"And you're the future of it!"
"No! I'm not! Theramore is my city. I need to stay and defend it!"
"Jaina, if you don't go soon, we will both die, and my efforts to drag the cursed bomb here instead of letting it strike the heart of the city will be for nothing. Is that what you want? Is it?!"
"I won't abandon you! Maybe together we can divert it!"
The mana bomb still came. It struck the tower, everything around it melting away into dust. But the dust didn't just fade, it twisted and turned into the faces of all those who died. Their eyes peirced into her very soul.
"You let us die! Lead us to our deaths!"
"Why didn't you stop it? You could have helped."
"And to think we trusted you."
"You're no better then Garrosh."
"I am letting a fool lead the Kirin Tor."
They twisted again, the dust swirling around her like a swarm of bees. They sliced into her skin like glass. It hurt. It all hurt. In the final moments before her death she screamed.
Jaina Proudmore sat straight up, a cold sweat covering her body. Her hands quickly grabbed at her arms. It was just sweat. Not blood. It was all a dream. There was a slight noise from outside her bed chamber. Perhaps she was heard? The dream was still very livid in her mind. She certainly would not sleep for the rest of the night. Her body shifted and slowly climbed out of bed. She was cold in just her nightgown. There was a knock at her door. Her eyes shifted. She sighed, grabing a robe.
"Yes?"
"I heard you scream. Are you okay?" came a gentle voice.
She smiled despite of herself. "I'm fine, Kalec. It was just a dream."
Jaina knew that it would not be enough to quiet him. She moved to the door, opening it slowly. His intense blue eyes looked at her. No, he would not leave her be tonight. Kalecgos waited outside the door for her welcome. He would not tread where he was not wanted, but he felt so helpless if he could not be near her. The dark lines under her eyes only grew darker these days. Garrosh's destruction of Theramore was only a few months ago. He knew in his heart that time would heal all. The nightmares were only growing worse lately. His own sleep could wait. A dragon did not need much anyway. Kalec knew his face had concern written all over it. Yet, Jaina gave him a smile. She opened the door for him. He entered slowly, thankful she would have him.
"Have you slept, Jaina?" he asked her, taking a seat at a small table near the window.
She slipped into the chair across of him. "I keep seeing their faces. I think it is still too soon for a good night's rest."
He pondered her words for a few moments. Kalec knew that she would never forget what had happened. The images were still vivid in her mind. The beautiful mage would never let them go for a long time. She still held the memories of Arthas close. Her mind was a wonderful thing, but she needed her sleep if she was to guide the Kirin Tor. They both knew that. Jaina shifted. She stood slowly and began to make some tea. She definitely would not be returning to sleep. Might as well take this time to spend time with the man who has been at her side for months now. No, not man. Dragon. And just not any dragon, but the former Aspect of the Blue Dragonflight. His company was not rejected in the least. She, in fact, neededit as of late. Jaina would never deny that. Her heart always swelled when he looked at her with those eyes. Those beautiful azure eyes.
Kalec was silent, watching her. He smiled when she turned to look at him. His heart fluttered each and every time. It was odd, but then again, so was he. A great dragon such as him falling in love with a mage. Sometimes it even seemed stupid for him to say. But Kalec felt at home around her. He felt like he had a purpose. Even if the Kirin Tor thought it was to keep her in check, he felt as if it was much more then that. Kalec would protect her. He would defintely not fail her as he had so many others. Or so he felt. They each held their darkness. When she held out the cup for him, Kalec took it gently, his fingers lingering over hers for a few seconds.
"Thank you," he said.
Blushing, she moved to sit down again. "I'll be up for a while."
"Why don't you tell me what these dreams are really about?" he inquired.
"I...I can't, Kalec. I just can't."
"The weight you bear is my weight as well, Jaina."
His hand slipped across the table and took hers. Jaina did not resist. She only smiled. There was a shadow in her eyes. It wasn't hard for either of them to tell. She only shook her head.
"There are some things a dragon cannot carry. The nightmares of a silly girl are certainly one," she mused. "They will go away with time as do all scars we bear. Don't worry about me."
Easier said then done. "I worry every day. Sometimes I think you're going to outwit me one of these days. Khadgar seems to enjoy teasing me."
