Garrosh's trial.
Faith dressed very carefully that morning, putting on a black dragon hide outfit that fit her like a glove and made her look strong. The leggings were like a second skin, showing off the muscles in her legs, which were further accented by her knee-high boots. The tunic, which went down to just above her knee, was made of the same scaled leather, and had a high neckline that only just skimmed her jaw. Its particularity was that the topmost layer of it was white, gradually fading to the deepest black, so that it was hard to tell where her skin ended and the tunic began.
When she walked into the throne room, everyone stared at her. Sylvanas, who had been leaving instructions with Rotvine and Nathanos, froze when she saw her.
"Okay, now you're just making me look bad," she said.
"You don't like it?" asked Faith, looking down at herself.
Sylvanas beckoned her closer, "You, my darling, are sending a very clear message."
"Oh yeah," said Rotvine. "I look at you and I don't know whether to run for cover or bow to you."
Faith looked around, "It's too much."
"No," said Sylvanas. "You're attending the trial of the person who had you assassinated. Presenting a strong image is smart, and nobody who knows you can say that you've been cowering since you were raised."
Cowering. No, she definitely hadn't cowered when she'd been raised, although she had felt despair so strong it had nearly crippled her. But she didn't want to think about that.
Sylvanas was very close to her, "You'll have to explain to me when you had time to go do all that shopping, sweetheart. And why you didn't invite me to come with you."
"Like you said the other day, I wouldn't have made it out of the dressing room if you'd been with me," Faith whispered to her. "I took an hour, teleported to Silvermoon and got a few outfits. Don't worry, I used my own funds."
"You can use all the funds you want if you're going to buy clothes that fit you like that." Sylvanas touched her, unaware that the people in the throne room had made themselves scarce. "Was this made specifically for you?"
"There's a matching cloak, too," she said softly. "Sylvanas, you're prowling."
It was true. Had anybody looked at Sylvanas at that moment, they wouldn't have failed to notice that she looked like a saber cat prowling the woods while stalking its prey.
"Shhh. Let me look at you. I want to memorize you."
Faith held still, waiting.
"Can you put on the cloak?"
"It's in our room, and I think that if you come back there with me, we'll never get out."
"I won't touch you. Come on."
A little amused by the urgency in Sylvanas' voice, Faith followed her until they reached their chambers, where she had left the cloak and shoulder pads.
"Oh," said Sylvanas. "Everything matches, look at that." She picked up the shoulder armor, fitting it to Faith's shoulders. It matched the tunic perfectly, starting out as white and steadily darkening.
"You said you weren't going to touch me!" laughed Faith as Sylvanas kissed her.
"I lied." She snuck in another kiss, "How am I supposed to top that?"
"With this," said Faith, taking an outfit from the closet.
Sylvanas stared. "Faith… what did you do?"
"You'd be surprised what the Silvermoon Armored Outfitters can do in a short amount of time with an idea and a sack of gold."
"No, I know what they can do, but… how… when…" Sylvanas closed her mouth.
The outfit Faith was holding up had been crafted expressly for looks and not for battle, although Sylvanas could feel magic coming from the fabric. It consisted of everything she could have wanted: shoulder pads, a cloak, tunic, leggings, gloves and boots.
But the way everything had been made was superb. Dragonhawk leather that had been treated to be as supple as possible, colored black and deep violet. Delicate chain links that covered the tunic in swirling patterns and fell from the hem, dangling just above her hips.
"Are those crystals in the shoulder armor?" she asked, seeing faintly glowing purple stones embedded in the leather and covered by more black chain links.
Faith nodded, "Amethyst crystals, imbued with protective spells. I know you won't wear this in battle, but you never know."
Stunned speechless, Sylvanas just looked at the outfit, then back at Faith. Since she had died, she hadn't really concerned herself with her appearance, although Faith and several others had always insisted that she shouldn't look like a shambling corpse. Seeing what Faith had gotten for her, Sylvanas felt a part of her, buried since she had died, get a little excited. She almost felt like she had when she'd been alive, eager to show off new clothes.
"It's not vanity," Faith told her, correctly interpreting her silence. "You said it yourself: presenting a strong image is smart." She took a step closer, "You will put it on, right? Between you and me, I really want to see what you look like in it. Think of it as a birthday present."
"Birthday?"
"Okay, so I'm a few months late."
"We already celebrated it." Sylvanas reached out a finger to touch the leather, "Honestly, you didn't have to do this."
"Are you… wait, are you overwhelmed by this?"
"That's one way to put it. I don't even know how to…" her voice trailed off.
Faith put a finger under Sylvanas' chin, "Hey. You're acting like me right now. It's weird."
