Hi! Please remember that these stories won't fully make sense unless you read my 3-part series named Felstained. Each chapter is a different mini-story following the misadventures of my Felstained Khadgar. I hope you enjoy!

"I really don't like this idea, Anduin." Khadgar kept his nose in his studies as he spoke, diligently transcribing notes and sigils despite the distraction.

"Do you have a better one? You want acceptance, but still you're not giving others a chance."

"You don't just want me to meet random strangers. You want to parade me around the leaders of the Alliance like a circus animal."

"That is not how I will be introducing you, and you know it." Lothar sighed as the mage's back was still facing him. At least he could gaze at those grey horns without judgement. "I know the dignitaries would appreciate meeting the mage who has been aiding them against the orcs."

"You should have arranged this meeting before I became a demon."

"Khadgar you are not a demon!" Lothar sighed in exasperation. "Just because you can't hide your--"

"Little lamb horns?" Khadgar sneered, finally tossing his quill down and turning around. "Yes, as cute as a term you use for them, these are not cute and they tend to scare the sense out of most people. Forgive me for not being fond of your affectionate term."

"Unless you learn how to hide them, you're going to have to accept them. You can't let it keep you from getting out and--"

"Yes, I very well can!" Khadgar cried angrily. "This is my body, this impacts my future. Do not try to tell me to accept these--these hideous growths. I am doing my best, by the Light, but I am trying!"

Lothar sighed as his attempts to settle his friend only riled him further. It hadn't been his intention at all.

"I'm sorry, Khadgar. I'm not trying to rush you. I just know that you would benefit from having more allies, and even moreso, friends."

"I agree. I just don't think that dressing me up for a fancy dinner is the way to do it. You know I speak my mind even when it's not always the best idea."

"It's usually what needs to be said, though." Lothar sat down in his designated chair and sighed. "I don't like these meetings either, kid. I'm a warrior, not a king. I grew up learning to settle most of my problems with a good tussle, not with diplomacy. But I'm learning as I go. I know you can, too."

Khadgar sighed and let his friend's words of wisdom sink in. He finally gave in and nodded. "Okay. I'll pick out my best outfit and make an appearance."

"Thank you."

Khadgar had really struggled with his outfit choice.

He didn't want to wear his simpler clothing, because he wanted to look civilized and dignified to those he would be meeting. Plus, a man who had been sharing accommodation with the regency shouldn't dress like he couldn't afford nicer clothing.

In contrast, he worried he would come across as arrogant if he tried anything that looked too rich. Like he was putting on an act and was only manipulating the royal family for wealth and power.

He couldn't win.

He decided on something a tad nicer than what he'd originally worn when first arriving at Stormwind. It was still something a mage would wear, sporting intricate stitch patterns using arcane-channeling threads.

After deliberation, he decided he had to don his cloak. It not only stated to others that he was a proud mage; its familiarity was also a comfort to him.

The finishing touches were a few tucked away minor mana potions and a Fel crystal in his inner vest pockets, as well as styling his hair as best he could around those curved horns.

Little lamb horns my ass, he thought to himself with a wry smile. Still, Lothar's sentiment did put him at ease.

He took a deep breath and made his way toward the dining hall, striding more confidently than he truly felt.

Even before reaching the doors he could hear the chatter and laughter, the varied accents and the clinking of glasses.

He had forgotten there would be wine at dinner. He'd have to have a glass to settle his nerves.

Outside the door he pulled his small mirror from a pocket, checked his eyes again, and then nodded to the guard. Less than a minute later the guard had caught the eye of someone in the hall, and Khadgar could hear the gentle clanging of a glass for attention.

"I know you've all been looking forward to this part of our meeting," Lothar began; "especially after hearing the rumors that I'm sure have traveled far. It's time I formally introduce the talented mage, my good friend Khadgar."

Khadgar stuffed the mirror away, took a deep breath, and walked confidently into the room. Silence fell as he stopped next to Lothar, his horns on full display and distracting from clawed hands mostly hidden by the cloak.

"So it's true," came the voice of the delegate from Lordaeron. "He really does have demon horns."

"With all due respect sir, I would appreciate you not referring to me using that word." Khadgar kept the Fel from his eyes, but his annoyance was clear in his tone. "Gul'dan's attempt on my life may have given me some undesirable features, but my mind is my own and I am not controlled by him or the Fel."

"A big claim to make," stated one of the elves. "Is it not true that you can utilize the Fel as you see fit?"

"I do have control over it, yes. I'm able to pull its strength out of orcs on the battlefield so they aren't a threat."

"By weakening them, or ending their lives?" The elf retorted, and Khadgar's expression answered it for all of them. "Of course. And this Fel that you take out of the orcs, where does that go?"

"It gives me energy and advanced healing." Khadgar tried to choose his words carefully, but he knew they distrusted him. He couldn't blame them; his prior knowledge of the Fel was only poison and corruption.

"So you absorb it into you," the Lordaerian stated. Khadgar nodded. "You possess and wield the most dangerous, corruptive force known to Azeroth, and you expect us to believe that not only do you have control over it, but it doesn't corrupt you?"

"It's true," Lothar stated when he noticed Khadgar was fighting the anxiety that could cause the Fel to slip out. "I have watched as Khadgar became quite sick from the initial fight against the dark magics poisoning the Guardian, and then witnessed the Fel inside of him actively save his life. It has become a great asset on the battlefield and saved myself and many good men, countless times."

"And it causes no adverse effects?" The elf delegate stated with a sanctimonious snort. "Unlikely."

"Only of the visual sort," Khadgar retorted snidely as his pettiness allowed the Fel to glow in his eyes, causing shock and murmuring to break out. "My sincerest apologies if I startled you, sir."

King Magni Bronzebeard spoke up, his Dwarven accent easily booming over the impending outrage of the others.

"Aye, lad, how long 'ave ye been afflicted by this Fel?"

Khadgar's tense posture eased slightly while the glow in his eyes dimmed to match. "Since... the beginning of the war, sir."

"And ye visited Ironforge since then, 'aven't ya?"

Khadgar swallowed nervously, the green glowing just a tad brighter. "I have, sir."

"Ya made a good impression in yer time there. No magic and no Fel, just a curious young lad." Magni turned to the other delegates. "I donnae know this lad as Commander Lothar does, but I'll vouch for him as my people 'ave."

