Be Kind To Those Less Fortunate 7
Disclaimer: The Warcraft universe is a creation of Blizzard Entertainment, not me. I intend not to, nor am I making, any money from this work.
Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Summary: A draenei paladin traveling through Northrend comes across a tauren shaman in trouble with the scourge.
Author's note: The next part is here! This one is a bit longer than usual, because I was trying to fit in a lot of stuff from the plan/draft I wrote for it. I hope you enjoy it, and stay tuned for more, because I have written up a plan/draft for the rest of the story. Yes, I know how it ends. No, I'm not going to tell you yet.
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Be Kind To Those Less Fortunate 7
--
Light.
A religion to some, a philosophy to many, the Light is a powerful force that exists within the universe. For all the beliefs of morals, very few had unlocked the truth of the Light, and those that knew the truth were unable to share it with others. Those that took the Light as a matter of faith were least likely to welcome the truth. Those that were more grounded in reality were more likely to accept the truth, however not many were able to grasp it. The simple reality was that the Light was like any other force in the universe: it was a type of energy. Like nature, the Shadow, or the fel, the Light was an energy force that could be tapped into and used, for good or evil. It had no personality, no sentience to speak of. Those that thought so were merely projecting from their own hopes and fears.
The Light did not prod people to do good. People did good because they wanted to, just as people did evil. The Light did not determine whether people would be good or evil. People chose those paths for themselves. Unfortunately, for many, those paths were chosen for them. Those that grew up in happy, loving environments were more likely to end up good. Those that grew up in unhappy, unloving environments were more likely to end up evil. Children, from a very young age, had imprinted upon them the behaviours and attitudes of those around them. Fortunately, most children grew up to be mostly good, and it was they that would be attracted to the Light, although some chose to learn of the other energies of the universe. Thus would priests, paladins, mages, druids, and shamans come to the world. Those that grew up to be evil, although few, would learn of the darker energies. And so there would be warlocks and shadow priests. Death knights would come along later, an abomination upon the world, created by the Lich King for unholy purposes. Even among the so called "good classes" there would be those that chose a path of evil. Despite good intentions, evil would flourish so long as they had the support of their conscience.
The tauren had never practised the way of the Light. Not until now had any taken up that power. Stronghoof, a former shaman and a practised warrior, was told this story by Anarchei, a paladin. They sat in the lounge room of an apartment in Dalaran. Anarchei spoke carefully, pausing when Stronghoof asked him a question. When his tale was done, there was a moment of silence. The shu'halo warrior was taking it all in. Only a few moments ago he had begun to glow with an aura of Light. Now he was contemplating what his future might hold.
"I want to know something," the tauren began. "You are a paladin right?"
"That's right," Anarchei replied from his seat across from the shu'halo.
"What does it mean to be a paladin?" Stronghoof asked.
"A paladin is a warrior primarily, but a warrior who has taken up the power of the Light as their ally. There are different kinds of paladins, as we can take on different roles if we so choose. There is a holy paladin, one who heals more than they fight. There is a protection paladin, one who defends others. You can tell them apart because they carry a shield. And then there is a retribution paladin, one who fights more than anything else. Don't let the name fool you, paladins aren't usually about punishment, at least, I'm not."
"Does that mean you are a retribution paladin?"
Anarchei nodded, and pointed to his two-handed sword lying against wall next to his armour. "You can tell me apart by the weapon I carry."
"I see. Tell me more."
"Well, a paladin has more than a role to play. By virtue, most paladins will defend the weak and less fortunate."
"Is that why you saved me?"
Anarchei nodded. "It is not so much an obligation, as it is a choice. You never asked for help, I never agreed to give it, however I did choose to help you regardless because I don't like seeing people get hurt."
"Even if they are your enemy?"
"I don't think I have told you this, but I don't actually side with any particular faction."
"You aren't Alliance?"
Anarchei shook his head. "I might have been once upon a time, but not any more. How about you? Do you consider yourself a part of the Horde still?"
"I'm not sure," Stronghoof replied with a shrug. "I never really thought about it."
"It's your choice," Anarchei expressed with some disdain. "Personally, I find politics distasteful."
"Why's that?"
"The truth of politics is that it is a gun in the room, and people are deciding where it should be pointed. I honestly don't want anything to do with it."
"Oh..."
After an awkward silence, Anarchei spoke. "So, tell me. Do you want to become a paladin?"
