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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea	By : ShigeSato Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 997 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The locations and some of the spells and characters described herein belong to Activision Blizzard. I do not own World of Warcraft and I make no money from this work.

Chapter List
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Farlin felt Jared return his embrace, the other man's arms shaking with relief at simply being alive. They hugged for a long while, before Farlin drew back and let Jared fall back and lie on the floor. Jared grabbed his forehead and creased his face up. "I've got a terrible headache though."
Farlin smiled and, summoning his strength, cast a small spell of holy light which cascaded around Jared and soothed his pain. The other paladin shot him a grateful glance before struggling to sit up. He noticed the manna cakes on the other side of the cave and Farlin heard his companion's somach rumble loudly. He laughed and went to fetch some of the cakes; he was feeling hungry too. Passing one to Jared, he sat next to the other paladin and leant against the wall.
There was silence for a while as they munched on the cakes, before Jared burst out with a loud exclamation. "So are you going to tell me, or is it some sort of secret?"
Farlin looked at him, puzzled.
"What are we doing here? What happened to us? Where's the elf and why are we not panicking? And where did you get this food, it's delicious."
Farlin laughed out loud at Jared's indignation and explained what had transpired since he passed out on the burning ship. He told him of the elf's intervention, and finding the cave, and the subsequent fever Jared had suffered. When he mentioned the poison, Jared shuddered. "I remember that," he said. "It felt like ice in my veins. I remember you cleansing me – and then there was just nothing. No pain, but I was just so weak – I couldn't move or open my eyes. I was conscious, but then I wasn't; and I was confused about reality and dreams. And oh, the dreams, they were terrible, Farlin – they were just..." he shivered. "It was like the monster got right inside my head and knew what would make my worst nightmares happen."
In some small part of him, for very selfish reasons, Farlin desperately wanted to know what Jared's nightmares had been. Had he been in them? Did Jared care for him that much? Farlin remembered Tamri's warning at the end of their conversation, and the way the elf had looked at Jared before he had said it. Did that mean he had been in Jared's dreams, and Tamri had seen it with his gift?
Jared was looking at him expectantly and Farlin realised he had completely glazed over, engaged in his own thoughts. He saw that the other man was waiting for him to recount the recent events, and continued to explain the first week they had lived in the cave, the fruitless attempts to find contact with the outside world and their shared anxiety over Jared's health. At this, Farlin's voice shook slightly, and he had to conceal the true depth of passion in his voice when he trembled out, "I thought you were going to die, Jared. I didn't know what to do with myself. If you had, I...I just..."
Jared smiled at him. "Well I'm not dead yet, am I?"
"Thankfully," Farlin said fervently. He talked about the night he and Tamri had spent talking by the campfire (though he stuck strictly to explaining the elf's half of the conversation) and his trip the day before to find Erunak. Then he related his journey back to the cave, and the wait he had endured through the night. He also mentioned his recurring dream, though he wasn't sure what it meant, and Jared also looked puzzled.
"Wow," he said when Farlin had finally finished. "So there were no other survivors?"
"Not one," the paladin said gravely.
"Then I owe Tamri big time," Jared reflected.
"To be honest, we both do," Farlin smirked, indicating the manna cakes. "How d'you think we've fed and watered ourselves for the last week?"
"True," Jared grinned. His strength seemed to be returning quickly now that the monster was out of his system completely. "So what was that thing that attacked our ship?"
"Not a clue," Farlin said truthfully. "Apparently, though, it's been snaring all the ships that pass by this way. It's why the Horde haven't taken the island yet – they're in the same predicament as we are. Every ship that comes through gets capsized and the crew eaten."
"And because nobody sends word of the creature back to Stormwind..." Jared mused, continuing Farlin's thought.
"...they don't think anything's amiss and continue to send innocent soldiers to the slaughter." Farlin concluded. "Erunak and his men are the only ones who lived, and they've been stuck under the ocean for longer than we have. They've sent up rescue flares, but nothing's come of it."
"How long will it be until they understand?" Jared pondered, a worried look in his eyes. "How long until they realise what they're doing and pull back the ships? And send someone to save us?"
"Erunak will save us," Farlin said. "He promised he'd come back in three days and bring us to the rest of them, where he and Tamri are. We stand a better chance together. And from there, we can figure out how to get rescued."
