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The air filled her lungs and swept her hair back like an unfurling flag. She stood on the deck of the gunship staring straight ahead, her face set in quiet determination. Ahead, the ominous flare of green fel light pulsated in the sky; like a dark heart pumping blood through aorta and capillaries, feeding the land mass below in preparation for the coming assault. Her own heart was pounding, its beat providing a timpani to the steady drone of the gunship's engines. The time for discovering if her hunch was good logic or a misguided whim would be upon her soon. She just prayed it was the former.

To the south east of their location she saw Dalaran hovering above the Broken Isles, now a broken rock itself. The city had undergone severe damage since the time of its relocation. She had heard tales of the repeated assaults on the metropolis from wave after wave of the Legion's servants. Those who defended, did so with  valour and pride seconded to none. The sight of the once beautiful city draped a cloak of melancholy over her. It was a mantle she did not wish to wear, and she shrugged it from her mind. She had returned to ensure there was an abrupt end to this violation of Azeroth.

Khadgar stood just inside the doors to the lower decks, watching her closely. But, every time her head turned in his direction he ducked out of sight. Inwardly he chastised himself for being so childish, but he could not shake the disappointment he felt each time when she severed the eye contact they made. Yes, he had made a life choice, knowing its restrictions. Equally, having sent her back to her home planet nearly two years before, he had thought his choice, or rather acceptance of his role in life, would be easier to execute. How wrong he had been. Yet, he was a man of principle and a dutiful man at that. Still, it did not stop him from caring for her and longing for something he could never share with her again. His mouth tightened, annoyed with himself for wallowing in self pity. Azeroth needed him as did the Kirin Tor. There was no room for anything nor anyone else. He had to believe that. He just had to.

Absentmindedly, he picked at a ragged nail as his eyes drifted back to the stalwart woman standing on the deck. There was an undercurrent however. An unsettled feeling he could not pinpoint. Perhaps it was just the uncertainty of what they might find, but somehow he did not think so. If he was truthful, he sensed there was something about this expedition she was keeping from him. A shuffle followed by the dull clank of plate and steel sounded behind him announced Vindicator Ocel had come to stand at his side.

"She would serve well as an adviser to Varian, do you not think?" Ocel asked his friend.

"Hmm?" Khadgar mumbled.

The draenei could tell there was something playing on his mind. "What is troubling you?"

The Archmage turned enough to converse with his friend, while maintaining his vigil of Sarah. "I don't know, Ocel. I sense ... something, but I just can't put my finger on it."

"And you are still in love with her," the draenei said matter of factly.

Khadgar sighed. Ocel had an annoying habit of shooting straight from the hip, and Khadgar, in all the years of their friendship had never mastered dodging the bullets. "Hopelessly," he admitted.

"Need it be that way?"

"You know it must." The Archmage's voice had an edge to it.

"No. Actually, I do not, Khadgar." Ocel's voice adopted the same tone.

The Archmage turned to look at the towering paladin. "I have responsibilities Ocel, which I swore to undertake. In doing so, I have to ... be pure of body and mind."

"Bah!! Too late for that, old friend," Ocel grinned.

Khadgar furrowed his brow, incensed at the draenei's quip. "It is rules I have to obey, as well you know!"

Ocel omitted a sardonic laugh. "Do you honestly believe you will be a better leader because you obey some ancient outdated law? Consider your predecessors, none of them followed rules, Jaina included. I would rather a happy, all rounded, fulfilled leader, than the mere shadow of your former self, which you have become. How many more regrets must you shoulder?"

Before Khadgar had a chance to respond, Ocel went below decks, leaving the Archmage to stew over his words. Agitated, he tugged at the nail again then yelped quietly as it tore to the quick.

The company alighted on Dalaran. It was Drew's first visit to the city. His face said it all. Here stood a once beautiful, vibrant city and now it was deserted apart from its defenders, looking weary and battle sore. With turrets, buildings, statues and walls breached by frequent blasts from fel meteors and demon onslaughts, the floating metropolis was a ghost of its former self.