Stronghoof nodded. "I can think of nothing else I would want to do. I already have training as a warrior, however I don't know the first thing about how to channel the Light like you do."
"I can show you if you'd like," the draenei offered.
"I'd like that very much," the shu'halo responded with a smile.
His glowing blue eyes brightening slightly at the opportunity to teach another the way of the Light, Anarchei stood up from his chair and motioned for Stronghoof to do the same. Once they were both standing face-to-face, Anarchei offered a warning.
"You must know: this is not something that can be mastered in a day. It will take weeks, maybe months for you to control this new power. I can certainly teach you the basics for now, however anything more advanced will require your complete devotion to the task. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Stronghoof replied with a nod. "I understand."
"Good, let's get started."
--
Over the past few hours Anarchei had taught Stronghoof some of the things a novice paladin would need to know. Auras, seals, and judgements were an essential part of any paladin's arsenal. They had pushed the furniture in the room to the walls to give them space in the middle to practice. The draenei had started out simple. No weapons or armour, just the spells themselves. The tauren managed to grasp them fairly quickly. His aura flared first, then his seal was in place, and finally he targeted Anarchei and unleashed his judgement. The hammer made of Light dropped from above, and collided with the shield the draenei had in place.
"Excellent work, you got it!" Anarchei clapped his hands in praise as the shield dissipated, a smile on his face. "You've managed to learn something in a few hours that took me a couple of days to learn."
Stronghoof blushed, or at least, what the draenei thought was a blush, as the tauren's fur covered up his skin. "Thank you. I don't think I could have done it without such a great teacher."
"No, thank you for been such an excellent student," Anarchei grinned. "Let's take a break."
Stronghoof sighed in relief and sat down on the floor, leaning back upon his three-fingered hands. Anarchei followed suit. After a moment of resting, Stronghoof's curiosity got the better of him.
"Anarchei?"
"Yeah?"
"I've been meaning to ask you... Why did you become a paladin? I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
"I don't mind. There's actually a bit of a story behind it. If you recall, I was in Moonglade for a while. After I left, I travelled to Darnassus, the home of the kaldorei. I was there to open an account at the bank so I could deposit the gold I had recently acquired, as well as some personal items I didn't want to carry around with me. While I was there I encountered a night elf priest who recognised the Light within me. While I was certainly surprised that I could possibly channel the Light, I declined her offer to train as a priest. I wanted to learn how to use the Light, but I wanted more than just the ability to heal people or cast spells. The priest acknowledged my desire and told me that if I wanted to become a paladin, that I would need to go to the Exodar, the nearest place that taught people how to become paladins. So with that knowledge I boarded a boat to Azuremyst Isle, and found a paladin trainer. I worked very hard at it, and it took me a few weeks to master the basics. However, at this time it became known to those around me that I had no desire to bed females. Eventually they figured out that I only liked other males in that way. My secret discovered, I was told to leave and never return. In effect, I was exiled from my own people."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Stronghoof said softly, Anarchei waving it off.
"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty much over it. Anyway, after that I took my training into my own hands, going from place to place, picking up knowledge and skills from other paladins as I travelled. It was around this time that I heard of the Burning Legion. These demonic invaders were a threat to all life, and so I left Azeroth and went back to my home world of Draenor, or at least, what's left of it. I fought the demons for a while, but I eventually grew tired, so I sought refuge. It was while I was in Shattrath City that I managed to complete my training. As a paladin I have helped many people. I am kind of famous in certain circles. Depending on who you talk to I'm either a great hero or a degenerate mercenary. I guess you can't please everyone."
After a moment, upon taking all this in, Stronghoof spoke. "Hearing that tale I want to become a paladin even more so."
Anarchei smiled, standing up. "If that is the case, let's continue with the training. This time, you will need to wear armour and carry a weapon."
"But I don't have any armour, or a weapon," the tauren explained as he also stood. "I discarded them when I thought I wouldn't need them any more."
"I see," the draenei mused. "Well, I guess I'll need to craft you some."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Of course. I'm your friend, that's what friends do for each other."
"It's just that I feel like I owe you for what you have done for me," Stronghoof bowed his head.
"Hey now," Anarchei stepped forward and lifted the shu'halo's head up to look him in the eyes. "You don't owe me anything."
"Would you at least accept a hug as payment?"
Anarchei smiled and nodded. They stepped closer to each other, their arms reaching around one another as they pressed in close. They stayed like that for a while, the tauren squeezing a little tightly, to which the draenei responded in kind. Both were smiling, their eyes closed, happy.
