Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft

Formula

Beginnings

"Jones?"

"Present."

"Lightseed?"

"Present!"

"Nightsky?"

"Present…" Dorissa Nightsky allowed herself to let out a tiny sigh. The name calling part of these meetings was always dreadfully boring, especially considering all the participants that were simply there to take notes in case of a misunderstanding. Not that she had ever heard of one. There were, however, surprisingly few notaries present that day.

Callan Fadesong finished calling out from the list of names he held in his hands and finally declared that he would move on to the point of the meeting.

"As you all know, the situation in Northrend is dire, and the Alliance is running low on able-bodied men and women who are willing to defend our land and fight for us in the battle against the Lich King. In other words, we need all the help we can get. But we are not the only ones with such needs. The Horde is in the same situation as we are."

Dorissa was quite sure she felt a change in the atmosphere as soon as the Horde was mentioned. It was clear that everyone in the room now knew where this was going. It would once again be an Alliance-Horde cooperation mission, and most of the participants in the meeting were not fond of that idea. Sure, they wanted help in Northrend, but they were not as willing to fight alongside their old enemies as they should be in that matter.

"There is, however, one thing they have that we lack," Callan continued: "The strongest and highest ranking death knight yet to break the grasp of the Lich King and join the forces of the Horde. Zaladin Grimtusk is the name of this infamous troll, and he is their biggest trump card at this point. The fate of the Horde is very much tied to that of the death knight. And so is ours. If the Horde falls in Icecrown, so do we.
The reason I have called this meeting is that the Alliance may in fact have something the Horde lacks: one of the aforementioned able-bodied men or women who is willing to risk his or her life for the sake of us all. What we need is someone who will escort the death knight Zaladin Grimtusk from Tirisfal Glades to Northrend where he is to lead the next strike we deal to the forces of the Lich King."

Faces turned to look at one another in disbelief. Dorissa rolled her eyes. People, and seemingly very often these people were night elves, tended to be arrogant and selfish in these dark days, especially in matters involving cooperation with the 'other side'. And the death knight being a troll did not make it a more attractive proposition for them. The majority of the room seemed to be thinking the same thing: What is in it for me if I am to protect a troll?

But Callan had not finished: "There is of course a reason this responsibility has been given to the Alliance now. Zaladin Grimtusk is extremely wanted by the Lich King. The death knight and his entourage have been ambushed several times at this point, each attack leading to the death of another life guard. Seven champions of the Horde have already paid with their lives for protecting the troll, and I can guarantee you, he will be attacked again. Even though he has made it back alive from each failed mission, the Horde will not let him travel without assistance. But this mission is also a matter of discretion.
Having been too easily heard and seen by the enemy, mounts are no more allowed to be used on the mission, and only one single person can be allowed to join the death knight on his journey. And now comes the time to decide who of you will take this responsibility on his or her shoulders."

"What does that person gain by doing this?" a familiar voice asked somewhere in the back of the room.

Dorissa rolled her eyes again. Why Oldarion Lightseed always had to behave that way she would never understand. He was, of course, not the only one itching to hear what enormous reward would be given to the chosen person, yet Dorissa still found it extremely typical that he would be the one to utter the question. He never did anything that was not for his own benefit.

"As you may have guessed, this mission has been discussed in all the other major cities before it came to us here in Darnassus. The people of Stormwind, Ironforge and the Exodar all had different and, of course, most valid reasons for not being able to send someone to assist in the matter. This means that if someone from Darnassus chooses to do the job, the peoples of Azeroth will be in debt to that person, meaning that what you may gain is reputation," Callan said, his tone indicating he had been hoping no one would ask that specific question.

"So what you are saying is that someone in this room is to risk his life –"

"Or her life." Another voice interrupted Oldarion. Dorissa chuckled. Jillian Lee Jones, the only human present at the meeting, was much too straightforward for her own good sometimes, but Dorissa could not help but enjoy her quest to annoy Oldarion as much as possible. As the ambassador of her race she was, however, not always the perfect specimen.

"Thank you, Jones," Oldarion said coldly. "So someone is to risk his or her life for reputation?" He almost spat the last word.