Jared nodded. He seemed to be falling asleep again, his eyelids closing steadily. "I think I'm just gonna take a nap, Farlin. Wake me up later, okay? Just want to...relax my eyes..." his head dropped forward and he emitted a quiet snore. Farlin smiled and almost reached out to stroke his friend's handsome face, but stopped himself at the last minute. Instead he allowed himself to admire the man's features – his rugged cheekbones, his strong jawline and short, spiky hair that was a deep shade of brown tinged with black. His eyes were deep-set and gaunt from the illness, but his long eyelashes fluttered slightly in his sleep, and Farlin simply couldn't believe how wonderful he thought Jared was. He was almost unnerved by his strength of feeling. Sighing, he turned over and looked away, his internal struggles rising to the surface.
Maybe he could just come out to Jared and see what the man said. He could indulge himself down here – he could freely admit his feelings and not worry about the reaction of society and of his father. He knew that if Jared was willing to oblige his desires, they could consummate a passion under the ocean, and once the ships came to take them back they could simply remember the memories and go back to their normal lives. It sounded wonderfully enticing to Farlin – a romance sparked, 20,000 leagues under the sea. But he knew deep inside that should he and Jared become so close, and do such things, he would never be able to relinquish his hold on the other paladin, and life would become unbearable once they returned to Stormwind. Perhaps Jared would say no to his proposals, anyway; Farlin knew Jared did not feel that way towards others of his sex. He knew that if he told his friend of his feelings, and this was the case, Jared would never repeat it to another soul if Farlin asked him not to. But on the other hand, he had no idea what it might do to their friendship – Jared may not want to be around him once he discovered that Farlin was feeling that strongly. The thought made him hurt inside and he swallowed it quickly. One thing was clear to him, though, as he lay there beside his sleeping friend – he would have to at least tell Jared what he was, and bear the consequences of whatever happened here, because the pressure within him was building, and soon he would simply blurt it out anyway.
Not now, though. As he watched his friend sleeping soundly, he resolved to wait until he recovered.
The next two days waiting for Erunak to return were very tense. The wood and cakes began running low, and the tide began creeping into the cave further and further each day, making the sand damp and uncomfortable to sleep on. Jared had fully recovered from his illness, and was getting restless in the small space, eager to venture out and help the shaman and his allies in their attempts to send a signal to Stormwind. Farlin was constantly fretting about his problems, and how to express them to Jared, while the other paladin had no idea why his friend was so anxious.
The day arrived that the shaman was supposed to return for them. All day, the two men kept a lookout for any sign of a disturbance in the water, or the swift approach of a man on the bottom of the sea, but first the morning, and then the afternoon passed without incident. Throughout the day no words were spoken between the two – a tense silence reigned over them, strangling anything they may have wanted to say. A knot of tension wound inside Farlin's stomach, making him want to vomit. Why had Erunak not come? Had something happened to them – to Tamri?
Eventually he could stand it no longer. He stood up, clenching his hands into fists, and began pacing around the cave, feeling that he couldn't sit still any more. Jared watched him passively, only his eyes betraying his worry akin to Farlin's. They owed no debt to the soldiers, but both Erunak and Tamri had saved Jared's life. If anything had happened to them, they were duty bound as men of Stormwind and followers of the Light to do all they could to save them. Farlin was feeling so guilty about his deviance from the path of the Light that he felt one more wrongdoing would alienate him from the order forever, and so he growled and paced because he felt so helpless. He should be out there, ensuring everything was alright with the two men he had come to respect, and would be eternally grateful to, and yet...his own selfish desires concerning Jared – there would not be a better opportunity than this. They were alone, and secluded.
"Jared..." Farlin began, breaking the silent vigil without even realising he was voicing his thought out loud. Jared looked up at him, slightly startled, a weary look in his eyes. Farlin sat beside him, his hands kneading in and out of each other, his legs twitching in anxiety. Jared, who knew him so well, noticed these signs and knew what they meant.
"Farlin, what's wrong?" His voice was simple and genuine.
"I...while you were asleep, I mean ill, I...told you I had a talk with Tamri," Farlin stuttered nervously, unable to force his tongue to properly form the words. "But...I didn't tell you everything he said. Or I said. I..." he tailed off again. "I really don't know how to say it," he confessed.