Sarah found herself glancing in the direction of what was once Khadgar's quarters. A trace of a sentimental smile played on her lips, but it was soon erased as the Archmage followed her gaze and then glanced her way.

She turned towards Krasus's Landing and started towards it. From the edge she saw the point of entry for Mardum on the floating rock section to the right just below from where she stood. The demon hunters now used Mardum as their base and it was accessed by a portal on the floating rock. She stepped nearer the edge of the Landing. Drew caught her arm.

"It's alright, Drew. I'm just looking." She smiled, reassuringly.

She watched as troops made their way down to the Broken Isles on gryphons, the gun ship, a myriad of mounts and portals.

Kayn Sunfury had briefly consulted with the demon hunters through in Mardum, instructing them to make way for their Lord and Master's arrival. Sarah moved over to speak with him on his return.

Khadgar, Drew, Erik and Ocel watched intently as she spoke with the Illidari, their conversation hushed. Occasionally, Arcaena glanced over, but with those runecloth covered sockets it was difficult to gauge any sense of an expression or tell-tale sign of what was being discussed.

Khadgar became unsettled. He still had a sense of foreboding and her prolonged discussions which did not include him or Ocel had heightened his disquietude. He noticed Drew had a similar concern on his face. He moved over to stand beside him. "You know her better than any of us Drew, what do you think is going on?" he asked quietly.

Drew was somewhat surprised the Archmage was speaking to him. Other than a general acknowledgement while Sarah had been in the vicinity he had never engaged with him in conversation. Still, he was not going to make an issue of it; now did not merit an arbitrary response. He understood where Khadgar was coming from, he too had worries. "I honestly don't know. You sense it too though, don't you? Something she is not telling us?"

Khadgar looked at Drew, a small smile of mutual understanding. "Yes, but what exactly?"

"I have no idea, but it's been since we went to Shattrath and met with the naaru."

Khadgar gaped, and abruptly turned in the direction of Ocel. "Of course!" he breathed.

Drew laughed a little nervously, missing the fact the Archmage had moved away. "Who knows? She's a woman, maybe it's the hormones. They blame them for every..." It then dawned on him Khadgar had uttered something. He turned to look at him only to find the space beside him had been vacated. "What? Wait! What do you mean, of course?" Drew spun as Khadgar grabbed Ocel by the arm and led him to the other side of the Landing. Drew crossed over to them, alarmed. He was surreptitiously followed by a baffled Erik.

"We were unable to hear what A'dal said to her during her second audience." Khadgar was talking quickly and quietly to Ocel. "Why do you think we were excluded? What information would they not want us to hear?"

Erik and Drew exchanged glances. This did not feel good at all.

"You said it yourself Khadgar, normally those discussions are private. We were privy to her first audience as a courtesy due to her being alien to our world. I'm sure they were just following protocol after."

Drew could tell the Archmage wasn't entirely convinced, but he conceded that privacy was the normal way of the naaru. He had no alternative but to stay his anxiety.

Soon, Sarah and the demon hunters joined them. "Kayn has suggested we make camp in Azsuna for the night. He knows of a secluded spot in the Highlands there. It has been scouted for demons and it is safe, for now anyway. It is late, and we will need rest for our work to begin tomorrow." She bore an impassive expression and her eyes simply skimmed over Khadgar's face.

"Ah! There you go, she was only making arrangements for the night," Erik beamed.

Sarah smiled. "Yes Erik. That was all."

Khadgar was even less convinced, but he said nothing.

Kayn's scouts had proved right about the woodlands. The area where they camped was vast, lush and offered good cover. They were able to set up some small fires for cooking and keeping warm without alerting anyone or anything to their whereabouts. Again, the various races mingled, aiding one another from simple cooking chores to readying weapons for the next day. There was a strong sense of brotherhood.

Sarah sat with Arcaena and Tiene. The three of them seemed to be chatting quite innocently, laughing occasionally.

Drew looked on, trying to convince himself that the three of them were just having a girlie chat. Tiene would look over now and again, the sultry smile of hers teasing him. He was sure he had made a complete ass of himself last night at the party. He still liked her, a lot! He doubted she really thought that much of him though.