"Correct," Callan said, cocking an eyebrow. "If you do not have anything more relevant to add, Oldarion, I would appreciate if you waited with the objections until we have closed the meeting and found someone willing to escort the death knight."

"But this is ridiculous! Forgive me, Callan, but you must be losing it if you honestly think that someone here would be daring and stupid enough to –"

"I will go."

Oldarion turned his head and stared in disbelief at Dorissa.

"Excuse me?"

"I said I will go, Oldarion. You may think me 'daring and stupid', but I am no coward," Dorissa answered coldly. "I see the importance of the completion of this task," she continued, now looking at Callan, "and I am willing to risk my life for a higher cause and possible victory against the Lich King's forces. I can leave whenever you need me to."

Callan nodded. "You have a strong heart, Dorissa. May it guide your way. I will accompany you to the meeting point, after which you will continue the journey on your own with the death knight. We leave tomorrow at dawn."

Someone knocked on the door to Dorissa's small chamber near the Cenarion Enclave in Darnassus.

"Who is it?" she asked without looking up from the scroll containing instructions about the mission she held in her hands.

"It's me," a familiar and welcome voice answered on the other side of the wooden door. "Are you busy?"

"Never too busy to chat with you, Jill," Dorissa answered. The door opened and Jillian entered. She closed the door behind her and skipped across the room to place herself on the bed in the corner. She had a slightly worried look on her face.

"You know you don't have to do this, right? It's not like it's impossible for them to find someone else for this mission."

Dorissa put away the scroll and looked at her friend. "What makes you think I don't want to do this?"

Jillian rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Riss, you know just as well as I that you mainly accepted the mission to piss off Oldarion. I know you dislike him, and of course I do, too… but you just got back from Outland, and you deserve some time to recover and relax a bit!"

"I appreciate your concern, Jill, but you should know me well enough by now to know that I get bored easily when I'm just walking around here doing nothing," Dorissa answered, smiling at Jillian. "And besides, using your most elegant phrase, 'pissing off' Oldarion is a perk I'm very pleased with. Maybe that'll get him to stop obsessing about me."

"I can't imagine what you go through each day with him stalking you all the time. I know it'd drive me nuts," Jillian said, giggling.

"Well, it does drive me a little nuts."

"So, you'll be bunking down with a troll for a couple of weeks?" Jillian continued, now grinning widely. It was easy to see where she was headed.

"Jill! You are such a pervert, I can't believe you'd think something like that about this mission!"

"I'm just saying that if you reallyhave your aim set on annoying Oldarion… then that's the way to do it." She winked at Dorissa.

"Don't get me wrong here, I don't have anything against trolls, and I know Oldarion does… but it doesn't seem right to do something like that. And of course, I'd be marked as a blood traitor for even considering such a thing," Dorissa said, laughing.

"It's not like the people would be overjoyed if they knew what other things you've done in your life," Jillian stated.

"What exactly are you hinting at this time? It's not like I'm a saint, I know that."

"So true. This time, though, I was 'only' talking of drinking, sleeping with more than one person, and of course losing your powers, then taking up black magic to re-obtain them. There's a lot of gossip there, don't you think?"

"Well, then it's lucky that you're the only one who knows. I know you're not going to tell on me."

"Whatever. What I was referring to was that you actually would be daring enough to sleep with a troll if you got the chance."

"Even if I am as daring and stupid as people seem to be agreeing on today, we're talking about a death knight here. Death knights don't… feel."

"Tch, everything you've said about that up until now are minor speed bumps."

"You are unbelievable, Jill."

"Well, if the opportunity arises and you change your mind, you have to do me a favour."

"And what might that be?" Dorissa asked warily.

"I'm really curious about this. How do trolls kiss? You know… without penetrating the other's face with those extreme tusks? Oh yeah, this Zaladin Grimtusk must have some pretty huge ones if he's named after them, at least," Jillian mused, her eyes drifting to the ceiling while she tapped a finger against her lips, seemingly lost in thought.