Khadgar couldn't help it--the green disappeared from his eyes just as a faint blush colored his cheeks. "Thank you, sir."

"Aye! Naow come sit with us an' 'ave a drink! Ya've got a Dwarven name and Dwarven blood, I know ye can hold yer own!"

Khadgar blushed more and glanced at Lothar, apologizing with his eyes in advance.

He could only hope he didn't make a total fool of himself.

Khadgar could have reassurances for days from his found family in Stormwind Keep, but as soon as he looked in the mirror and saw those inhuman horns, he felt hideous. And even without the mirror, every time he opened a book or picked up a quill, those long thick grey nails repulsed him.

His new features attracted stares every time he took to the city's streets, and they had him turned away from shops out of fear or ignorance more than once. It didn't matter how used to him people grew as time went on. He could always feel their eyes and hear their whispers.

He wondered, as he gazed at himself in the mirror while brushing his hair from his eyes with those nails, if the barber could do anything for his claws. It was well-known that the barber was skilled in dealing with cosmetic fingernail and toenail woes.

He knew he wasn't imagining it; his claws had grown longer just as regular fingernails would.

His hair was definitely in need of a trim, as well. He just... hated the idea of anybody seeing his horns so closely.

With a defeated sigh, Khadgar donned his casual clothing and a lightweight cloak and headed for the barber.

"Ayo, good morning! Welcome to the bar--" The barber turned around and froze as he spotted Khadgar strolling in and looking a bit apprehensive. "Ah, heh, Khadgar sir, h-how goes the day? Anything I can do for you?"

"Well, I am quite in need of a trim," Khadgar admitted as he motioned to his hair, those claws catching the eyes of the barber. "And... I'm sure you can see, so do my nails. I've heard you do just as good work with nails, so I was hoping you could help me with them."

"Ahhh... you want me to trim... those." The barber stepped forward hesitantly, then turned Khadgar's hand over in his own thoughtfully. "Well, they're nothing like what I've worked on before, but I could do with a challenge."

"So you'll take me on as a customer?" Khadgar's uncertain tone set the hesitant barber at ease, and he offered the mage a smile.

"Aye, take a seat. We'll start with what I'm best at, and get your head all nice and tidy."

Khadgar settled into the cushioned barber chair and marveled at how comfortable it felt. It nearly rivaled his own luxurious desk chair in his quarters.

A lovely azure drape was placed around him to redirect any trimmed hairs from his clothing, and Khadgar couldn't help but admire the color. It was lighter than his arcane blue but still a color he quite liked.

Khadgar watched in the mirror as the barber slowly combed through his hair and took careful stock of the hair growth pattern around those horns.

And Light, did he ever spend a long while studying the bases of those horns and how the hair fell around them.

He wagered the barber knew his horns better than the healers and Khadgar himself knew them.

"My apologies if I'm being too bold, but these horns of yours really are quite interesting. Their color has the slightest hue of blue to them. It's less noticeable with my barber drape than it would be with your cloak."

Khadgar blinked in confusion at the barber, and then managed a shy smile. "You... really think so?"

"Indeed I do, sir. They may make the trimming process take a bit longer, though."

"That doesn't surprise me at all. Honestly, just trying to comb or style my hair with those in the way is a nightmare."

"Hmm. I can understand that. Had a head injury once that made it awfully tricky to do just that." The barber moved to his work surface and grabbed his comb and scissors while smiling reassuringly at Khadgar. "Let's begin, shall we?"

"That was much quicker than I thought it would take," Khadgar said as he gazed at the flawless cut and style the barber had given him. "This is the best cut I've ever gotten."

"Coming from a man who has spent time in Dalaran? Why, that's quite a compliment sir!"

"It's well earned." Khadgar gazed down at his claw-like nails and hoped they would come out anywhere near as well as his haircut. "I just hope you can work a miracle with these. I'm not expecting them to look anything like normal nails, just less... like claws."

"Well, let's try trimming one up, eh?" He led Khadgar over to the work area just as a man and woman entered as patrons.

The couple just gawked at Khadgar's horns and claws as the barber had begun trimming his pinky nail, and though Khadgar had glanced over curiously, he kept quiet despite the staring.

A hushed conversation transpired between the couple; eventually, the man left in a huff while the woman stepped forward shyly.

"I'm sorry... may I watch?"

"You want to watch... my nails being trimmed?" Khadgar was just as confused as the barber was unbothered.

"I came to have my nails done too," she explained apologetically. "And I've never seen any quite like yours. I'm curious to see how they clean up."

"Um, yeah, sure," Khadgar uttered haltingly with a blush.

And so, Khadgar patiently waited while his nails were slowly clipped and filed down to much less noticeable, much more manageable little claws.

While he had an audience.

Which had grown to three women before the long process of trimming and polishing could be finished.

And they were all talking, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how cute he was, and his lovely brown eyes, and how nice of a job the barber did on his hair, and how shapely the nails were coming along!

And of course, giggling every time he blushed--which only made him blush harder.

By the end of it all, his two-inch claws had been flawlessly and painlessly shortened down to half an inch each, leaving Khadgar looking and feeling much more normal. He admired the handiwork and beamed brightly which only earned more giggles from the young ladies.

He thanked the barber excessively and tipped just as well, feeling like a new man. And since his nails had taken so long, evening had come and he was ready to celebrate his trim with dinner and a drink. 

He had three lovely ladies with him at the table and gladly paid for their meals and drinks as well, even though he was purely being a gentleman.

He was just glad to have new fans, and perhaps, new friends.

"Uncle Khadgaaar!"

Khadgar jumped in his seat with a start. He'd experienced complete silence and focus on his studies one moment, and then a very demanding young prince the next.

He turned to see Varian running into his quarters, looking much less a member of the royal family and rather a lost child. Of course, he still dressed like a royal youth, but his face was all petulance.

"Varian. Are you alright?"

"No, I'm bored. Mom and Adariall are both out doing girl things with plants, and Uncle Anduin is out recruiting new soldiers."

"And your nanny?"

"Oh, she's... she's busy," the boy said too quickly, and Khadgar merely sighed. He knew what that meant.

"Is she safe?"

"Yes," Varian pouted. "We're um... playing hide and seek. But she doesn't know I ran off. Hide and seek with her is so boring. I wanna play with you."

"Oh, you do, hmm?" Khadgar abandoned his research and stood, feeling fairly stiff for sitting at his desk for--several hours, he realized as he looked out at the midday sun. "What game would you like to play?"