"You know, I could get used to this," Stronghoof said into Anarchei's left pointed ear.
Anarchei chuckled.
--
The materials required to craft armour are not cheap to buy. The draenei blacksmith however had plenty stored away in the bank, ready at a moments notice to craft any piece of armour that his clients desired. At that moment, however, he was crafting a special set of armour for a friend. The anvil was getting plenty of use that day, the blacksmith's hammer pounding away for some time as he crafted something of beauty. Beige-coated titansteel embedded with simple pale-blue gems, gold trim, and blue cloth. An excellent example of the merging of form and function. Much like his own set of armour, this gear would fit his tauren friend well. All that was left to do was to craft a weapon. Unfortunately, he could not make a sword like his own, as it was unique. He could, however, craft a blade that was similar and almost as powerful. It took nearly an hour, but in the end he was pleased with the result. The blade was longer than his own, more suited for the larger size of a shu'halo than a draenei. It was certainly a heavy weapon, and would do a lot of damage when it came into contact with an enemy. However, for the wielder it would feel as light a feather. With his task complete, he stepped out on to the street and waved his friend over, who had been sitting on a bench waiting, practising his auras and seals. Upon seeing his new armour, the tauren couldn't help but hug the draenei, albeit from behind this time.
"Thank you," he whispered into his friends ear.
Anarchei laughed. "We can't continue your training without armour or a weapon. It was no problem, really. Think of it as a gift."
Stronghoof nodded and released Anarchei from his hold, and picked up the chest armour to feel its weight, examining the craftsmanship.
"This is really beautiful," he said softly, as if in awe. "It's just like yours."
"Well, I thought you might like it. I've always thought it was the best looking armour around. And it's very powerful too. Not the most powerful of course, but it gets the job done."
"At least it isn't a dress," the shu'halo responded, putting the chest piece down to examine the leg plates. "That's one of the things I never really liked about being a shaman. We wore a dress."
Anarchei chuckled. "Even some paladins wear a dress, but not me. Can't stand the sight of it."
Stronghoof laughed.
"Let's take this back to the inn and have you try it on."
"Sure thing."
They both hefted the heavy plate armour and carried it down the street to the inn they were staying at. Once back inside their room, Stronghoof began putting the gear on. The leather straps proved to be a bit difficult at first, however the tauren refused the draenei's assistance. He wanted to do this himself. After a few minutes of twisting and moving about, the armour was finally covering the tauren's body.
"There's no helm," Stronghoof commented.
"Well, you see, I've never been a big supporter of helms," Anarchei replied, brushing his left hand thought his spiky white hair. "What, with the horns and all."
Stronghoof saw the problem. The draenei had two thick horns that extended from his forehead and straight up as long as his hair. Getting a helm on to that head would have been difficult. As a tauren, he knew how hard it was to find a helm that would fit him, and most of the time he would go without. As a master of various weapons, he was good enough not to need one anyway. He was quite capable of keeping enemies away from his head. The power boost he would have received from the item would have been nice though.
The novice paladin picked up the new two-handed sword, feeling the weight in his hand. He gave it a few swings through the air. Once he got used to it, the blade felt like there was nothing there at all.
"This is an amazing weapon," Stronghoof exclaimed, watching the blade move faster than he thought was possible.
"A little blacksmithing secret," Anarchei explained, smiling as his friend enjoyed his gift.
"Are you going to get your armour on too?" the tauren asked, no longer testing his new sword.
"Sure, give me a moment."
In a quarter of the time it took Stronghoof to put on his gear, Anarchei had his on.
"Ready for more training?"
"You bet."
Suddenly, Anarchei rushed forward and swung his blade, a move that Stronghoof barely managed to counter. Stronghoof then used his strength to smash his sword into the draenei's, who barely moved under the assault. Anarchei returned the blow, which managed to make the large tauren step back. Eyes widening, Stronghoof tried to fight back with all his strength, but it didn't take long for him to be beaten. The draenei had managed to bring his blade inside the shu'halo's defences and had the point aimed at his throat.
"You're out of practice," Anarchei said between breaths, withdrawing his blade and standing back. "Let's go again."
Barely able to catch his breath, Stronghoof swung his weapon to meet the new onslaught from Anarchei. They continued like this for over an hour, Stronghoof nearing exhaustion as each time he was defeated by the draenei in under a minute.
