The Hunter's Companions Ch. 09

"Liv, dear, how are you?" Asked Deanna Sunspeaker as she walked into her daughter's childhood room. Her lustrous blonde hair was intricately braided and fell down past the base of her spine. Deanna's bright red dress clung to all of her curves, and her pale green eyes twinkled alluringly in the evening light. Livinia's mother pulled her daughter into a strong embrace.

"Good afternoon mother." Livinia said with a forced smile as they pulled away from each other. Livinia sat back down at her vanity table and picked up her brush. The ball was due to start in just over an hour, and she hadn't even begun to get ready.

"Sorry I am late, I tried to make it on time but I had a meeting with Loreneus Magitree. You know how he can be!"

Livinia nodded, she was well aware of how long-winded Loreneus could be at the best of times.

"Do you need help getting ready?" Deanna asked, her previously friendly expression turning critical as she ran her eyes over her casually attired daughter. Livinia looked over to where her dress was hanging from a wooden frame off her privacy screen, the silver and diamond hair net carefully hung on the end.

"Not really- I'm sure I can manage it." Liv replied.

Deanna Sunspeaker had always enjoyed before-ball preparations. When Livinia was younger they would spend hours preening and primping before an event. Livinia's mother always insisted on trying at least three different hairstyles on her daughter before making a decision, and Livinia really hated it when her mother touched her hair.

"Is that your dress?" Her mother asked, pointing to the glorious silver gown, she walked over to it and took it between her graceful fingers reverently. She then seemed to realize the hair net that Belcarm had made on handing off the door knob beside the dress. "This is simply divine." Her fingers then went to play with the crystallized air tacked onto the spidersilk net "And so expensive looking... At least adventuring pays well."

"Where is Father?" Livinia asked, she didn't bother telling her mother where she really got the items. Livinia didn't even want to imagine her mother's response if she told her that she allowed Kalendras to buy her the dress. Even if Livinia told her mother that Belcarm had made the hair net she knew that the woman would have something to say about his low birth.

"With Zuroc Totemrunner." Her mother turned and placed her hands on her shapely hips "Apparently Kalendras will be arriving in an hour or so to pick you up. I didn't know you two were still such close friends. How often do you see him?"

"Er- more often than you would think, actually." Livinia said, unable to keep her cheeks from flushing with heat. Luckily her mother didn't seem to notice. "He has just joined the guild that I'm in." Livinia added.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Her mother said with a smile, but somehow it still sounded condescending. "And are you still travelling with Belcarm Shapsword? The Master of Sword's son? Your father mentioned that he saw you two together at the exhibition yesterday."

"Did he? How lovely of him... Yes, Belcarm and I still work together." Livinia said with a sigh. Even though she had tried to avoid the topic, somehow, Belcarm and Kalendras were now the focus of the conversation.

"He's a handsome one." Her mother said with a weak smile, "Even if he isn't high born, at least his father has made a name for the family..."

Deanna trailed off and took Livinia's hairbrush out of her hands and started brushing it for her. Liv wanted to tell her to stop, but she knew that it would be easier to just submit. There were two things that she never argued over with her mother; hair and politics.

"Liv, dear, do you remember the High Warlock's son, Rioden?"

"I saw Mitrae and Rioden yesterday actually." Livinia replied in a strangled tone.

"They will be attending tonight. Perhaps you could spend some time with Rioden? Get to know him a bit better? I'm sure Kalendras won't mind seeing as how you two see each other so often these days anyway..."

"Mother," Livinia begun with a groan, pinching the bridge of her nose to ward against an encroaching headache that threatened to split her mind into a million parts if she had to put up with another one of her mother's ill-fated matchmaking schemes.

"Oh dear, relax! There is no pressure, just something I thought might help you out a bit, you know..."

"Well, I'm not looking for anyone at the moment." I already have enough on my plate, although Livinia didn't say that last thought.

"Hmm, well... Let's just see how it goes then, shall we? Look darling- I am sorry to run, but I have a lot of preparations that I need to see to before I get dressed. Are you sure you are all right here?" Her mother asked in the most maternal manner possible.