"What is it, Farlin?" Jared's voice betrayed concern for his friend, and he leaned closer comfortingly. "You know you can say – we've been pals forever."
Farlin swallowed and nodded. "I...this is very hard for me. I've only ever said it once, out loud, and it's hard to accept it...Tamri was understanding. It was like he knew my soul. But telling you..."
"What, you think I wouldn't understand you?" Jared asked, sounding slightly offended.
"No! You understand what I say better than my own mother did. It's just..." Farlin looked up at his friend and swallowed hard. "It's the way I am, and I can't change it, and I have to accept it. But I don't know if you will – it will change everything between us." Jared simply gazed back at him, waiting for him to continue. And he did. "I'm gay, Jared. I'm gay." With that confession, he leant back, exhaling in relief.
Jared's face looked thunderstruck. His eyes were brimming with questions and queries, Farlin could tell, but he held them back, and he could see many, many other emotions roiling under the surface of the shock. Anger, embarrassment, guilt, betrayal...all of them culminated into a mild mask of blank surprise.
"I had no idea," he said slowly. "All this time." Then he looked up at Farlin. "How long have you known?"
"Twelve years," Farlin aid quietly, staring at the damp, sandy floor. His fingers began to draw lines in it, as they did when he was feeling awkward. "Since I was fifteen."
Jared ran a hand through his hair, exhaling loudly. "I...don't know what to say about that. I wish you could have told me sooner, but I...suppose I understand why you didn't." Then his face turned harsh. "Nobody else knows, do they? Not your father, the order?"
"Only Tamri," Farlin said reassuringly, "and that was because he guessed it. You are the first person I've told of my own free will. Believe me, Jared, I wish I wasn't, I just want to be a good paladin and follow the Light and my own father's footsteps, but I can't help it. I am what I am."
"And I'm glad you are," Jared said, his face now relieved. Farlin looked up at him in disbelief. Could it be...? But his hopes were tempered again when the paladin continued, "Because you wouldn't be you if you weren't, and Farlin is the man who's been my best friend for twenty-five years." He smiled and punched his friend on the arm.
Farlin grinned back, his face masking the internal disappointment he felt. Jared may have accepted him, but he was a far sight away from accepting the next part. Farlin decided he would wait, and let Jared absorb this, before he tried to usher in the other half of what he had to confess. The harder part. He clasped Jared on the shoulder. "You're a good friend."
"You needn't worry," Jared replied warmly. "It doesn't change anything. I won't tell your father – think of what he would do to you! - and I won't mention it again. Thank you for telling me."
Farlin smiled. Jared really was perfect. He knew, then and there, that he wanted to be with this man, wanted to hold him and care for him, and hang the doctrine of the order and the Light. He had fallen hopelessly in love.
But he doesn't feel the same, a voice in the back of his head whispered tauntingly. He never will...because you're a man. You're a freak. And he will never want you.
Insistently Farlin pushed the voice away, but the thought remained at the back of his head. Instead of worrying about it, he focused on the matter at hand; the absence of their allies who were supposed to have come hours ago. He looked across at Jared again – Jared, the man he loved.
"We have to go and look for them," he said.
The other man nodded. "I know."
Nothing else was said between them as they prepared themselves. Still having the Sea Legs empowerment upon him, Farlin would be able to go ahead and clear the way, so he put his armour on, fitting each piece upon his body. Jared did the same, and, picking up the last of the manna cakes to put in his pack, he kicked out the campfire, plunging the cavern into blackness.
Farlin walked blindly to the edge of the pool and slowly began to wade in, hearing more than seeing Jared beside him. He felt the water rise to his chest and, glancing over at where he knew Jared was, he reached out a hand and was surprised to feel Jared reaching for him. Briefly, their hands met, and Farlin held his there for a second – but Jared withdrew his sharply once he felt whereabouts Farlin was. Then he heard his friend dive under the water. The paladin sighed, his heart dropping like a stone in his chest. It looked like Jared was far more affected by his confession than he was willing to let on – and it was looking more and more unlikely that he would ever accept Farlin as a lover. Not to be denied, though, he took a breath and submerged his head, following Jared into the open sea, his mind focused on finding Tamri and Erunak, and whatever fate was in store for them.
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea