Change on the Wind

"Elf! Let's see your papers!"

Alleriel winced as the voice called out behind her, subconsciously hunching over slightly. It was, of course, far too late to avoid detection or harassment, but perhaps if she made herself as non-threatening as possible the entire thing would go more quickly.

She was in the Valley of Wisdom in Orgrimmar, walking past the various structures there on her way to obtain more supplies for her journey. She'd spent some time in the region so far, particularly in Durotar and Azshara assisting the orcs and goblins in the area. While the work had been somewhat violent, she'd also aided quite a few of the local citizens and felt overall good about the trip. Until, that is, she came to Orgrimmar.

It had been clear from the moment she arrived that her kind was not welcomed there. From the suspicious glances to the random searches by Kor'kron that seemed to be conducted on all foreigners or people acting 'suspiciously,' Alleriel had seen more than enough to know she didn't wish to remain in the city for very long. She'd taken great efforts to cover her face and head with a hood, but nothing could disguise her ears, which gave her away immediately.

"Are you deaf elf?" the voice said, more demanding now. "I want to see your papers!"

Alleriel turned to find five rather burly orcs staring her down. In full combat armor and festooned with weapons, they were typical Kor'kron grunts that she'd seen keeping the population in line as the Warchief continued to gear up for full-scale war. That she'd avoided them until now had been a blessing, but it seemed her luck was over. She took a deep breath, reaching into a pocket sewn into her leather armor to pull out several documents. One was simply her identification, while the other was the sealed and signed charter of the Blackhearts, detailing her rank within the organization and the greater Horde military. The Kor'kron might have the authority to search her, but there were limits to what they could do if there were no officers present. Judging by the look of the five, none of them were officer material.

The orc that had challenged Alleriel snatched the papers from her hands, scanning them over quickly before thrusting them back at her with a grunt. He scrutinized her weather-beaten armor, tanned skin and golden blonde hair before growling, "This seems to be in order. Go about your business and then leave. We don't want your kind ruining the strength and power of our city."

Alleriel frowned slightly and offered the orc a curtsey before turning and starting to walk away. She sighed with relief, knowing that the encounter could have been worse. Ever since she'd left Quel'Thalas the rumors of the Warchief's ever more intolerant bully-force had reached her ears, and now she'd seen it first hand. Just as she was almost out of earshot of the five, she heard the orc bark out again.

"You! Boy! What do you think you're doing? You should be over in the labor camp. We've need of more strong arms for one of the iron mines."

Although it was against her nature to intentionally seek out confrontation, Alleriel could not help but turn her head to look back. The five orcs had surrounded a much smaller orc, looming over him as one roughly grabbed his arm. The orc they were accosting could not have been more than an adolescent, although Alleriel was not great at judging the age of other races. Despite every nerve in her body telling her to keep walking, she found her body turning and stepping towards the orcs, her own voice surprising her.

"Unhand him at once!"

All five orcs turned to glare at Alleriel, and she swallowed a lump that had suddenly developed in her throat as she continued to move towards them. The lead orc growled at her again, his eyes staring daggers, "This is none of your concern elf! If you know what's good for you you'll leave at once!"

Alleriel did just the opposite, walking closer and quickly inserting herself between the terrified looking young orc and the Kor'kron. She straightened up to her full height, looking the leader directly in the eyes. It was hard for her to project the power of her station wearing her battered travel gear instead of the dresses and finery she might have worn at court back in Quel'Thalas, but she WAS the Lady Sunhaven and she'd be damned if she watched some soldiers try to forcibly recruit a CHILD of all things.

"This boy is a Page for my portion of our forces," Alleriel said, her voice firm. As she spoke, she looked around to see what the reaction of the local populace was. As she had hoped, most were not interested at all and those that were would not be likely to interfere. If they helped the Kor'kron, it would make them look weak since they outnumbered her and would be insulting. Most would not stand against them to aid her, so she was on her own. Just as she'd hoped.

They respect strength. I have to be strong in my stand or they will try to crush me.

The orc she addressed glared at her, stepping closer and looming over her, his bulk many times her size, "I don't think so elf. He goes to the mines. And you're coming with us if you don't get out of my way. Right. Now."

Alleriel took a deep breath, calming herself and focusing, falling into a meditative place within herself where she was at peace and calm. Although she'd only been studying the ways of the monks for a very short time, she had learned much and banishing fear, anger, and rage was one of the key goals she had focused her studies on. She looked at the orc with a serene expression as she replied calmly, "No. I am the Lady Alleriel Sunhaven, Scion of House Sunhaven. This boy is my Page. You are not authorized to take him, nor to command me. Stand down and continue with your duties."

The orc grinned, and behind him the other four began to draw weapons with the sickening sound of steel sliding out of sheaths. Alleriel remained calm, focused and balanced within herself. Her eyes look at the orc as if she were in a distant place as he took a step towards her, still growling, "I warned you elf. Now you will suffer the consequences."He reached for Alleriel, his hand about to clamp on her arm, the onlookers grinning as they realized there would be a fight.

And then she exploded into movement.

There was no warning, no warcry, no hint of anger or rage on her face as she moved. One moment his hand was about to clamp down on her rather small arm, the next moment she was simply not there. She dodged past him as if he were no obstruction at all, rolling between two of the other orcs who also tried to grab her. She whirled as she came to her feet, falling into a half-crouch, her hands up, palms open as she watched the orcs. Although Alleriel carried two swords on her back, she didn't dare draw them, as any intent to kill the orcs would be illegal and WOULD egg the crowd on to aiding her assailants.