"Oh, I don't know if I could ever outwit a dragon. I certainly could make his duties quite difficult."
"Not like you don't already."
The two smiled, laughing a bit. She already did that enough. Kalec leaned back in the chair. He sipped his tea. She was dancing around his questions. Of course, it was the reaction of someone frightened. Whatever had Jaina screaming in her room at night was something that had him on the watch. Though, how could Kalec defeat the demons of a haunting memory that would take much more time to fade? He looked at her. She was so beautiful. How he wished he could hold her tightly right now, coax her to spill her dreams, but that would be using magic for his own selfish gain. Jaina would probably see through it. No, she would definitely see through it. Then he would be scolded like a child. Sometimes he enjoyed it though. Anything to see her smile.
And smile she did. It was a sweet one. One that you gave to a new lover. How she felt so lost until Kalec came to her in Theramore. Of all the people, Lady Jaina Proudmore, leader of Theramore. She was just a simple mage. Though, she was thankful that he had come to her. He was both a blessing and somewhat of a curse. Oh, she would never swear harm to him. He saved her life. More then that. He saved her soul. No one else would have done that for her. Of course, no one touched hers the way he had. He had melted the thick ice around her heart. Taught her to love again. Though as strange as it was, the both of them felt as if this belonged.
Jaina stood slowly, her body aching. "I feel restless. Walk with me?"
"As the Lady wishes," came his normal reply.
The two slowly left her bed chambers. Kalec's hand slipped into hers. This gesture was common now. At first the other Magi thought it odd, but no one denied the the two were. Eventually, they grew acustomed to it. The romance was simple. There did not need to be words said or written. This simple gesture was all they needed. And as their fingers entwined, their hearts did as well. More and more the ice melted away, giving light to such emotions hidden. Emotions desperately wishing to blossom in sun after a cold winter.
The crisp air of Dalaran soon surrounded them. It felt no different to Kalec, as he was used to far colder. Yet to Jaina, it chilled her to the bone. She shuddered, wishing she had brought a cloak for extra warmth. He felt her chill and slowly pulled her closer as they stopped at the edge of a balcony. She did not protest. His arms were always welcome just as they were always warm. Leaning her head against his chest, the two stared up at the night sky. Stars twinkled brightly above them. The night was still young. As she breathed in the cool air, she felt Kalec's gentle lips on the crown of her head. Jaina smiled, squeezing one of his hands in hers. Still no words needed to be said. A breese shifted some of her now silver hair. There was a small sigh from the woman. Kalec could do nothing but chuckle.
"I should have tied it back," said Jaina.
"It's wild, just like you. There is nothing that can hold you down. So, why tie it down?"
"You don't have to fight with it, that's why."
He chuckled again. Jaina shifted in his arms, her body turning against his. Their eyes met in an intense gaze. His sapphire eyes, feared by some of the Kirin Tor, were just a comfort to her. She felt cherished. She felt loved. He moved a hand to gently stroke her cheek.
"What are you thinking of?" Jaina asked.
"How I feel like I could dive into the beautiful blue of your eyes and never come out again," Kalec responded. "What about you, Jaina?"
She blushed. "You make the weary heart of this simple mage feel a lot less heavy, my dearest Kalec. Like I'm the one flying sky high with the world beneath me."
That got some color into his cheeks. Jaina laughed. He wasn't the only one with soft spoken words. Kalec's hand moved behind her ear, bring her lips close to his. A simple kiss. Their lips lingered just a bit, wondering if the other would object for a second kiss taken. Jaina's eyes looked into his. A few seconds of personal debate before she was the one reaching for his. This kiss lingered. Neither one wishing for it to end. The cool night disappeared around her. She was no longer cold, or frightened. Just tired, now. Jaina suspected it was his doing, but she would not press it. Kalec was one capable of using magic to get his desires. She knew he desired that the archmage rest. She, too, agreed. There would be time tomorrow to discuss his use of magic on her. Though, she felt cherished, not in the slightest used. Above all, she felt vulnerable to him. This weakness wasn't a flaw or a play at her person. She needed it. And no matter what anyone else said or did, Jaina Proudmore was not afraid to say she needed Kalecgos of the Blue Dragonflight.
