The air was still around Theramore that night, as Jaina sat waiting for her unknown guest to arrive. She knew little about the decisions that needed to be made and the very thought of Garrosh holding control made her uneasy, she became lost in thought worried of how she could protect Theramore and it's people when she heard footsteps and the sound of distant heavy breathing.
"Mi'lady," said the hooded visitor. Jaina nodded as he walked closer and lowered his hood. "Varian?" she asked questioningly, "why has this meeting been set up like this? Has it become unusual for two leaders to speak?" "No, not unusual, but I can't very well protect you if the Horde scum know I've come, now can I?" he responded with spite and agression in every word he spoke.
Jaina looked away, disgusted with his tone - she knew his words to be true, there had been talks of threats against Theramore which had caused all of her sleepless nights. "Varian, I know this is hard and I know you hate the Horde but not all is as it seems," she whispered. "No! I will not hear of this Jaina. Thrall may be your ally but he's no ally of mine. He's not even Warchief anymore, he handed this over, he caused this threat to you and your beloved Theramore. He's the one to blame," Varian growled. "That's enough my lord," she said calmly, "we don't even know the extent of the matter, we cannot rightfully put blame on anyone but Hellscream for this."
Varian stood up and slowly started pacing the room, "you know I distrust every single one of them, I don't care who controls them, they're mongrels, savages even, there's been too many close calls, if we're to protect you and Theramore we have to act quick." "Varian, my lord, think before you act, can the Alliance really supply another war?" Jaina asked softly, "I'd rather settle this peacefully, we can save Theramore and Alliance lives that way, I know we can." Varian stopped and turned to her, kneeled and spoke, "Jaina, peace doesn't work anymore, it always ends in bloodshed. You must see this, let me do this my way, after this there will be no more lost to the Horde, the Alliance will stand strong, we'll be victorious never to crumble to the Horde again." He took her hand and gently kissed it, "trust me, mi'lady, I promise Theramore is in no risk, nor your people, I will protect you with my very life."
Jaina blushed and quickly stook and turned from him, "it doesn't have to be this way, there must be something better," she paused as she felt his hand on her arm, "my lord, let me sleep on this. It could change everything, we'll speak more with the days to come." She gave him no time to respond, as she headed out she heard him sigh and slump back in his chair.
"You don't see it, do you Jaina?" he whispered, "times have changed, Thrall was your last hope for peace, but he's gone..."
The first of her tears fell when she slowly closed the door and leaned against it. She was frustrated. Varian spoke true and with such persistence for one last war that she loathed him, but his eagerness to protect her and her people forced her to soften to him. She longed for Thrall's understanding and his wisdom, he was the only one to share her desire for peace. She felt so alone, with too many decisions she had to make without much time to think them through. If the threat from Garrosh and the Horde wasn't plausable then Varian wouldn't have snuck his way to Theramore, but the question that still remained was why would The Warchief act so irrationally and so soon? What would be the gain, other than removing the Alliance from Kalimdor? She laid down as her mind raced, she needed to quiet the thoughts and rest, she knew nights ahead would be sleepless but for now she needed to rest.
Varian sat completely still with his head in his hands, staring at the table when the winds started to rustle.
"You called for me, my lord?" his old friend asked with concern. "I suppose I did," Varian responded without looking up, "I need your help. You know the Horde threat on Theramore to be true?" "Yes, all are true. Garrosh grows impatient, acting more irrational as the days pass, there may not be enough time to prepare," Broll Bearmantle answered as he took the chair across from the King.
"I have to save her," Varian whispered. "She's not a child, she's stood beside the Alliance and done everything within her power to aid our people countless times. How could you possibly intend to save her?" Broll replied. "She insists on peace, but they plan a direct attack on her. It isn't Theramore they want, it's Jaina." Varian continued, "we need to take her away from here, to Stromwind or Darnassus, somewhere we can keep her safe." "My lord," Broll gasped, "what is this? That woman is far too headstrong to leave Theramore!" "She doesn't have a say anymore," Varian responded, "she will leave Theramore."
Jaina woke as the first light started to touch the sky, the sounds outside made her stomach tighten. She rushed out only to find Stromwind troops setting up camps and escorting her people to the designated safe areas. She became infuriated as she rushed towards the King of Stormwind, "How dare you treat my people like cattle, get out of here - take your men and leave. I can resolve this!" Varian motioned for a group of his finest and ordered them to escort Lady Jaina to the boat, "no stops anywhere but Stormwind, I'll meet you there after all has been prepared here."
"My lord, please, I mustn't leave my people. Theramore needs me," Jaina begged looking directly into Varian's eyes, what she saw chilled her bones, the look in his eyes was soft and familiar, like someone she had once loved dearly.
Varian took her hands, pulled her close to him, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "it's always been for you, trust me." He let her go and the guards proceeded to escort her to the boat for Stormwind.
As he watched the boat go, Broll stepped beside him, "are you sure this is for the best my lord?" "We shall see my dear friend, we shall see."
She stared at the water, questioning herself as to why she didn't see any of this coming. The gentleness she felt when he had pulled her into him had unsettled her, she had lowered her guard to him. Was that his intention with the affectionate actions, he was seldom anything but aggressive she thought but perhaps he was only that way to appear strong for his people.