"Yeah, well, I'm beginning to understand what it's been like for you all these years." She leaned in, kissing her, "Thank you. I suppose I should be getting ready then. Do you want to help me?"
"Sure. Let me just alert Carrick to the fact that we'll be about three hours late."
Sylvanas chuckled, "It doesn't start for a couple of hours." She undressed quickly, and, with Faith's help, put on her new armor, which, she had to admit, looked amazing on her.
"Even Greymane will be stunned," Faith told her, kissing the tip of her nose. "You look beautiful, my queen."
"You do realize that you're the only person who thinks this, right?"
"No I'm not. Nathanos thinks it, so does Carrick, so do every Forsaken on the planet. Others think it too. I'm fairly certain that if factions weren't keeping us against each other, you would have people from every race bending the knee to you, just because of your beauty."
"You may be a little biased."
"Okay, so I'm biased. But I also happen to be right. Ask around."
"Sure, I'll get right on that. Make sure to record my conversation with Greymane for posterity. I'd like you to be present when he tears my head off my shoulders."
Faith frowned, "I'd rather not think about something like that, thanks." She kissed Sylvanas' cheek and put an arm around her, "Shall we go? I can show you the Temple of the White Tiger while we wait for the trial to start."
"You really liked Pandaria, didn't you? You keep wanting me to visit it."
"I thought it was a beautiful place. It still is. And yes, I want to visit it with you."
"All right. Once the trial ends, no matter what the decision is, I'll come with you and we can vacation there, so to speak."
"You will? We can?"
"I can hardly refuse you, especially when I can see how happy it would make you. So yes."
The look in Faith's eyes spoke volumes about the way she felt. Wordlessly, she hugged her close, loving her more.
The Temple of the White Tiger was one of those imposing structures that the pandaren prided themselves on. Built in the snowy peaks of Kun-Lai Summit, it was a beacon of benevolence, watching over the entire mountain landscape, its monks ready to come to the aid of anybody who requested it.
"It's magnificent," said Sylvanas as they walked over the bridges connecting parts of the temple to one another. "The people who built this really knew what they were doing."
Faith nodded, keeping her thoughts to herself. It was magical to walk through the temple with Sylvanas, the feeling not unlike the one she'd experienced while roaming Quel'Thalas with her beloved. She moved her hand until her fingers gently brushed against the queen's. A moment later, she felt her take her hand, and they stopped under a blossoming cherry tree. They kissed.
"Well, isn't this cliché?" asked Sylvanas quietly when she pulled away.
Faith smiled, "I don't mind being a cliché with you. Besides, you look good with cherry blossoms in your hair." Reaching up, she plucked one of the blooms that had fallen from the branches above them and had gotten caught in Sylvanas' brittle locks.
"I thought I always looked good."
"You do. You always look amazing." She ran a finger down Sylvanas' cheek, and Sylvanas stood there, simply watching her. It occurred to her suddenly that if she were so inclined, she could marry Faith in this very spot. It would be perfect, with cherry trees all around them. Faith in a white gossamer gown and a sparkling veil, walking towards her…
She blinked and stepped away from Faith, releasing her as overwhelming guilt caused her body to seize up. "No," she said. "We can't."
"Sylvanas? What's wrong?" Immediately concerned, Faith tried to come closer to her, but Sylvanas backed away until she hit the railing that separated her from the edge.
"Nothing. I just…" running a hand over her eyes, Sylvanas tried to regain control of herself.
You raised her from the dead. You denied her the peace that you've been craving ever since you died. You're no better than Arthas.
"What just went through your mind?"
Sylvanas shook her head, "Nothing. I'm fine. Come here, sweetheart."
Faith didn't move. "You're sure?"
"Come here," she repeated. She closed her eyes, trying to shut the voices out of her head, and after a second, felt Faith's hand on her face. Allowing herself to relax a little, she leaned forward until her forehead was pressed against Faith's.
Faith put her arms around her, rubbing her back gently before pulling her away from the edge, "What happened, honey? Why did you tense so much?"
"Please don't ask me about that. I don't know why it happens."
"But it's not the first time. It happened to you last week. We were only kissing and you just tensed and pulled away from me."
"I remember." Sylvanas put an arm around Faith, memories vying for her attention.
Faith was dead.
Despair.
She was gone. Forever. She would never again laugh in the sun, her cheeks warming in delight… she would forever be cold.
"Baby?"
Sylvanas jerked at the sound of Faith's voice, nearly falling. For a second, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to pull herself back to the present and that Faith would find out…
"I'm here."
"Sylvanas, listen to – don't try to pull away from me, it hurts me when you do that." She grabbed Sylvanas' hand and pulled her back to her. "You're going through something, and you're trying to shut me out. I don't know why you're doing that, but I'm telling you now that you won't get rid of me that easily."