"It will be challenging, to get the dress on and all, but I am sure I can handle it if I try hard enough." Livinia said bitterly "If I need any help I will ring for Maelinda." She added in a faux sweet voice. Her sarcasm was lost on her mother though, as she turned and left the room, undoubtedly trying to figure out which flower arrangement to put on the tables and which should go in the balcony vases. By this stage Deanna would normally have been ready to go, but the fact that they were hosting the ball must have prolonged her preparations.

~*~

The silver gown fit her better than Livinia dared to imagine it would. Kal had done a wonderful job picking it for her. The luminous silver fabric was extremely low cut in the back, the cowl-neck stopping a mere inch above the base of her spine, showing her long, smooth back in all its glory. Around her waist was a belt of similar fabric, embroidered with glorious silver moons in the traditional Sin'dorei fashion. Livinia's long red tresses were mostly caught up in the net that Belcarm had given her, setting the crystallized air to a fiery backdrop. She had left small wisps of hair free to frame her face and trail down her back ever so slightly. If it weren't for Belcarm she would have worn her hair loose, but he had chosen his gift well; the spidersilk net not only complemented the fantastical colour of the dress, but the net made sure her hair did not distract from the sensuous lines of her back.

The only problem with the dress was that the shoulder straps did not like staying up. Even the slightest movement would cause one side or the other to slide down her shoulder slightly, and Livinia knew that she was going to spend the entire night pulling them up. Even though they were supposed to be worn quite low, the dress already exposed so much of her body that Livinia felt thoroughly indecent when the thin strips of fabric started to slide.

She was tugging the strap up, yet again, when there was a knock at her door. When the door opened Livinia saw her mother, looking radiant as always in a deep red velvet number, standing beside Kalendras. Kalendras was dressed in the Traditional Tauren style. He had thick roughspun pants died a deep brown, with a thick leather belt around his waist. The belt was imprinted with the symbols particular to the Totemrunner clan, and inlaid with several roughly polished citrines and lapis lazulis- blue and yellow like the colours of his house. He had two thick leather straps crossing over his chest and shoulders, imprinted with more Taur-ahe symbols, with beaded feathers dangling from it. He had a two gold arm bands around each of his upper arms, inlaid with several lapus lazulis, and his arm guards were leather with citrines dotted around the wrist.

"You scrubbed up alright." Livinia said, trying not to stare too much in front of her mother. With only two straps covering his chest his chest fur was there for her to ogle at, and at that moment she wanted nothing more than to run her fingers through it as he made love to her.

"You too." Kalendras said with a tight voice and a nod. Livinia couldn't help but grin.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it- I have a few things to do. Please hurry along though, I don't want you to be late Liv. See you later Kalendras." Deanna said before disappearing down the corridor.

When her mother's footsteps sounded like they were a good distance away Livinia walked over to Kalendras, tugging up her straps again. He grinned down at her, this time without bothering to disguise his admiration of her, and then slid the straps back down with his thick fingers.

"You look amazing." Kalendras said, dipping his head and running his tongue along her bare shoulder and the crook of her neck.

"You look... like several birds died in the making of your outfit." Livinia said slowly, Kalendras let out a low growl and Livinia laughed. Kalendras crossed his arm over his chest but she reached out and stroked his fur anyway. His growl turned to more of a purr and she pulled her hand away. "Glad to see that you decided to change back to your natural form. Trying to dress you as a cat would've been impossible."

"The dress fits you nicely." Kalendras said, his eyes running hungrily over the veritable fields of her exposed skin.

"Well a very savvy friend of mine picked this dress out for me because he ripped my old one." She said, one eyebrow perking up. "Though he didn't get the shoulder measurements quite right. Seems this dress is determined to slip off."

"Perhaps it is just as he wanted it." Kalendras said with an innocent shrug "Perhaps he enjoys seeing you in a constant state of undress."

"Perhaps he is a bit of a pervert... who knows?" Livinia asked. "Shall we move on?"

"I think we have a bit of time..." Kalendras looked over her shoulder and at her bed suggestively. Livinia rolled her eyes and put a hand on his chest.

"As revealing as this dress is Kal, I still like it. The last thing I need is for you to rip it off and then to explain to my mother why I'm not wearing it." Livinia slipped her arm through his and looked up at him. "Let's get this over with."