"That'll be an unsolved mystery, for I do not intend to find out for you. It puzzles me that you even think about such things. We may be losing a war here, and if we do it'll lead to the death of everything we know and hold dear, and all you care about is whether or not trolls are able to kiss?"

"Aww, you're no fun, Riss. You make it sound like I have serious mental issues or something. I'm just curious; it's in the human nature! Don't you elves ever feel curiosity?" Jillian asked.

"Of course we do. Especially I. But I don't spend as much time thinking about the oral limits of trolls as you seem to do, Jill," Dorissa said, a crooked smile playing on her lips.

They spent the next hour chatting about everything and nothing until Jillian declared that she had some 'dreadfully boring diplomatic business' to discuss with the high priestess of Darnassus.
"I wish you good luck on that mission, Riss. I hope it won't take too long, I tend to get bored when you're not around to bother," she said.

"Well, then you better hope I don't die like all the others before me," Dorissa said jokingly.

"Tch, I have faith in your skills. 'Looney Rissa' should be tough enough to handle it. Besides, you're one of the strongest druids in your time, thanks to your secret influences. Though, let me know when you get back, alright?"

Dorissa agreed and hugged her friend goodbye.

"Oh yeah, before I forget it, I have something for you." Jillian pulled a very ordinary-looking scroll from one of the many hidden pockets in her robe, and along with it she produced a long, scarlet red, silver-tipped quill. She handed the objects to Dorissa. "I've enchanted these. You won't need ink for the quill. I have a set as well. If you write with that quill on this parchment it'll pop up on mine, so we can keep in touch if you have the time for it, of course. It's quite handy," she finished with a hint of self-satisfaction in her voice. "So in case you do solve the little mystery, do tell me how it works," she added with a smirk. She then left, and Dorissa was by herself again.

She started packing her belongings, but she did not get far before there was another knock on the door. Assuming it was Jillian who had forgotten something she needed to say, Dorissa called: "It's still open." She was therefore surprised and quite irritated when she turned around and saw Oldarion enter the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. Dorissa raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coolly. His face was a mask of fake innocence.

"Can one not visit a friend to wish her good luck on her journey?" His voice was honey-sweet. How sickening, Dorissa stated in her mind.

"I know you well enough to say with certainty that that is not the reason you have come, Oldarion," she said, turning around to continue packing.

"I just wanted to see you before you left. - And perhaps give you a bit of advice about the nature of trolls."

"Thank you for your concern, but I do not need any racist prejudices."

"Dorissa, will you please just hear me out?" he pleaded.

Dorissa sighed. "Alright."

"Trolls are extremely primitive and quite dumb. If you remember that, then you should be able to trick this Grimtusk into doing exactly as you like. It would not surprise me at all if you could have your way with him by showing him something shiny or-"

"Oldarion, enough! Do you even consider the possibility that you have in fact not the slightest idea of what you are talking about? As far as I know you have never known a troll, let alone even had a proper conversation with one!"

"Dorissa, I am only trying to protect you against him. Only Elune might know what such a vile creature could be capable of doing to others, and especially others as beautiful as you," he said passionately. Dorissa's brow furrowed. God help me, that man needs someone who actually wants to listen to him to spend all his syrup-drenched flattery on,she thought.

"Oldarion, please… I don't-"

"Schh," he interrupted, stepping closer to her. "I will be there for you if anything happens. And I will wait for you, no matter how long I have to," he said in a way that left no doubt about that the actual meaning behind his words had nothing to do with waiting until she came back from Northrend.

He reached out and tucked a stray lock of her silvery white hair behind her long ear. Dorissa was completely speechless. There was nothing in the entire world she wanted more just then than to kick him a little too hard in a very sensitive spot and run for it.

"I suggest that you leave now, before I do something I may regret... in a century or so," she finally said, her voice dripping with acid.

He did not react at first. He then sighed, boldly stroked her face from her temple to her jaw, and then finally turned around and left.

Dorissa shivered. That man was so unbelievably stubborn. She could simply not grasp why he would not let her be, no matter how many times she rejected him. She knew she had to find a way to rid herself of him. Jillian's suggestion suddenly seemed a lot more appealing than before, but Dorissa quickly shoved it out of her head.