"Faith, there's nothing –."
"Yes there is. I know you, Sylvanas, better than I know myself. Please don't push me away."
Looking at her, Sylvanas shook her head, "What do you want from me?"
"I want you to trust me with whatever's going on. I want you to remember that I'm here for you and that I can help you."
"Look, I just want to get through this trial, okay? I'll just be happy when we get home."
Faith took a step towards her, bringing their bodies close, "So will I. We'll be together, and we'll be okay." She kissed her, "Just remember that whatever you're going through, I've been through it too."
"I know you have, love," Sylvanas tried to smile. "I'll be all right, you don't need to worry about me."
Another kiss, "It's my job to worry about you."
Sylvanas' smile was a little more genuine this time, "Are you trying to make me fall in love with you again?"
"Yes. Is it working?"
"Stop that. It was hard enough the first couple of times." She put an arm around her lover and, together, they stepped away from the tree, noticing that someone was watching them.
His long auburn hair spilled over his shoulders, framing a handsome face that was lightly marred by scars. A small goatee was trimmed to a point on is chin, making him look distinguished. He wore plain magi robes, over which he had worn the tabard of his order.
Faith had only seen him a few times around Dalaran when she'd been there, having mostly been with Rhonin and Krasus. But it was hard to mistake him for anybody else.
"Aethas Sunreaver," said Sylvanas. "I didn't think we were going to find you here."
"Since we've officially been expelled from Dalaran, I don't really have anywhere else to be, honestly."
"Aren't you in Silvermoon, Master Sunreaver?" asked Faith.
Aethas nodded, and they began to walk together towards the larger part of the temple where the trial would be held. "We never got to work together, Commander, but Krasus and Rhonin spoke very highly of you."
Faith made a small sound in the back of her throat, "I miss them."
"As do I." He looked sideways at her, "I hope that you will come to visit me in Silvermoon. I would love for us to work together."
"I daresay the two of you would make a good team," said Sylvanas, nodding her head to a few of the Forsaken guards who were already at the temple, conversing with curious pandaren.
"Did you bring your entire guard here, Sylvanas?" he wondered. "There are a lot of your people here."
"Garrosh killed Faith. The Forsaken have a vested interest in seeing justice served."
"I thought he'd given the order, not that he had actually killed her."
Sylvanas made to stop walking, but Faith made sure she kept moving, squeezing her waist. The feel of her was enough to make her bite back the angry retort that had risen to her lips. "And all of us think that he deserves to die for what he did. Hopefully the Celestial court will see that he shouldn't be kept alive." She dropped her arm from Faith's shoulders as they entered the temple, hating the loss of contact as soon as it happened.
Beside her, Faith moved minimally away to preserve decorum, but nobody who saw them was fooled. Everything indicated that she and Sylvanas wanted to crawl into each other's skins and remain there for the duration of the trial.
"We won't be starting for another hour or so," a night elf was saying. "High Priestess Tyrande wants to make sure that we have all the facts before we begin." His gaze cut towards Faith, "But I see that the Forsaken have arrived. They always think themselves to be the most damaged ones out of all of us, as though we should revere them for what they've been through."
Faith bristled, but Sylvanas angled her body so that the night elf was hidden from her view, "Don't rise. This trial will be difficult enough without us getting into arguments with the Alliance." She gently put a hand on Faith's arm, steering her towards Baine, who was moodily reviewing notes. He looked up as they approached.
"Commander," he said. "Sylvanas. You're here early."
"Faith wanted to walk around the temple a little with me. How's the defense coming along?"
"Just fine," lied Baine. "Really. The fact that I have to be the one to defend the person who murdered my father feels like an insult to my ancestors." He sighed, "Please don't think that I want to be doing this."
"You were appointed," said Faith quietly. "Accepting the appointment reveals you to be a far better person than I'll ever be."
Baine shook his head, "Not really. Look, Faith, this won't be easy for you. I'll have to ask you some questions you won't like."
"What kind of questions?" asked Sylvanas sharply, unconsciously stepping closer to Faith, wanting to shield her from any kind of pain that might be coming.
"It wouldn't be fair to Garrosh if I told you –."
"Fuck being fair to Garrosh." Sylvanas' voice held venom. "He had her assassinated."
"Me and countless others, Sylvanas."
"I don't care about the others."
Faith put both her hands on Sylvanas' face, forcing her to look directly at her. "I know that, sweetheart. But just like I had to remember that I wasn't the only one who suffered when the Scourge invaded home, you have to remember that Garrosh destroyed many lives. You and I are not the only ones in pain because of what he did."
Sylvanas blinked, "Let me go, Faith."
"I love you," whispered Faith privately before releasing her.