~*~

The Sunspeaker residence was as large as they got in Silvermoon City. The manse itself had been built well before the other half of the city had been destroyed, so it was grand in a way that was inconsiderate to the rest of Silvermoon. There were three wings; one was dedicated to the living quarters for the family, each room having its own dressing and bathing rooms. The centre wing was a reception and general entertaining wing and held the kitchen, dining room, formal lounge and formal dining as well as a library and drawing room. The third, easternmost wing's entire ground level was taken up by a large ballroom. The second story was home to the guest rooms. The three wings were situated around a lovely formal garden, with all of the bedrooms having a view of the fountain in its centre.

As Kalendras and Livinia approached the door of the ballroom they joined the queue of people waiting to be formally introduced into the room. It was an old custom, to announce the guests as they arrived, and it was something thaa blood filled body. Livinia hated it. She hated walking in to a packed room and having every eye on her, each person knowing that she was a Sunspeaker and automatically expecting her to act a certain way.

"Livinia Sunspeaker and Kalendras Totemrunner of the Cenarion Circle?" The Silvermoon City Guardian asked as they approached.

"Just Kalendras Totemrunner- no longer an active member of the Circle." Kalendras said with a gruff nod.

When the door opened the first Guardian whispered their names to the one just inside the the room and he banged his glaive on the ground three times.

"Miss Livinia Sunspeaker, escorted by Mr. Kalendras Totemrunner." The man's voice rung through the hall and over the rabble. Several heads turned in their direction and Livinia tried her hardest not to blush. Escorted by? They hadn't asked him to say that. Now several dozen sets of eyes were on her and Kalendras. The saving grace was that anybody from Silvermoon would know they were just friends. Even though we're not, Livinia couldn't help but think.

Livinia and Kalendras walked further into the room, into the crowd of warm bodies, and Livinia was glad to have the presentation out of the way. She didn't let go of Kalendras's arm though, and let herself be led to the drinks table. As a waitress poured them each some pungent wine Kalendras and Livinia exchanged information. Livinia recounted again, as she had to Belcarm, just how boring of a time she'd had in Hyjal. Kalendras told her all about his trip to Moonglade, and how strange it was to go there as a messenger rather than a member.

"And did you end up meeting the Paladin?" The question was inevitable, but made Livinia sigh nonetheless.

"Yes Kal, we went to the exhibition yesterday and to the Blood Knight headquarters the day before." She said.

"By Cairne's Blood!" Kalendras growled "He took you to the pretty boy headquarters? What did you do- look at your reflections?"

"No. We actually had a good time." Livinia snapped. "Damn this dress!" She hissed as she felt the straps slip again.

"The more you touch them the more attention you bring to them. Leave them down, Nitawa Kee, I like seeing your shoulders." Kalendras said. Livinia glared at him as she pulled the straps up for the millionth time. "Turn around for a second." Kalendras said.

"What? Why?" Livinia asked, looking behind her to see what could be of interest.

"I want to see what the back of your dress looks like." Kalendras chuckled. Livinia crossed her arms over her breasts and shot him a disparaging glance.

"Not a chance you big furry pervert." Livinia laughed.

"Oh, come on! I didn't invest in a dreamcloth dress for you so I could only see part of it." Kalendras said patting her playfully on the shoulder.

"I'll tell you what, first we'll go up to the roof and see if these feathers help you to fly," Livinia flicked the feathers on his chest straps "and then I'll turn around for you."

"Oh ha ha Liv, you're so funny." Kalendras grunted sarcastically.

"What? Do you not like the outfit mummy picked for you? Citrine and lapis lazuli are really your stones, you know? They bring out the startling silver of your oh-so-shiny fur." Livinia teased.

"Liv..." Now it was his turn to glare at her.

"So, after you got shoved into a hot perfumed bath and had every inch of you combed, did you get oils rubbed in your fur to make it shine so prettily?" Livinia asked with fake enthusiasm.

"Livinia, is that you?" A voice interrupted the intimate moment and Livinia spun around to see her Aunt Caristra heading towards her. "By the Sun Well! It is! I haven't seen you in nearly two years!" Liv was pulled into yet another hug and she grinned when she spotted three well-dressed males hovering in Caristra's wake. "Livinia, dear, these are my friends- Aneas, Fialner and Tristion." Livinia smiled at her Aunt's friends politely and was overcome with a sudden urge to ask the woman for advice.

