his business. Kardwell leaned against the barn wall and shed a sigh of relief. It was then that he heard a distinctly familiar female voice.
"Good day to you Mister Carver."
Karwell knew that voice. It was burned into his memory forever. It came from just outside the stable door. As he slowly peeked around the corner he had half expected to see her there...an undead mage wearing magnificent robes of purple and gold.
The girl he saw instead was dressed in the simple garb of a barmaid with a brown linen skirt and red corset tied under her breasts. She was beautiful with long dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that sparkled in the evening sunlight. She smiled at a man passing by with a large bag of flour slung over his shoulder.
"And to you Miss Caroline." The man tipped his hat and went on his way, and the girl returned the gesture with a slight curtsey, and then crossed the street where she entered the town pub.
Kardwell watched the exchange from the shadows of the livery then retreated and braced his head against the wall. Beads of sweat broke out all over his face threatening to smear the blue lines which had been painted there.
Dispaya's age had seemed timeless and her wisdom was great, but this girl appeared to be no more than nineteen or twenty years of age if even that. A feeling of doubt crossed his mind. Could that really be her? How could she come here? How?
Even when her location had been revealed to him during his recent adventures he still had a hard time believing it could be at all true. She was one of the great Horde mages. She stood against Ragnaros. She faced down minions of the Lich King single handedly. She is revered by trollkind, dragonkind and all manner of people on two worlds, yet here she is in a small human town. My heart can barely stand the torture of it, he thought.
Kardwell spat on the ground and then calmed himself. This would be a poor place to lose his temper. With a sigh he crossed the road and swung open the pub door. He was now more determined than ever to see her.
***
2
A tall lean elf in a hooded cloak entered the town pub and looked around from behind strange dark goggles. Though his ears and hair were hidden by his cloak, the elaborate designs on his face made his race apparent. The patrons barely regarded him as he made his way to a corner table and plopped down in a seat there.
He spied the object of his quest standing behind a long bar at the far end of the room, making polite conversation with several patrons there. She smiled and giggled like a school girl. Her skin was no longer white and her eyes no longer glowed, but it was Dispaya all right. He could never forget such a face nor her giggling laugh.
As he stared he remembered her. The long conversations they had shared and times spent together ricocheted through his mind. He remembered the Northrend Ball and how they had danced. He had wanted so desperately to reach out to her, to connect in some deeper way, but had then been unable due to his own inner demons. She had helped to purge him of those same demons and he knew even now he could never repay her. How do you repay someone for restoring your very soul?
His thoughts were interrupted by a second serving wench who dipped in front of him asking a question.
"...sir? I asked if you would like something to drink or eat perhaps."
"Drink." He recognized that word. He forced a smile and nodded a simple "Yes. Mead..err...please."
"Very good sir."
With that she was off. The blonde haired server went to the bar and said something to the girl with dark hair that Kardwell watched, and she nodded and looked in his direction. The blood elf felt his heart sink at her gaze and he had to battle himself not to flee from this place in sorrow and anger.
She poured a glass of the delicious honey drink but instead of the blonde it was the dark haired girl herself who brought the glass over. Kardwell looked down at the table almost afraid to look up when she next appeared beside him and set the glass before him.
"Anything else for you today sir?" she asked with a smile.
"err...no...no" The elf mumbled almost under his breath.
"You look quite weary. Have you spent a long day on the road?
She spoke in the human tongue and this was something Kardwell was not used to hearing from her lips. To Kardwell her words came across as something closer to, "You lhjju iutyrre weary. hwne you jhyrg day on uyt road?" He knew the word "weary" however and feigned a simple answer.
"Yesss," he muttered taking a sip of the mead. "Weary."
"Oh you poor dear." The dark haired girl stated. Let us see if we can help you relax a bit." With that she suddenly reached forward and lifted the goggles from his eyes. A brief flash of glowing green escaped before Kardwell could grab her hand and force it away. With his free hand he re-adjusted the goggles over his eyes. He feared his cover was now blown. If she saw and did not know him, alarms would be raised. He would have to fight his way free.
As he held her reaching hand in his, something else happened and he sensed something. He wasn't sure at first but yes...there it was...all around her...he was now sure it was the presence of mana! Yes! Yes! He was positive. He of all blood elves could never mistake that. He looked directly into her face now to see who or what she really was. But the only look the dark haired girl returned was one of shock followed by puzzlement, and then, a look of shame or regret.
"Oh dear...sir...I am...so sorry...I only meant to...I am so sorry sir...your eyes...I bet they were injured in the war...I should never assume..."
Kardwell merely waved her off and smiled.
"No..need to...apolo...err..say sorry miss. All forgive you."
She stood straight and insisted again at her foolishness and then offered a free round of mead on her to which the elf nodded "ok."
Slightly disheveled she made her way back to the bar. Kardwell looked around the inn but none of the patrons were paying him any attention whatsoever. He was still safe...for now.
At that moment a glass slammed hard on the bar and one of the patrons spoke up loudly.
"Caroline...give us a song luv!"
With that, others there chimed in as well.
"Yes a song a song...sing for us...sing..."
"Caroline." The name rang in his memory. At the mention of the name his mind drifted back to a great battle that raged beneath Undercity. He had been there fighting beside her. Then she had fallen but he had saved her. He remembered her looking towards him in the midst of that fierce battle with a smile and knowing wink. And now her face faded and was suddenly replaced by the the face of the simple human girl now blushing at the head of the room.
Caroline reached for a mandolin which rested beside the fireplace. She sat on the hearth and began to strum. As the room fell into silence, Caroline began to sing, and her voice was so unmistakable to Kardwell that he nearly burst. It was the same voice he remembered from the moots of long ago... sweet yet haunting and melodic. Kardwell felt an ache so deeply in his heart it felt as if someone had plunged a knife into his chest, and yet he too was mesmerized by her song and could not bring himself to stir.
Tried to take it all away
Learn her freedom just inside a day
And find her soul
To find their fears allayed
Tried to make her love their own
They took her love, they left her there
They gave her nothing back
That she would want to own
Gold and silver rings and stones
Dances slowly of the moon
No-one else can know
She stands alone
Sleeping dreams will reach for her
She cannot say the words they need
She knows she's alone
And she is free
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
Then she met a hollow soul
Filled him with her light
And was consoled she was the moon
And he, the sun, was gold
Eyes were blinded with his light
The sun she gave
Reflected back the night
The moon was waning almost out of sight
Softly ocean gypsy calls
Silence holds the stars awhile
They smile sadly
For her where she falls
Just the time before the dawn
The sea is hushed
The ocean calls her
Day has taken her and now she's gone
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
No-one noticed when she died
Ocean gypsy shackled to the tide
The ebbing waves were turning
Spreading wide
Something gone within her eyes
Her fingers, lifeless, stroke the sand
Her battered soul was lost
She was abandoned
Silken threads like wings still shine
Winds take pleasure, still make patterns
In her lovely hair
So dark and fine
Stands on high beneath the seas
Cries no more
Her tears have dried
Oceans weep for her the ocean sighs
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
Renaissance
Ocean Gypsy lyrics
As the girl Caroline finished her sad lament the room remained in silence. They had heard her sing before but never a song so sad and moving as this.
Caroline set her instrument aside and looked around at all of the patrons staring. As she surveyed the room she came to notice the now empty corner table. The hooded stranger was gone. Caroline excused herself and disappeared into the kitchens.
(Continued in Part 2)