"Well there's too many fun games to choose from!" Varian opened his arms wide, as though to represent the whole world. "But... I know! Can we try your wings? I wanna fly!"

Khadgar blinked and glanced behind him, the wings still hidden with his magic. That was how he preferred it, because they wouldn't get in the way and their absence would make him look less demonic.

"I don't think they're strong enough for that, Varian."

"Have you ever tried?"

"Well, no, I--"

"Okay then let's try!" Varian ran up to Khadgar and circled around him, patting his lower back. "C'mon, make them come out!"

Khadgar hated those wings, but he'd grown quite fond of the kid. He willed the wings back into existence while noting that every time they reappeared, their tattered appearance seemed slightly more... healed. It certainly intrigued his puzzle-loving mind.

"So cool!" Varian giggled. "I wish I had wings."

"Well, let's go try them out," Khadgar said with as much forced enthusiasm as he could for the prince. He began to wonder if they could be used for flight. "Lead the way to the courtyard."

"Yes! Follow me Uncle--um, follow me, Sir Khadgar," Varian stated proudly, acting the role of Prince while Khadgar merely smiled and followed.

He wouldn't lie, he was nervous. He knew the castle staff accepted him while alone and with Lothar or his sister, but he'd never really been seen with Varian since getting his new features, and especially while his wings were out.

He was beyond glad when the guards merely nodded as the two passed, clearly spotting Varian's exaggerated princely walk and Khadgar's slightly reluctant gait as he followed.

They were just glad the mage had become the spirited boy's target.

"Okay!" Varian stated as they made it to the side courtyard. It had weeds growing at the base of the stone barrier wall and a rack of wooden sparring weapons nearby. A lone ball sat forgotten; likely Varian's. "We're outside now. Let's see if you can fly!"

"Well, I can try," Khadgar reasoned. He gave the wings a pitiful flap, and then leaned forward slightly for counterbalance and put more force into it. Too much force, he realized, as he fell backwards and landed on his ass. "Ow!"

Varian giggled as he watched, but then covered his mouth when Khadgar gave him a pout.

Of course, it was all in jest, and Khadgar was smiling immediately after. Though, he did wince when he stood to try again.

He was much more careful on his second try and braced his legs with a more stable stance. He beat the wings up and down, feeling his weight on his legs lessen; still his feet never left the ground even as he beat the wings with so much speed and force that they were beginning to tire.

"Well, I can't fly," Khadgar groaned. He reached up and gave a rub to his shoulder, and could tell his upper back muscles would be sore for a while. "Sorry, Varian."

"Awww." Varian pouted. "Can you glide?"

"Glide?" Khadgar hadn't even thought of that. It could be possible, he reasoned, and he quickly surveyed their surroundings. The courtyard was elevated off the main ground by about two stories' height. Plenty of gliding opportunity. And if he broke something upon landing, well, the Fel could heal him. "I guess there's only one way to find out."

"Oooh! Go Uncle go!" Varian giggled eagerly, racing to the wall as Khadgar climbed atop it.

Khadgar took a deep breath, spread his wings wide, and stepped off the wall. His wings caught the air and he safely sailed down, and even found that he could hold his altitude with a bit of laborious flapping.

Needless to say, the people that he landed amongst quickly scattered. They had barely begun to tolerate his horns and claws, but upon seeing those wings and him appearing out of the air on them, was still a bit too much.

He apologized to them all and quickly teleported back to the courtyard, convincing Varian that his wings had grown very tired from all of the effort. The boy believed him but was still quite restless, and Khadgar knew it would be a while yet before the others returned.

"Uncle I still wanna fly," Varian insisted. "I know! Let's race gryphons!"

"Varian, you know you're too young to ride alone."

"I know, I know." The prince pouted, but then he grinned triumphantly. "I can ride with you, on Bluebell! We can race together against Rhinwedd!"

Khadgar had to hand it to the boy. He was quite good at employing strategy to get his own way. He would make a great king some day.

"Okay," Khadgar agreed. The young gryphon could use the training, and Bluebell would be overjoyed to fly with him, anyway. "Now go get your riding gear on."

Varian zipped off excitedly while Khadgar sighed with a smile. He paused, willed the wings back into hiding, and felt the strain he'd put them and his upper back through. Definitely would be sore.

Soon enough the two people were comfortably sat on Bluebell while Rhinwedd chirped and pranced around.

"Rhinwedd," Khadgar called out. He was glad that gryphons were so insanely smart. Otherwise, telling her that they would be racing, and where to, would not have worked. "We're going to have a race. All the way to Goldshire and then back. Okay?"

Rhinwedd screeched excitedly and gave a shake of her whole body, wings flapping eagerly.

"Are you ready to race, Bluebell girl?" Khadgar patted her neck, earning a pleased chirping and excited clawing at the ground. "Good. Okay, Varian, hold on tight to the saddle. Got it?"

"Okay!" Varian did just that, and before Khadgar barely had a grip on it as well, he announced the start of the race. "Ready set go!"

Khadgar's eyes flashed green as Bluebell bolted into the air and nearly dropped him. He watched as Rhinwedd zipped past them, but he knew that Bluebell wouldn't give up that easily.

If not for his fondness of the kid, Khadgar would have cursed loudly. He instead gripped the saddle as though his life depended on it, because even with wings that he could deploy at a moment's notice, he reasoned that falling off the gryphon could still be catastrophic.

"She's gonna win!" Varian cried as a lack of rider gave a clear speed advantage to his training gryphon. "Can't Bluebell go faster?"

Not with me almost falling off, kid!

"You'll have to ask her!" Khadgar called over the sound of the whipping wind, finally getting a good grip and leaning forward for the sake of aerodynamics. "Go ahead!"

"Bluebell!" Varian patted her shoulder. "Can you beat Rhinwedd?"

His response was an eager cry from the gryphon and a more fervent beating of wings. They began slowly catching up, and even while Khadgar was extra mindful of his young charge, he was quite enjoying the thrill of the race.

"We're gonna win!" Varian cried excitedly, loving every second of the speed and exhilaration as Bluebell followed Rhinwedd down into Goldshire's main roadway, scattering the townspeople there and causing the tethered horses to rear and whinny in excitement.

Khadgar knew he'd been spotted, for his horns were pretty noticeable. He just hoped he hadn't caused too much trouble with their gryphon antics.