Jaina looked up and was shocked to see they had already arrived at Stormwind. One of the guards approached her, "are you alright mi'lady?" She sighed, "yes I'm fine, homesick already I suppose." "Come, Anduin and Valeera are waiting," one of the other guards insisted. "And when will our beloved King be joining us?" Jaina asked defiantly. The smug look on their faces reassured her that they knew nothing more than their orders to escort her to the Keep.
Back in Theramore, Varian was making all the preperations for the imminent attack. He began to notice the unease of the citizens and considered the fact that he probably made the wrong decision by sending Jaina to Stormwind, but he knew that keeping her there in Theramore would have been deadly for all. The Horde didn't want the port city, they wanted her.
"Broll?" "Yes my lord?" "These people will despise me for doing this," Varian sighed, sitting down hard in the dirt putting his head in his arms, "I've taken away they're only hope, they have so much faith in her." Broll sat slowly beside him hanging his arm across Varian's shoulders, "but Varian you must remember, you're saving their hope, their light. She may not be here, but she's still with each and every one of them. Just as Anduin is with you always." "The boat should be here any minute, I suppose I have to face her now after I sent her away from her home," Varian said with great sadness, "do you think she'll scorn me for this?" Broll rolled his eyes and replied, "don't most when they don't get exactly what they want?" They both burst out in laughter, increasing the unease around Theramore, but neither cared. Sometimes laughter cured one's woes.
"My lord, the boat to Stormwind is here." And at that, Varian bid Broll farewell, asked him to look over things while he was handling Lady Jaina's distress. "Varian," Broll called as Varian walked towards the dock, "she'll understand eventually, the tides will fall." Varian boarded the boat and ordered the captain to set sail for Stormwind, he stole a glance back at Theramore and his dear friend Broll one last time, he'd see them both again but what scared him was what extent it would take to make sure he could see them again. He smiled as he saw Broll standing on the end of the dock making a fool of himself, waving and jumping up and down, it was no wonder they were so close standing by each other's side through everything - even when it seemed they'd fail to reach their goals.
The trip to Stormwind seemed to take years, as he sat wondering the condition Jaina would be in when he arrived.
When Jaina reached the keep, her nerves were on edge, she wanted information but she couldn't be sure if anyone would know what she needed. As she started for the steps Anduin ran outside with Valeera at his side. "Mi'lady, I'm glad you had a safe trip over, is all well in Theramore?" Valeera asked. "Oh, yes, Theramore is in good hands now," Jaina replied as she glanced back towards the sea. Anduin reached for her hand, "Lady Jaina come with me, we set up a room just for you, we figured you'd be tired." She allowed him to lead her to the room they had set up especially for her, surely by Varian's orders, she grew increasingly exhausted by the time they were in front of the door, "thank you, I think I'll lie down for a little while, you'll wake me when the King arrives?" "Yes mi'lady, I certainly will, you have my word," Valeera answered as she closed the door behind her. Jaina sat on the edge of the bed and decided it wasn't a bad idea to sleep for a little while, it would clear her head and she could deal with Varian's actions more rationally when the time came. She slipped right off to sleep, without a moments hesitation.
Varian stepped off the boat and onto the dock, dreading all the conflict he knew was bound to arrise when he reached the Keep. One of the guards offered him a horse, but Varian politely refused, he still needed time to think the events to come through, and he missed his people - a stroll to the Keep could help him gather his thoughts and allow him to mingle with Stormwind's citizens. As he passed a group, gossiping wildly, he overhead them discussing Lady Jaina's arrival to Stormwind, he couldn't help but chuckle when one of them said, "do you think there's more going on between the two of them? What if Lady Jaina is to become the new queen of Stormwind? Oh wouldn't that be so lovely?" They hushed hurriedly when they noticed him approaching them, "And how lovely would that be?" he asked slyly. They all blushed and quickly walked away without responding. He turned to the guards following in the distance, "is this what all the talk about Stormwind has been since she arrived?" "Uh, yes sir, that and if Theramore is alright, but mostly that," one of the guards responded as he looked around and pointed towards other groups that were starting to congregate. Varian sighed, "guess they aren't going to be too happy with the outcome, because she's definitely not becoming the new queen of Stormwind..." But the thought lingered in his mind; could it make the Alliance even stronger, build more unity among the people they both cherished?
As Varian started to ascend the steps to the Keep a beggar approached him, "King Varian, I have this for you, do not ask from whom I received it because I don't recall," and with that he handed the slip over to the king and slowly lumbered away. Varian looked down to the slip in his hand and slowly read: "Take her where you will, I'll always find her again, she is mine." The paper was bloodcovered, but otherwise gave no information of the writer, still Varian worried gravely. He hurriedly climbed the stairs, skipping steps as he went, and rushed inside.
"Where is she?" he asked in panic, "tell me now." "My lord she's resting, she's well," Valeera answered, a look of concern crossing her face, "what is it? Did something go wrong in Theramore?" Varian hung his head and walked over to her, "no I just wasn't thinking, I've been worried since I sent her here," he lowered his head on her shoulder, "Valeera, why does all of this have to be so complicated and rash, I had to leave Broll in Theramore to make sure everything goes as planned." Valeera lifted his head, and sternly held his chin, "you cannot expect this to be easy my lord, the days and months ahead will surely only get harder. As for Broll, he'll do what needs to be done, nothing more you can do to change that. Had you told him to come back with you, he would have refused, we both know him. He'll do what's best for the Alliance." Varian sighed, "I couldn't do this without the two of you."