Other people were arriving. Most of them were dressed for power, but nobody looked as striking as Faith and Sylvanas, especially when one looked at them together. Lor'themar saw them and walked directly to them, his visible eye wide.
"I'd really love to know where you got your outfits, because you're both looking amazing," he said, kissing Faith's cheek and hugging Sylvanas spontaneously, something he had never done even when she'd been alive. "How are you?"
"Just fine," Sylvanas told him, blinking once. "Since when do you hug me?"
"I always wanted to hug you when you were general."
Sylvanas stared at him, "You tell me this now?"
"When else should I have told you?"
"When I was alive. Might have been nice to hear."
"Weren't you in love with Faith when you were alive?"
"Of course I was in love with Faith, I've always been in love with Faith."
"Liar," said Faith with a grin.
Sylvanas rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean." She looked over at Baine, "Good luck. You're going to need it."
Baine nodded grimly, rolling up his notes again, "Your family's here, Faith."
Turning her head towards the entrance to the temple, Faith saw that he was right. Walking over were Atalo and Taisha, followed by Hamu and Ishaka, who was carrying Sylvera. She smiled and went to them, "I didn't know you would be coming!" she exclaimed.
Atalo wrapped her in a strong hug, "Of course we are here, my sun child."
"We wanted to support you, and to support Baine, considering who he's defending." Taisha hugged her tightly as well, nuzzling her cheek. "You look well."
"That's because of Sylvanas. She loves me and it makes me happy."
Sylvanas, attempting to not roll her eyes, shook Taisha and Atalo's hands as Faith hugged her brother and sister-in-law. "We've been together a lot. It helps."
Taisha nodded, "She's always been happiest when she was with you. I think that was true even before all this."
"Oh it was. Her face used to light up every time I walked into a room. It was a like watching a sunrise. Even now, when she sees me, she gets this look."
"The one that says that she's the happiest woman in the world?"
"That's the one." Sylvanas smiled, watching as Faith took Sylvera from Ishaka. Surprisingly, the little white calf didn't scream when she was touched by Faith's undead hands. Instead, she looked at her with huge light brown eyes. "She'll be a heartbreaker, won't she?"
"She's certainly got her parents wrapped around her little finger," said Atalo, watching her with pride. "They just fell in love with her."
"Oh, I think she's about to steal Faith's heart as well, look."
Faith was talking quietly to her niece, who seemed to be listening attentively to her. As they watched, the baby held up a hand and Faith kissed it gently before handing her back to her mother. She came to stand as close to Sylvanas as she could without actually touching her, a smile on her face. "She's growing well."
"She eats more than Hamu did at her age," said Atalo fondly.
"That'll probably get worse," Sylvanas told him. "Lirath ate more as a child than my sisters and I combined, according to our parents."
Ishaka smiled at them, "Hamu already wants another one," she said. "Right now, I mean."
"That would be one heck of a way to start the trial," said Sylvanas while Faith laughed.
"Hey, I want at least seven kids," said Hamu.
"Seven?!" asked Faith, her eyes widening. "You're insane, my brother."
"No tauren has ever had more than five children," said Atalo. "Give your mate some time to adjust to one child before you start thinking seriously about a second one."
A Forsaken soldier walked over to them, saluting Faith and Sylvanas, "I'm sorry to bother you, Your Majesty, Commander, but I was ordered to give you this." He handed Sylvanas a small roll of parchment before taking his leave.
Sylvanas unrolled the parchment and read it. A frown creased her features as she handed the note to Faith.
"What is it?" asked Atalo.
"Nothing. I'm being told to sit with the other leaders during the trial, while Faith has to sit with the witnesses who will be testifying." She caught a look on Faith's features, one that was so fleeting that the undiscerning eye would have missed it. But she knew that Faith was feeling distressed at the idea of the two of them sitting apart.
You deserve it. You shouldn't be near her. She's too good for you, and you know it.
Sylvanas shook her head briefly as if to clear it. She gently put a hand on Faith's back and addressed her family, "Will you excuse us for a few minutes?"
They nodded, and a few moments later, she and Faith found themselves behind the temple, quite alone except for a majestic cloud serpent flying ten feet above them.
"It'll only be for a few hours a day," said Faith quietly, almost speaking to herself.
"I know."
Faith looked up at her, her orange eyes momentarily losing their glow, "I wanted to be there for you, holding your hand throughout the whole proceedings."
"Me too, sweetheart. But like you said, it's only for a few hours." It was ridiculous for them to feel so wretched about not being able to touch each other. But Sylvanas felt like she was losing her anchor.
A gong sounded, indicating the people should start taking their seats, and Faith stepped into Sylvanas' arms, kissing her as though their lives depended on it.
The trial was about to begin.
