Tae'loren awoke to Elariel laying against his chest, nuzzling his neck with her soft, warm lips. It was the exact position they had drifted to sleep together in, and he loved the intimacy of it all the more with Elariel still in his arms. A smile crept across his face as he lips tickled his skin, her soft breasts and pert nipples rubbing against his arm and chest. He rolled to his side, facing his lover, one hand reaching up to slip under her neck, the other sliding down her smooth, sensually curved side, down to her hip, slipping around to cup her butt as he pulled her to him, kissing her passionately, tongue eager to dive deep into her mouth and establish a connection with her again.<br/><br/>As soon as his passions started, however, they stopped, the bright early morning rays reminding him of his commitment and responsibilities. "We must get to work, Elariel. As much as I want nothing more than to stay here in your arms, we must." He kissed her lips softly before reluctantly detaching himself from her hold, rising to clean himself and dress. The process was completed quickly, being that they were in Dalaran, the city of luxury. Not even stopping to eat, he offered one more kiss to Elariel before departing for his druid friend one last time.<br/><br/>Elariel remained vivid in the hunter's mind as he strode through the nearly quiet streets of the city, heading toward the transporters that would take him to the forest below the city. Once on the surface he didn't have to wait long before he felt the forest shift. His friend seemed to just appear.<br/>"No 'better half' this time?"<br/>Tae'loren smiled and shook his head. "She's still in bed. I need to speak with you about our mission."<br/>The druid waited.<br/>"You know we're going to Black Temple, Illidan's lair, to free several innocent families and colleagues of Elariel's. Should we encounter Illidan,"<br/>"You will not. You will go to that forsaken place, you will rescue those that you seek, and you will leave. Nothing more. You cannot face Illidan, Tae'loren. You cannot force him to relinquish anything to you, do you understand me? You can succeed if you put aside this selfishness of vengeance, as though those lost would even want you to pursue Illidan in their name. There is no honor in senseless death, no purpose, though there is great honor and purpose in staying alive to ensure that those that you rescue survive."<br/>Tae'loren found himself nodding in agreement, despite himself. "You are right, my friend. Thank you."<br/>"Of course I am! Now go, you have better things to do than remain here with me."<br/>The two embraced and Tae'loren departed. He returned to his and Elariel's room at the inn where the two would take a portal to Shattrath City, then fly to Wildhammer Stronghold.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>