The orcs looked at each other, shrugged and then grinned before charging her.

The first orc lunged with his sword, aiming it with deadly intent at her torso. To his everlasting surprise,  her hand darted out at JUST the exact right moment to slap the flat of his blade and send the weapon off course. His momentum carried him forward, and she stepped within the reach of his arms, her other hand locking with his still swinging forearm and hooking it in the crook of her arm. She applied force to him as he moved, and his arm bent at an unnatural angle. All of the orcs winced as the sound of a bone snapping could be heard, followed quickly by his howls. Alleriel spun, letting him trip and fall past her.

The others were already rushing towards her, blades extended. She rolled again, the weapons narrowly missing her lithe form as she dodged, slashing nothing but air. As she came up on her feet in a crouch, her leg swept out, taking one of the orcs by surprise and sending him tumbling to the ground in the path of one of his companions. The second orc tripped, his arms windmilling as he landed face first atop his comrade.

Alleriel darted forward, using the fallen pile of orcs to gain height as she moved. A fourth orc had rushed towards her after her roll, and she launched herself into the air from atop the pile of orcs beneath her, her form flying across the distance in a heartbeat. Instead of encountering an elf in a crouch on the ground, the rushing orc found a well-made leather boot connecting squarely with his face. He gave a light grunt as the impact knocked him out, his weapon tumbling to the ground and followed soon after by his unconscious form. He landed atop the other two orcs, who grunted as the unconscious weight slammed into them.

Alleriel landed, whirling to face the last orc in the group. Behind her, one orc whimpered pathetically, nursing his broken arm, and two others were grumbling at each other as they attempted to push their unconscious friend off so they could get up. The remaining orc glared at her, his voice rough and threatening, "You will pay for all of this elf. Your pain will last for days before we finish with you."

Alleriel did not respond. She simply dropped back into a crouch, serenity and focus on her face, her hands open and awaiting the next attack. The orc quickly obliged, charging across the distance and bringing his two hand-axes up to slash at Alleriel.

She wasted no time, moving in swiftly. As the first axe came down, her hands lashed out, striking the orc in the throat, then stomach, and then groin. As her opponent reeled back from the lightning fast blows, she stepped in closer, slipping past one of his flailing axes and making it impossible to strike at her. She darted around him, a hand lashing out and striking one of his knees as she moved.

The orc turned in a panic, his axes lashing out and hitting nothing but air, "She's like a damned sprite darter!"

Alleriel rolled, coming up in a crouch a short distance away from the orc, her hands again open, awaiting his move. She took a deep breath, keeping herself centered and focused.

I am a sprite darter. I am the wind.

Enraged by her lack of response and the humiliating blows he'd taken, the leader of the Kor'kron group roared and charged at her. She rushed forward as he moved, coming to meet him in an unexpected counter attack. As his first axe came up, her hand lashed out, striking his underarm and dislocating his shoulder. His roar turned into a yelp as the axe tumbled from nerveless fingers, his second weapon slapped away by a well timed parry from Alleriel.

Her hands lashed out again, striking his chest near his diaphragm and driving the air from his lungs. As he bent forward, coughing and gasping, her whole body whirled in a circular motion, her foot coming up to connect squarely with the side of his head. His now-unconcious body cart-wheeled sideways before landing unceremoniously in a heap on the nearby ground.

Alleriel completed the move and came to a rest, not even remotely out of breath, her hands coming together before her as she inhaled and exhaled, retaining her center of balance and focus of Chi. Before her, the two orcs that were still conscious and battle ready looked at their two unconscious comrades and the third holding his broken arm and then gave each other glances. Around them, the crowd laughed at the fact that five trained warriors had been unable to defeat an unarmed women. Flushing with shame, the two quickly sheathed their weapons, each of them grabbing one of their unconscious comrades before hurrying off, the ever-increasing jeers of the crowd sending them on their way.

Alleriel remained unmoving for a moment, completing the mental exercises necessary to purge her mind and body of the exhilaration that combat brought and keeping her thoughts centered. She breathed in and out again, her eyes closed. She felt a tug on her armor, and her sea green eyes opened to see the orc child standing before her.

"T-thank you miss! That was GREAT!" the orc said happily.

Alleriel smiled at him and nodded, her exercises complete and her mind clear, "It was necessary.  They believe that strength of arms is all that matters, and cannot appreciate the rest of what the world has to offer. Remember that lesson well as you grow older. It is not just strength of arms, but strength of heart and mind, that matter."

The young orc nodded at Alleriel, his eyes wide, "I-I'll remember that!"

Alleriel smiled and offered him one last piece of advice before turning to leave, "My offer stands by the way. You may become a Page of House Sunhaven if you wish. If you cannot find something safer to do here."

She paused, turning to hand him a token with the emblem of her House on it, "Simply present this to the guards, and they will know what to do. This is not a requirement though, but an offer. You have the right to choose your own path, and whatever path you choose, may it be green and golden young one."

With that she walked away, the crowd parting to let her pass and the young orc smiling at the golden emblem in his hand. It had been a brief encounter, but it had taught both orc and elf much in that short time.

Alleriel would know now to be more careful amongst her 'allies' that was for certain.