He spotted Khadgar sloping off into the woods. No doubt he was checking the area, just making sure it was as safe as it appeared to be; perhaps he would be conjuring protective wards to ensure their security.

He tried to erase Khadgar's unease from his mind, lord knows he had enough of his own but it was now embedded in his brain. It had been disclosed that Ocel and Khadger had heard most of the conversation between A'dal and Sarah to begin with. That apparently was unusual. But, the normal way of things, the private consultation, had Khadgar concerned. This whole mission was worrisome if he was honest. He tossed a small twig in the fire and sat, watching it burn and spit.

"So," Sarah said to Arcaena." Tell me about your little keepsake you gave me." She held up the gem that had brought her and Drew back to Azeroth.

The demon hunter's lips curled over her tiny fangs. "I was not sure it would work," she said. "In fact I was convinced it hadn't when you took so long in returning."

"Ah! But it was only three weeks in my time."

"Really?" The demon hunter was astounded at news of the short span of time.

"Yes. So tell me, what is it?"

"It was fragments of the Sargerite Keystone, mere shavings of it, I encased them with the crystals which were remnants of the demon blood casing Maeiv trapped us within when she had us imprisoned in the Vault."

"A transmutation? You were an alchemist?"

Arcaena nodded, a little humble shrug of her shoulders following. "Yes, not a very good one though."

"Well you managed to give me a way back here. I still don't know how I triggered it though."

"Same as a mage does a portal. You imagine where you want to be and will it."

Sarah cast her mind back to that night in her home. It was true, she had been simply looking at it, wishing she was back in Azeroth, willing time and space to bring her back as she'd remembered the people and places. She smiled, "That simple, eh?"

Arcaena nodded. Sarah noticed Tiene looking over at the small fire where Drew sat with Erik and a couple of night elves. They were digging into some stew.

"You like Drew?" Sarah asked the blood elf. "He likes you, Tiene. Very much I would say."

Tiene turned her head towards her, a melancholy smile on her lips. "He reminds me very much of someone I once knew." 

 Something in her tone, told Sarah that the "someone" in question had been very dear to her. She did not press her, but the young blood elf shared a little more information. 

"His name was Camnath. He was a very good assassin. He was..." Sarah noticed the elf swallow hard, as if continuing would give rise to painful memories. Tiene lowered her head for a few moments before continuing. "Drew is annoying at times. But he has a good heart... " She lifted her head again and faced the others. A slightly mischievous grin spread over her lips. "And a fine body." The three of them laughed quietly. 

"Well, he has proved himself a great friend over the years. He is the best thing to have happened to me," Sarah said.

Arcaena lowered her voice. "And what of Khadgar?" she nodded as she saw him breaking camp and heading into the woods.

Sarah followed where she indicated. She watched his back retreating into the forest foliage. "Ah, that is ... no more." Her voice caught in her throat. "He has made it clear that things are over. I just ... have to deal with it, I guess." She paused again. "Truth is I'm not doing too good a job of that. Thought I was, for a little while, but..."

She forced herself to stop, knowing if she kept talking she would lose what little self-control she had left. A rogue tear escaped and she hurriedly wiped it away with the heel of her palm. Tiene, who was listening to the conversation also, placed a comforting hand on Sarah's arm. "The heart goes where it will, Sarah." She said.

Arcaena's characteristic lip curl crept on her face again. "Sarah, I see how his body flushes when he looks at you. Yours does the same. There is still love there. Still desire."

Sarah, lowered her head, the corners of her mouth twitching as she fought back the threatening tears. Even without eyes, the Illidari could still see the smallest of signs she'd tried so hard to conceal. Not that it made any difference to how things were between her and Khadgar though. She shook her head. "His heart belongs to Azeroth, and all of you. I have accepted that." She said.

Arcaena lifted Sarah's chin with a gentle touch of her fingers. "You are a terrible liar Sarah." The three women managed another small ripple of laughter. Arcaena continued. "You know what tomorrow means. Do not let angry words or past actions stop your heart's desire. Go to him this night. I know where he heads. Follow him."

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