Due to their long life span, Blood Elves did not tend to remain monogamous for long. It was often the case were a couple would come together for a while, usually around fifty years, perhaps breed, and then move on. About half of the Elves managed to remain with one or two, partners for an exceptionally long time (her parents were a good example, they had been together for close to one hundred years). Her Aunt Caristra was well known by all of the gossips for her preference for having multiple lovers at the one time- often numbering three or four. Livinia had known for a while that her Aunty's lovers were ill named as such, they really were more like sex toys than actual lovers.

"How have you been, Aunt Caristra?" Livinia asked, the older woman grinned.

"Well! As always dear, always well! How could I not be with such handsome friends?" Livinia laughed and shrugged.

"Aunt Caristra, this is my friend Kalendras Totemrunner." Livinia said when she recovered her manners.

"Ah, Zuroc and Timbra's son, yes?" Caristra asked, Kalendras nodded. "Very good, very good! Oh- please excuse me kids, Aegon Sharpsword has arrived and I simply must relay my congratulations on his recent promotion!" Livinia followed her Aunt's line of sight and her eyes fell on Belcarm's obscenely handsome father.

Aegon was clothed in deep green velvet and brown hose, looking like a part of nature come to life. He was carelessly stunning. As Master of the Sword he was not required to work on nights such as these, but there were plenty of his men and women stationed around the room. Livinia had to suppress a laugh at Aegon's clearly disgruntled face when her Aunt tried to relay her congratulations to him.

"By the Mother!" Kalendras groaned, "He's just as pretty as his son..." Livinia's mouth fell open and she slapped Kal's chest.

"Kalendras!" She tried to sound reproachful but it was hard when he was merely speaking the truth. The Tauren laughed and patted her on the shoulder.

"If I hadn't seen it for myself, I would have thought Belcarm was female." Kalendras added, making Livinia slap him again. "Oh don't bother playing Liv, I am sure he says the same sort of things about me."

"Well actually, he doesn't say much about you at all." Livinia said with a shrug "Not in my hearing anyway." Kalendras gave her a strange look and she could tell that he would have been more comfortable if Belcarm had been putting him down at every turn.

Kalendras slowly edged toward her, until his arm was resting light against hers, and she had to try hard not to lean into him. The feel of his fur on her bare arms was comforting, and being surrounded by people from her past, in the ballroom of childhood manor, she couldn't help but feel at home.

"We haven't talked properly since...." Livinia trailed off, knowing that she didn't really need to finish that sentence.

"I don't have much to say." Kalendras growled from deep in his throat. Livinia turned and put a hand on his chest. He looked down at where their bodies were touching and cleared his throat. "I am not sure if this is appropriate." He said, with a cautious look around the room. With a sigh Livinia dropped her hand.

"I know but..." She tried to say something; she tried to tell him how hard it was for her to love two but to know she could only have one. "Why did you come back?" She asked changing topics and also addressing something that had bothered her for a while.

"Well it certainly wasn't so that I could watch him fuck you." Kal's earthy brown eyes found hers and her face flushed. "I told you that I loved you, Livinia, and I meant it." Livinia wanted to kiss him. She wanted to stretch up on her toes, grab his snout, and place a firm kiss on the tip of his nose. She wanted to throw her arms around him. She wanted to cry in frustration.

"Oh Livinia, here you are darling!" Deanna's voice rung through her mind like a shrill bird's cry. She turned and favoured her mother with a reluctant smile. "Kalendras, dear, do you mind if I interrupt?" Without waiting for a response Livinia's mother gestured to a young elf that had followed in her wake. Livinia had to suppress a groan when she recognized the stark blonde hair and disturbingly pale eyes.

Rioden reached forward and took her hand, he pulled it to his lips and gave her a lingering kiss. Livinia resisted the urge to pull away automatically.

"We meet again, Rioden." Livinia said tersely, feeling Kalendras stiffen beside her.

"I'll let you two get acquainted, shall I?" Her mother said with a bright smile before she grasped Kalendras's massive hand. "Kalendras dear, Livinia tells me you're both in the same guild now, I would love to hear all about it!" She tugged on his hand and Kalendras had no choice but to follow, even though he knew very well that Deanna didn't give the smallest damn about their guild.

"For a warrior you clean up very nicely." Rioden said, his eyes lingering over her exposed shoulders and cleavage.