"Rhinwedd is doing really well," Khadgar called out. From her excited reaction, he knew the young bird had heard him. She pushed harder out of pride and gained speed over them that Bluebell struggled to match. "But so are you, girl." He patted Bluebell's neck and felt her pull deeper for a second wind.

He knew he'd be lucky if neither bird ended up with a cramp or muscle strain. Gryphons were prideful creatures.

The race was indeed close, but there could only be one winner in a race. Due to caution of a safe landing, Bluebell came in at a close second. Her touchdown was slightly more elegant than Rhinwedd's inexperienced tumble and flurry of wings as she rolled into the courtyard like a whirling ball of feathers.

"Rhinwedd!"

The young gryphon stumbled around and righted herself, giving a mighty shake and a squawk to show that she had sustained no injuries. She trotted victoriously over to her humans.

"You won Rhinwedd!" Varian jumped off Bluebell and held his hands up in victory, quickly finding himself covered in feathers as his young companion nuzzled him with eager chirps. "You're so strong and fast, girl!"

Khadgar beamed proudly. He knew he was lucky that both the prince and his gryphon had been unharmed by the dangerous excitement. He also knew that the bond between everyone involved had been strengthened, and that Varian's happiness was perhaps the most important part of the day.

Bluebell pranced proudly, knowing that even though she hadn't won the race, she had made everyone else proud and had helped train the younger bird.

"Yes girl, you did great today." Khadgar ruffled her neck feathers and hit her favorite spot. He could feel her shiver and begin her deep purring. "We'll go down to the docks tonight and get your favorite fish, don't you worry."

Bluebell was beyond heaven. So were Rhinwedd and Varian, by the looks of it. Boy and gryphon were playing and bonding just as a boy and his dog would, and Khadgar was content with his found family.

He'd never have to worry about being a lonely mage.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"It's what the letter said."

Lothar held the letter out for Khadgar, who took it and read it thoroughly.

"King Magni Bronzebeard is summoning me to Ironforge?" Khadgar's eyes flashed green from worry. "Do you have any idea why?"

"The letter didn't say--"

"Yes Anduin I know, I read the letter!"

"--And the messenger didn't know either. He didn't seem to be bearing bad news, though."

"Why did it have to be so vague?" Khadgar whined, running his hand through his hair--somehow forgetting his horns and getting thwarted in the self-soothing action. He groaned with even more frustration.

"Kid, calm down. I'm sure it's nothing serious."

"Anduin, it's the king. The king of the Dwarves himself has summoned me to their capital city. How could it not be serious?!"

"You both seemed to get on well during the political dinner. You didn't get stupidly drunk, you proved your intelligence by picking up some new words and phrases in Dwarvish, and you impressed them with simple magic."

"Yeah well they had some drinks in them too," Khadgar insisted. "What if they were only jolly because of that? Who's to say when the wine wore off, they didn't rethink my impression?"

"Khadgar," Lothar sighed and barely held in a chuckle; "You really don't understand how alcohol works. It doesn't change people into something they're not. It just amplifies what they think and feel and gets rid of that voice that holds them back. Trust me, if you'd upset them in any way, you'd have known it. Have you never heard the stories of all-out tavern brawls when Dwarves are involved? You would have lost more than favor with them. You'd probably have lost one of your horns!"

By the dread on Khadgar's face and those green eyes glowing brighter, Lothar knew he'd said the wrong thing.

"Khadgar--"

"I don't like them," Khadgar said quickly as he reached up and rested his hand at the base of the horns; "but I-I'd be afraid for someone to try and rip them out."

"I'm sorry, I didn't... that's not going to happen, kid." Lothar's hand rested atop Khadgar's, his warm hand gently touching the horns as well. The comforting action made the green eyes steadily return to nervous brown. "If I had any thought that this would be a bad idea, I'd tell ya."

Khadgar swallowed and removed his hand once Lothar did. He offered a nervous nod. "You really think it'll be fine?"

"I do. And if you need me there too, I'll be right there with you."

Relief flooded Khadgar's big brown eyes. "You will?"

A knock at the door preceded the door being opened to reveal an apologetic young woman. One of Taria's assistants, if Khadgar was remembering correctly.

"I'm sorry milord, and good sir Khadgar; Lady Taria has need of you at once milord."

"Did she say why?"

"A political strategy meeting, I'm afraid."

Lothar tried to hold in his frustration, even if the sigh slipped from his nostrils. "Were Ironforge or the dwarves mentioned at all?"

"No, milord. I believe it is strictly the Elves."

"Very well. I'll be there momentarily. Thank you." He turned to Khadgar, who was clearly dismayed by the news. "Well, at least when you return from Ironforge, you can rescue me from whatever gods-awful meeting I may still be in."

"The Elves really do take their time and draw things out, don't they." Khadgar stood and began gathering his things to leave.

"I'm sorry. Do travel safely."

"I'll save Bluebell the trip, she's probably still tired from yesterday's race against Varian's young gryphon." He smiled as he thought of the memory. "Simple teleportation will do."

"Don't drain yourself like last time, kid."

"I'm teleporting only myself, not two adult gryphons and an overprotective warrior."

"See if I come check on you again," Lothar retorted, obviously not meaning a word of it.

"Go see your sister. I have to get properly dressed for my trip."

"Yes sir, good sir Khadgar."

Khadgar chuckled to himself as Lothar left. After quickly dressing and styling his hair around his horns, he stashed some extra mana potions just in case, and then disappeared in a flash of blue light.

Khadgar wandered through the Commons as he tried to figure out where he was supposed to go. The letter had only stated his requested arrival, not who to meet or where. He presumed the lack of a throne room or King's quarters on public maps was intentional, but it made his errand a bit more difficult.

As he searched around for one of the city's guards, he couldn't avoid the curious looks he was getting. It was obvious they were gawking at his horns, although there was some chuckling--laughter, by the Light, why laughter?--mixed in with it.

He felt so embarrassed and alienated. He was a human, a mage, and had demon's horns. Every single item was a strike against him here.

"Aye, you the one they call Khadgar?"

Khadgar gazed down at the voice that had startled him from his perpetual unease. "Uh, yes, I am."

"Yea Ah thought so. Human mage wit' grey horns. Ya don' see that every day." The dwarf couldn't hold his grin, or his tongue. "I hear your kin make a big fuss about those horns. Ah donno what they're worried about. They're tiny!"

Khadgar blushed slightly, but didn't honor the taunt with a response. "I've been summoned by--"

"The king, Ah know, Ah'm here to take yeh to 'im." The Dwarf introduced himself as Rellik and began leading the way, but had to make one further dig. "Never thought Ah'd become a shepherd, guidin' a lost li'le goat into the royal hall."

Khadgar sighed and remained silent, though he had to admit it was a nice change of pace to be mocked instead of feared.

In a short time they had made their way into the central heart and hearth of Ironforge. The heat quickly became sweltering to Khadgar, and though he resisted the urge to remove his too-insulating cape as he wanted to look presentable, he allowed the Fel glow into his eyes to bolster his resilience. The sickly green contrasted against the golden glow of the magma below and earned some startled and curious gazes his way.

Though, to Khadgar's relief, nothing like the hostility and fear he'd received in Stormwind.

He wondered just how much the Dwarves really knew of Fel.

Once they approached one of the buildings carved into the wall he quickly extinguished the Fel from his eyes. He was expecting to actually go to the royal hall that Rellik had mentioned, but he entered the doorway following his escort--only to smack his horns on its top edge as he forgot his extra height and the smaller stature of the Dwarven population.

"Aye now, ya be careful about those horns lad." Magni called from inside the room. There was a guard on either side of him and several other curious citizens invited to be present.

"I forgot how tall they were, especially for an Ironforge doorway," Khadgar admitted as he straightened up again within the room, finding himself well taller than everyone else. The sheen of sweat was still on his skin from the Great Forge. "I received your letter, sir."

"Aye well now that's obvious innit?" Magni laughed, as did most everyone else in the building. "Good to see ya made it safe. I heard it was by magic?"

"Yes... I hope that's all right." Khadgar gave an apologetic smile. "I wanted to answer your summons as quickly as possible."

"Well, yer a mage after all, I was hopin' ta see that from ya. Now!" Magni motioned to a dwarf on the other side of the room, who picked up a wooden box braced with bronze and inlaid with larimar. "I'd like ye to meet Hengus, our finest smith. I've commissioned a gift for ye, Khadgar."

"A--" Khadgar cleared his throat in surprise. "A gift?"

"Aye, lad. Ye wear that name with pride, an' ye carry Dwarven blood in ya. You represent Ironforge when y' go to battle and face those other races." Magni nodded to Hengus, who opened the box to reveal wide, gleaming bronze rings etched with runes and adorned with several small settings of cut, rectangular sapphires.

Khadgar stared at them in awe, having no words to offer for their beauty. His eyes glistened as he turned to Magni with an expression clearly filled with gratitude. "Thank you, sir. And you as well, Hengus. They're stunning."

Khadgar withdrew one of the rings and slid it onto his finger, but it was much too loose. He frowned slightly, but it was quickly replaced with confusion when Hengus chuckled and Magni belted out a belly laugh.

"Aye, nay, sorry lad. They're fer yer horns!"

"My--" Khadgar stared at the ring, and then reached up to his horns in bewilderment. "My horns?"

"If people are gonna be lookin' at 'em anyway, may as well show off yer pride!" Magni grinned and gave a wave to the horns, and then motioned to a mirror on the wall. "Go ahead an' try 'em on!"

Khadgar swallowed and slid the rings onto his horns, and with a bit of trepidation, gazed into the mirror. He was surprised to see how beautiful the rings looked, even if they were set down on the bottom third of the horns. They were still plenty visible above his hair and directed attention from the grey horns directly to the beautiful handiwork of the metalsmithing and jewel-setting.

"I've always heard that Dwarven craftsmanship is superior," Khadgar breathed in awe, "but now I know it's true."

"Aye, lad, wear them with pride. Take Ironforge in yer heart wherever ye go."

"I will," Khadgar beamed happily. He gave a gentle push on the rings, ensuring they were snug on his horns and wouldn't slip off.

He couldn't wait to show Lothar.

With a simple teleport Khadgar had returned home to Stormwind. He brought with him the empty box for the rings he was still proudly wearing on his horns, as well as a small package of stones and herbs for his research... along with a bottle of aged ale for Lothar, and a special bathing salt blend for Taria.

He couldn't forget the kids, either, and brought them each some clockwork Gnomish toys.

Naturally, Lothar and Taria were still well and wearily busy in the meeting so it was the children who received their gifts first, and they were a hit.

He had been playing with them and telling them tales of Ironforge when he heard Taria's and Lothar's voices enter the room, and he looked up just in time for Taria's weary smile to shift into utter adoration for her mage friend.

"Khadgar," Lothar uttered as he caught sight of something shiny; "what is that on your head?"

"These are my gift from the king of the Dwarves, so that I may represent Ironforge and my Dwarven heritage wherever I may go."

"Jewelry. For your horns." Lothar stared at them in a mix of shock and surprise, but even he couldn't deny how nice they looked.

"Yes." Khadgar lifted his chin proudly and smiled. "And I intend to wear them always."

"They look wonderful on you, Khadgar," Taria said softly with a motherly smile. "I'm sure everyone will agree."

"I may regret saying this," Lothar said with a mock wince; "but... she is right. They do look great on you."

Varian piped up with a smile. "Mom is always right, Uncle Anduin."

The group all laughed; one happy royal family.

Lothar approached Khadgar's quarters with a familiar wooden box in his hand. He knocked and let himself in upon hearing the muffled invitation, though he wasn't looking forward to the conversation he'd need to have with the mage.

"Anduin," Khadgar said with a smile as he glanced up from where he sat at his desk with a book. His bright brown eyes filled with relief as he caught sight of the box in Lothar's grasp. "Oh, she made more. Thank the Light."

Lothar placed the box onto the nightstand near Khadgar's bed without a word. His uncharacteristic silence worried the mage.

"Anduin? What's wrong?"

"The herbalist has been unable to secure Dreamfoil in her last several shipments. Your sleeping potions have had to be made without it." His concerned gaze turned to Khadgar, who seemed to be trying to remember what the properties were for the herb. "Your dreams will likely return."

Khadgar furrowed his brows uneasily as the words sank in. His dreams. His nightmares.

He shivered at the mere thought of waking amidst flashbacks of his Fel torture. It had been the cause of him breaking and seeking alcohol to treat his pain until Lothar had stepped up once again to help him with support and herbal assistance.

"She has done what she can with weaker herbs. She increased the dosage of Peacebloom to aid in calming the mind." He watched as Khadgar swallowed nervously, avoiding Lothar's gaze to instead stare at the wooden box. "I'm sorry, Khadgar."

"Does she know how soon she'll be able to procure more?" 

"She is hopeful to receive some by the end of the week."

"A week," Khadgar breathed out almost in a hiss. His eyes flickered green and he placed a hand to his head, his thumb tracing over the runic etching in the ring on his horn. It had taken the place of his former self-soothing motion of running his hand through his hair. "A week of... well."

"She is hopeful the extra Peacebloom will suffice. She's highly skilled, Khadgar. She's been doing this longer than you've been alive."

Khadgar nodded and returned Lothar's assurance with a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes.

Perhaps, but she has never dealt with the Fel.

"One week. It'll pass by quickly enough."

Despite his concerns, Khadgar's first night passed by peacefully. The herbal mixture afforded him a blissful dreamless sleep and allowed him hope for the rest of the week. And, he noticed gladly upon waking; the lack of Dreamfoil meant he didn't wake with his mouth feeling dry as a bone.

Lothar had been all too happy, and relieved, and despite his own worries had reassured Khadgar of how quickly the week would pass.

Khadgar had retired for the second night, content and hopeful for another round of restful slumber.

Lothar, having been on the receiving end of a Dreamfoil shortage before, knew better. That was why he'd donned his boots and his coat to restlessly pass by Khadgar's door again. That was why he was all too dismayed to be right when he heard the muffled sounds of disturbed sleep from within.

Lothar pushed his way into the room and approached the bed to find a startling sight. The kid was glowing.

Khadgar's Fel-track scars along his body usually had a faint green glow that was easily concealed by clothing and never was bright enough to cast its own light. As the mage whimpered and cried and shifted to further disturb the blanket off his body, however, the scars glowed so brightly that they illuminated the man and cast an eerie green glow about the room.

"Khadgar," Lothar spoke gently to try and rouse him. "Khadgar, you're safe."

His words did nothing for the fitful sleep of the mage. He gently reached forward in an attempt to shake Khadgar awake, but it had no effect.

"No, no, stop, please," Khadgar murmured as his scars flared brighter before dimming again. The green light illuminated his pale sweaty skin and his damp messy hair, but worst was the agony on his face as he relived his torture. "No more, too much, please."

Lothar shook Khadgar's shoulder to try and wake him, and then remembered Khadgar's potions were designed not just to put him to sleep, but to keep him there as well. He cursed and shook harder with no effect.

Tears streamed down Khadgar's cheeks as he sobbed even in sleep. His body was trembling and jerking in response to the pain within his mind; his scars wavered in and out between their ambient glow and their blinding flashes.

And despite Lothar's best efforts, the man would not awaken.

"Khadgar!" Lothar cried, resorting to whacking Khadgar on the side of the head. He was trying everything short of dumping water onto the man, and only since there was none within reach.

Without warning, Khadgar's eyes glowed such a brilliant arcane blue that it was visible beneath his closed eyelids. Before Lothar could process the arcane as a danger, he found himself slammed against the wall clear across the room. Without even a moment to process what had happened, gravity took hold and dropped him to land on a table which broke beneath his weight. He knew he would have fresh bruises from that tomorrow, Light that had hurt, but he staggered to his feet to get back to Khadgar.

Who, blissfully, had finally calmed.

"Khadgar?" Lothar winced as he angled Khadgar's face toward the moonlit window since the scar-glow had finally gone as well.

He'd never been so relieved to see those tired, aching brown eyes open to peer back at him.

"Anduin." Khadgar sighed wearily. His body still burned from the memory of the torture. "Why are you here? Did I wake you?"

"No. I couldn't sleep." Lothar brushed the sweaty hair from his friend's face. The mage looked exhausted. "Thought maybe you couldn't either."

"Well, you're right about that at least." Khadgar sighed and pulled himself up to sitting in the bed with a hiss of pain. He pushed back the damp blanket before rubbing his eyes. "I won't be doing much sleeping until we get the Dreamfoil."

"The potion worked last night," Lothar reasoned as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Tonight could have been an outlier."

"I can't deal with those dreams, Anduin. I can't risk it." He sniffled on congestion he didn't know he had, but it didn't surprise him. He simply wiped away the tears with a resigned sigh.

"So, what do you plan to do? Not sleep for a week?"

"Of course not." Khadgar pulled himself from the bed and shivered in his damp clothes. He grabbed the clean blanket from the foot of his bed and wrapped himself in its warmth. He then settled at his desk and lit its candle with a spark of magic. The nightmare's lingering psychosomatic ache, and his exhaustion, both reflected in his slow movements. "Just the next five days. You said that's when the Dreamfoil comes in, right?"

Lothar stared at his friend as though he were insane. Unfortunately, he knew the feeling; he'd had similar wars against his own dreams in the past. It just looked so... unreasonable from the outside.

"Khadgar, you cannot skip sleep for five days."

"I'm a mage," he said stubbornly. "I have access to magic that can help do just that. And I'm sure the herbalist has plenty of herbal stimulants besides."

"See reason, will you? It's not healthy."

"Healthy?" Khadgar's tired eyes glared at his friend. "What's not healthy is having nightmares so bad that my magic acts as a defensive response while I'm not conscious. Yeah, don't think I can't figure out you being stiff, my table being broken into pieces, and the tingle of arcane as I was waking up. I'm tired, Anduin, not stupid."

Lothar glanced at the table before turning back to Khadgar. The man had already begun reading from the book on his desk and taking haphazard notes. He sighed and stepped forward to place a hand on Khadgar's shoulder.

"Change into dry clothes, Khadgar. We'll have a midnight snack while the staff cleans up your bed. Hm?"

Khadgar closed his eyes tiredly for a moment. He was drained and weary. He knew the company and food would help.

"Why? I'm not going to use it for days."

"Please. You can't sit at your desk for five days straight."

"I fully intend to visit the library and the kitchen," Khadgar replied stubbornly. "I'm not that lazy--"

"Join me in the kitchen now. Please."

"Anduin--"

"Don't make me turn that into an order from your king."

"Regent king," Khadgar corrected, but he knew he'd already lost the argument. He marked his spot in the book and scrubbed his eyes again. "Fine. Go wait for me in the hall."

