Nothing Without You Part 4
The full, bright face of Elune smiled down on the choppy waters of the Bay of Storms, adding luminescence to the ancient marble columns that jutted out of the ocean. Lanterns added an extra glow to one ruin in particular, nestled on a small island below a sheer cliff face. Maiev sat on a second-floor balcony, dangling her legs over the edge as she watched the waves crash against the rocks below. "Ah, there you are," came a voice from behind her. "This isn't that large a house, Illidan. I wouldn't think even a blind man like you would have trouble finding me," she said dryly. "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not blind. I just see magic, energy and heat. Speaking of which..." He sat down next to her and swept her hair to the side to kiss the back of her neck. She had cut off much of it but her hair was still longer than it had been in recent times. She shivered pleasantly, and he put an arm around her. He followed her line of vision out to sea and found nothing of particular interest there. "What are you doing out here, plotting world domination?" "No, that's your job," she teased. "Very funny." "I was actually thinking about fishing but there's too much wind." "They call it the Bay of Storms for a reason, you know." "Your brilliance continues to astound me." They fell silent, merely watching the restless ocean. There was no real malice in their words, just an easy banter that seemed to flow naturally whenever they spoke. Not a day went by without a slew of barbed remarks and sharp wit flying between them, but real arguments had been surprisingly few in the six months they had spent together on the island. She leaned against him and closed her eyes with a contented sigh. "Sometimes I still have trouble believing that we're actually here like this, just you and me. In all the thousands of years we've known each other, it's only been since we arrived here that we've had the chance to be truly alone together...eat meals with each other, wake up in the same bed..." "You have terrible table manners and you snore." "I'm attempting to be sentimental, Illidan. Please shut up." "Sorry," he said, but there was a grin in his voice. "It's just...nice. Even if you are a pompous, smart-mouthed clod." "Flattery will get you nowhere." "So I've learned." He planted kisses along her collarbone, slowly working his way up her neck until he whispered in her ear. "Maiev..." "Mmm?" she prompted dreamily. "You're the most thoroughly obnoxious person I've ever met." "I know." "But I'm glad you're here." She turned to face him with a mischievous grin. "So am I." He pulled her into an embrace. "Even this can't last, you know. Someday, whether it's tomorrow or a century from now, the Scourge or the Burning Legion will make their move. And when they do--" She put her fingers to his lips to silence him. "When they do we'll fight them together. In the meantime, we have to make the most of every day we have." "Which is why you're constantly insulting me." "No, I constantly insult you because you deserve it. But it is a wonderful excuse to do this," she said, kissing him. "And this." He kissed him again. "And so forth." "And so forth?" He looked intrigued. "And so forth." She stepped away from him and headed inside, giving him a significant look over her shoulder as she went. "I like the way you think." He hastened to follow her. "And we don't even have to dismiss the guards outside first." Illidan opened the bedroom door and made a show of looking up and down the corridor. "Why, no. We don't." "And I don't have to loudly attempt to convince everyone that I hate you as they leave, either." "But my dear, sweet, Maiev...you do hate me." He smirked and crossed the room to where she sat on the bed. "Of course I do," she said with a wicked grin. "But for some stupid reason I also love you." "Funny how that works." He put a hand to her cheek as he bent to kiss her. "Oh, and, for some stupid reason I love you, too." She laughed and pulled him closer.
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