Your character will not go anywhere - even if there is a gap in your subscription time. You can buy either digital or retail version of the game now that digi-sales has resumed. What you are really buying is the activation code :P Even with free trial accounts, im pretty sure you need that. also once you do buy the game officially you get yet another 30 days free ( that comes with every new copy of the game ). Just make sure you are tying the game code to your already made account that you made for ur trial.

If I am incorrect on any of this, hopefully someone will point it out