Lothar raised his brows expectantly.

"I promise I won't teleport away from you, Anduin. Happy?"

Lothar smiled and walked out of the room to give his friend the privacy he needed. But as he heard the familiar reality warp of teleportation, he realized he should have known better.

"Kid--"

"Yes Anduin?" Khadgar grinned cheekily. He had indeed teleported out of the room, but only several yards down the hall.

As Lothar sighed and glared daggers laced with concern at the mage, Khadgar knew he had lost the argument but won the battle.

Stormwind's prime mage Khadgar rapidly deteriorated as the days wore on. Even with the Fel inside him to help, it didn't aid in energizing his exhausted state enough for him to spend his reserves on it.

He tried to use mostly his magic to keep him going, but he knew he'd need more help. It was two days into his lack of sleep that he finally took to the streets of Stormwind to visit the herbalist. He was also interested in finally meeting the woman who made the sleeping potions for both himself and Lothar.

He found one advantage to his exhausted and tired state to be that he just didn't care when townsfolk stared at him, talked about his features in hushed whispers, or pointed as he passed. He simply made his way on autopilot, although he took the wrong turn more than once. Though he knew where it was, he'd never actually been to this apothecary.

When he finally spotted the sign and made to enter the store, he sleepily tripped over the threshold and stumbled inside. Instinctually the wings crackled into existence and flared out to catch his balance and keep him upright.

"Oh!" A quite surprised voice came from behind the counter.

Khadgar gazed up at her, wavered slightly before rubbing his eyes, and forgot to introduce himself as he shuffled up to meet her. He was so tired he didn't realize his wings were even out.

"Can I... uhm... help you..." She gazed at his horns, claws and wings and offered an uneasy smile. "...Sir?"

Khadgar stopped at the counter and impolitely stared at the woman as he took visual stock of her.

She was in her mid to late fifties with long fiery red hair that was beginning to turn white. She looked like she could be a kindred spirit to Khadgar; wide-eyed and curious and eager.

"I need herbs to keep me awake," he finally uttered with a rub to his eyes. "Uh, please."

"If I may be so bold... I think you need the opposite, sir." She took a closer look at just how tired the man in front of her seemed. "Can I interest you in some sedatives?"

"Not until you get Dreamfoil back in stock," he blurted and steadied himself with the counter. Those grey claws were on full display and threatening to add new scratches to the old wood if he again lost balance. "I-I can't sleep until you do."

Her blue eyes lit up in surprise as she pieced everything together rather quickly. "So Commander Lothar has been supplying you with my potions?"

"Mmm. Yes. I-I need them to sleep. I can't dream." He pressed his fingers to his eyes, just awake enough to be careful of his claws. "Please, sell me something to keep me awake."

She reached her hand forward and gently placed it over his in comfort. She knew it was none of her business, but Khadgar's clear distress spoke to the side of her that chose alchemy--the side that wanted to help others.

"Why is it that you can't dream?"

Khadgar blinked away the blurriness of sleep from his eyes and really focused on her. He would have smiled for her compassion, if not for the ache in his soul that was her answer.

"Try to imagine the twisted, hellish energies needed to give someone demonic features like... these." He motioned to himself as his eyes flashed green from memory. "And then imagine that searing fire in your soul. The pain as it splits you apart from the inside out. And how it twists your mind until it shatters."

Khadgar couldn't help himself; he gripped the counter with a shiver and easily added several faint new scratches.

He tiredly gazed up at her as his answer was rewarded with silence, only to find her face filled with horror and compassion. His heart wrenched for being tired enough to share with this poor woman what he'd gone through.

"I'm sorry," he finally sighed. "I'm... I'm so tired. I see it every time I sleep. I-I shouldn't have put that into your mind."

"Oh, sweetie. We all need someone to talk to; to share our pain with. I'm just so sorry it continues to plague you, and that I haven't gotten the proper herbs in for you."

"I know you can't control the supply any more than I can control these dreams." Khadgar offered her a smile as he leaned his weight against the counter. "Now... I really, really need something to help me wake up. My spells aren't helping as much as I'd have hoped."

"Oh!" A spark of light seemed to enlighten her mind. "A mage! Right! You're Khadgar aren't you?"

Khadgar was more awake than he'd been all day, and simply out of surprise for her revelation.

"The... the demonic features weren't enough to give it away?" Khadgar was quite shocked.

"Ha! Demonic. People talk about the mage who's a demon, you know, but how unbelievable is that? You're either human or you're a demon. You can't just go around acting like a normal person and not causing trouble and actually be evil. These young'uns get some silly ideas in their head."

Khadgar stared at her in awe. "You... really aren't bothered by this?" He gestured to himself.

"I won't deny that I was startled when you came into my shop, but you've already proven to me what you are. A poor, tired young mage." She smiled and pulled a cup for him from under the counter. She poured in water and then droppered in some herbal tinctures. "My best herbal stimulant for you, sir. Though I implore that you find some way to get some rest."

"When the Dreamfoil comes in, I will." Khadgar drank the infusion without hesitation, despite his initial concerns about being poisoned by the citizens of Stormwind. "I don't miss its side effect of dry mouth, though."

"It's unavoidable, I'm afraid." She smiled apologetically. "Although... I take it the increased Peacebloom dosage wasn't enough?"

"It helped the first night," Khadgar admitted. He pushed the empty cup back toward her side of the counter. "But the second night... Anduin said the sedative was too strong and he couldn't wake me."

"Oh... I'm so, so sorry. I'll make you a new potion for tonight, no charge at all. It will not do that to you again, I swear to you."

Khadgar was stubborn to a fault, but he was so, so tired. With a weary sigh he agreed to her proposal and her second cup of elixir. Just from the first dose he was beginning to feel slightly less... dead.

"The stimulant is helping?" She smiled as she began brewing his new nighttime dose.

"Considerably. Thank you." Khadgar remained leaning on the counter, though he didn't feel as though he was going to fall over if he stood up straight. That was an improvement he was willing to take.

"I must warn you, though." She slid the second dose of stimulant to him. "The more stimulant you consume, and the longer you're awake, the more it's going to cause you to... crash, when it wears off. I strongly suggest you seek rest tonight."

"I really don't want to," he admitted quietly. "But I don't think I'm going to make it another day without sleep. I just hope... I can rest."

