Chapter 19

Sealing the Bond

Remove. Pound. Set. Return.

From dawn until the late hours of the night, Menthis Crystalhammer repeated this process countless times. His incessant hammering only stopped when a weapon had been completed. Then he would move on to his next customer's, and resume his smithing. And he was good at it. He was one of the few blacksmiths in Ironforge who could complete the "Two-Score Smithy" trial, a contest among the smiths to see who could forge and repair twenty four weapons in a single sitting, and who could do it the fastest. Menthis had won last month. He had done twenty six. Amidst the clamor of a smithy's shop for as long as he can remember, it was no surprise that Menthis didn't hear Stefan and Iyana enter.

As he dropped a freshly-tuned rapier into the dousing pot, he looked up to see the two standing there, smiling warmly. He returned their kind grin.

"Hello there! Menthis Crystalhammer, at yer' service. What can I do for yeh?" said the Dwarf.

"I'm Stefan Dreis, and this is Iyana Moonbreeze," said Stefan, motioning to the Night Elf.

"Pleasure ta' meet the both of yeh!"

"Likewise, good blacksmith. I have a job for you," continued the Human. "I require a pair of maces. Preferably a forearm in length, perhaps even a few inches more."

Menthis nibbled at his lip as he thought about it. "Shouldn't be a problem, mister Dreis."

"Good. Any problems with Elementium?"

The Dwarf laughed. "Elementium! My boy, if you've got some o' that stuff on yeh', I'd be headin' over to the bank right about now! 'Tis worth a fortune, and three times as powerful for weapon-crafting!"

"Which is why I wanted only the best, Menthis," said Stefan. "And you're it."

"Well, I best to humor you. When would yeh' like it done?"

"Tomorrow morning. Fair?"

"Sure! Only I'm fresh outa' me own private stash of Elementium. You'll have to--"

Stefan pulled the box that had contained the artifact from a large sack on his back. The Dwarf's eyes widened. The glimmer of treasure-lust shined brightly in his pupils as Stefan placed the Elementium box into the Dwarf's hands.

"Sacred hammer! This is Elementium!"

"Can you do it, Menthis?"

"O' course I can! It shall be done, tomorrow morning."

"Good. We'll leave you to it, then."

---

They couldn't wait to open the door. Clumsily, Stefan was able to get the key into the lock while simultaneously searching about Iyana's neck with his lips. She slammed the door behind them, returning her attention to undressing Stefan. He did the same to her, and in scant moments they had made their way to the bedroom. But amid their rapturous lust, Stefan pulled away. He held his fingers to the Elf's soft lips, and looked into her eyes.

"You must tell me Iyana...is this real?"

Her gaze shot between his pair of brown orbs.

"Is this pity, or is it affection? Are we real?" he continued in a soft whisper.

She looked to him a moment longer before answering.

"Stefan...two years ago, I lost my mother, father, and brother to the Burning Legion. I did not really long to travel the world...I wanted justice. Revenge," she leaned in closer, inches from his face. "I am like you, Stefan. It's real."

"Say no more."

As they disappeared under the covers that night in Ironforge, Stefan and Iyana shared something special. They were more than just lovers; that night, they had made a promise.

Be it in the bed or shoulder to shoulder on the war front, we shall remain true to one another. Before each of us, there is none, and after, none as well. Together we stand in the eye of a relentless storm, one we may not survive. So be it. Until then, we shall wear our heart upon our sleeve, guarded by our blades.

"Perhaps it's love, but maybe it's longing. Maybe we seek a companion to share the night with. But I know that I am to be here, right next to you. There is nowhere else for me," had said Iyana.

Stefan had remained silent, because he knew it to be true.