"How are you able to do that?" he asked his friend after he had collapsed to the floor, panting heavily while the draenei was breathing like he had only run a short distance.
"The Light gives me strength," Anarchei explained. "You need to understand that the Light is more than just casting spells. It can make you strong and powerful in both body and mind. Your mind is strong with all the magic you used as a shaman, however as a result you have weakened your body. You need to draw on the Light, whether you are about to cast a spell, or you are fighting with a weapon."
Stronghoof nodded. After a few moments, his body emanated a glow briefly, and in an instant he was barely tired at all. Surprised, he looked up at the draenei standing above him, hand extended to help him up. Grasping it, he was half-lifted off the ground. Upon releasing his friend, Anarchei backed up and raised his blade.
"Again." --
The training continued for several days. Anarchei wasn't easy on Stronghoof, but never brutal. He knew when the tauren needed rest, knew when a new technique was too tough for him to learn right away. He pushed Stronghoof to his limits, but never beyond them. The shu'halo sometimes did not appreciate how hard the draenei was been on him, but the way his friend treated him when they weren't training reminded him that this was training, not a friendly sparring match. Of course, when it came to spell casting, Anarchei endeavoured to make the experience as fun as possible. Not wanting to over exert the tauren too much, they had forgone wearing armour while using spells. After the tauren mastered healing spells, he decided to teach Stronghoof how to bubble. The proper name was divine shield, but it's appearance had given it the nickname bubble. This was probably the most fun that the tauren had experienced since they had begun training. Once he had learnt how to master the technique, they had begun bouncing around the room with the bubbles. Off the floor, into the ceiling, and off the walls. Every time they felt nothing, the bubble protecting them from the impacts. Thinking he might surprise his friend, Stronghoof targeted Anarchei and threw himself at the draenei.
"Wait, Stronghoof..."
Too late, they collided with one another, their bubbles having disappeared a split second before impact. They landed hard, Anarchei with his back to the floor, Stronghoof above him.
"Divine shield has a time limit, remember?" the draenei grunted.
"I'm so sorry," the larger tauren apologised, taking most of his weight off the draenei. "I didn't hurt you did I?"
"I'm fine," Anarchei replied as he looked up at Stronghoof.
They starred at each other, both looked into each others eyes. They didn't turn away, neither wanting to.
"Your eyes are beautiful," Stronghoof said softly.
"They look like any other of my race," Anarchei replied as he blushed slightly.
Stronghoof shook his head, lent forward on his left elbow, and placed his right hand on the draenei's cheek.
"That's not what I mean."
"What do you mean?" Anarchei's voice barely above a whisper.
The tauren gently brushed his muzzle against the draenei's lips. "This."
Suddenly, their lips were together, Stronghoof engaging Anarchei in their first kiss. The draenei enjoyed it for a moment, returning the gentle kiss in kind. A doubt formed in his mind, he carefully pushed the tauren off himself slightly.
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
They kissed again, this time Anarchei felt that Stronghoof's large tongue sought entry into his mouth. He parted his lips and it slipped in, mingling with his own. Anarchei placed his arms around the tauren's thick neck, Stronghoof shifting his left arm behind Anarchei's back and his right behind his head. The bull rolled them over, Anarchei now on top. They ground themselves against one another, hands shifting to feel each other's bodies. The draenei had never before felt the way he did now. He hadn't had this sort of experience before, and he was enjoying it like nothing he had experienced before. The feeling of muscles and fur beneath his hand, the warmth of the body beneath him, the wetness of the tongue not his own. It was too much for him. Suddenly they both stopped and pulled away, breathing heavily, as they realised that they were both aroused.
"I want us to make love," Stronghoof said gently.
Unsure how to respond, the draenei thought quickly for what to say. His thoughts were all over the place, but the one that nudged him at that moment was the one he knew was the right thing to say.
"I think it might be too soon for that," Anarchei replied in the same tone. "We may be rushing..."
The draenei was interrupted by the sound of a window shattering. A rock had been thrown through it. The rock landed near where they laid on the floor. Startled, they rolled off each other and sat up. Both of them stared at the stone. Wrapped around it was a note, with dark red splotches that could only be blood splattered on the paper. Anarchei reached forward and picked it up, unravelled the paper, and instantly dropped the rock, for it was made of saronite, the blood of Yogg-Saron, the old god of death. The note was written in rough Common, with a message that read: "Stay away from the tauren or you will die."