"Should you need my herbal aid for any reason, sir, ask for me at any time day or night. I shall do my best." She poured the new sleeping potion into two single-dose bottles, wrapped them in fabric, and placed them into his hand. She folded his clawed fingers over them without pause and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Khadgar's heart melted for her sheer understanding and empathy. His eyes returned back to their normal brown and he gave her the first true smile he'd had all day.

"Thank you, ah..." He searched his memory for her name. "I am so sorry, I must have left my manners back with my books. I haven't even introduced myself properly or asked your name."

"Laurissa," she replied with a knowing smile. "It's quite alright, Khadgar. You're very tired. You need not worry about formalities when you need help."

He nodded his grateful thanks and tried to offer her payment for the stimulant he'd drank, but she adamantly refused. He instead promised her a spell whenever she needed one, and then departed with a smile.

He may have been more aware of the wary townsfolk on his walk home, but having a new ally definitely lifted his spirits. It gave him the strength his self-esteem definitely needed.

Laurissa knew her herbs well. She could see just how tired Khadgar was and how long he would last. And she was completely correct in how hard he would crash that night.

He had been heading to his quarters shortly before midnight as the crash was already in full effect, leaving Khadgar feeling as though his body was on autopilot. He had still managed to sleepily walk into two people, and only made it safely to his quarters with the aid of one of the guards leading him there.

He barely managed the coherency to take one of his new doses, for despite his sheer exhaustion, he didn't want to sleep for fear of the nightmares and his brain was doing everything in its power to remain alert.

By the grace of alchemy, Khadgar finally fell asleep.

"You're looking better," Lothar stated in the morning when Khadgar joined him, Taria, and the children for breakfast. "Got some rest last night?"

"A few hours," Khadgar admitted. He may have stretched the number a bit, since he'd been awakened by nightmares multiple times within those hours. Afterward, he'd given up on sleep once more. "Enough to function, I suppose."

Taria watched her young friend with concern as he rubbed at his eyes with a faint sigh.

"I had heard you visited the alchemist yesterday, Khadgar. Was she not able to help?"

"Oh, she did. She provided me with the elixir that allowed me some sleep last night." Khadgar smiled as he poked at the juicy roast beef on his plate. "She's quite a lovely woman. And you know, she doesn't think I'm a demon at all."

"Well, she shouldn't, since you aren't." Lothar interjected. His tone was defensive and reminded Khadgar how much the man hated the public's general treatment of him.

It made Khadgar smile even more brightly.

"Perhaps not. But sometimes you hear things enough and start to wonder if they're true." He glanced toward the children who seemed to be trying to trade food on their plates without their mother's notice. A failed venture as Taria always noticed, even if she never said anything. "Especially when your dreams try to reinforce the lies."

Taria reached forward and squeezed Khadgar's free hand to comfort him. He reassured her, purely through his honest smile and thankful eyes, that he was okay.

"So we can expect you to get proper rest again tonight?" Lothar asked in his tone that was more insistence than inquiry.

Khadgar chewed and swallowed his bite of beef politely before speaking. He was in audience with the Queen, after all. "I have one more dose for tonight. I can try."

"I do hope she acquires more Dreamfoil for you soon," Taria said sadly. "I already have several herbalists seeking some out to add to our stores. It is a very rare plant indeed."

"A little does go a long way," Lothar agreed. "When it's found, it shouldn't run out for years."

Khadgar swallowed his tepidly-consumed meat with a bit of difficulty. He smiled in appreciation for their thoughtfulness, and they understood completely when the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Thank you both. I'm ah, I'm going to return to my magical studies now. There are still so many spells I have to learn."

"Do take it easy Khadgar," Taria implored him.

He smiled and nodded his head to her, his horn jewelry catching the window-fed sunlight with a beautiful glint. "Yes, ma'am."

By the Light, how Khadgar wished he could have gotten some actually restful sleep that night. What he'd had the night before was mere fumes for the several days he had been pushing through and trying to stave off the twisting green shadows within his mind.

His second vial of elixir had been consumed and allowed him initial slumber, but again, it did not last.

He awoke to heaving and gasping and shaking once again. His eyes and cheeks were wet with tears and his body was still wracked with burning and aching as though he'd just been inside that rough metal cage.

He didn't know how much more of this torment he could take before he broke.

Strong arms pulled him into a warm embrace. It grounded Khadgar more than he knew he needed; their warmth soothed his phantom pains. It felt right. It felt safe.

Khadgar was so tired. He barely questioned it when he was laid down in bed again and that strong, warm embrace remained.

"Who..."

"Get some rest, spellchucker," came the all too familiar gruff voice. It was so close to Khadgar's neck and it made him shiver. "I won't sleep knowing you can't. So just... rest, okay?"

Khadgar finally wished that he didn't need to stay awake just for those nightmares, but so that he could savor the moment.

Alas, Lothar's embrace soothed his soul like no herbs ever could. He drifted off in less time than it would take to even drink one of his elixirs, and his steady breathing was a balm for Lothar's ragged nerves as well.

Khadgar awoke to the rays of morning light drifting in through his window. He felt so warm, so comfortable, so safe. And he realized that he had finally gotten the rest he so desperately needed.

"Good morning, Khadgar."

The rumbled voice behind him caused the mage to freeze. His brown eyes bugged wide and flashed green in shock.

"Anduin?"

"You needed more than herbs to sleep, it seems. This worked for you."

Khadgar swallowed thickly; loudly in the otherwise silence of the room. He couldn't form words; or at the very least, not the right ones.

"Taria was just in here."

To see us sleeping together?!

"She's been able to acquire Dreamfoil earlier than the alchemist could. It's being delivered to Laurissa today. You'll have more of your proper potions for tonight."

Khadgar's body shuddered in absolute relief. He needed those potions so much more than he ever wanted to admit it.

"I'm sorry," Khadgar mumbled as he tried not to press his body into the comfort of his friend. "I-I must seem like a child to you, for needing my nightmares quelled."

"Khadgar." Lothar gave a reassuring squeeze to his friend's shoulder. "You have been though torture. Nobody who is privy to the information does, or could ever, think you childish for suffering through it. Not in the least us warriors who face death and loss every time we go into battle."

Khadgar wasn't dumb. He knew that the strain of battle and loss lasted long after the event. He'd just always been so self-conscious and had always needed to be strong. Showing weakness was something he was still adjusting to.

Thankfully, his found family was there to aid him through it all.