"You know, guys, before we rush headlong into this, a good adventuring party always has supplies." Mikah suggested, rummaging through the worryingly sparse supply bags he and Anduin had packed before leaving Stormwind.
"Since when has any adventuring party you were ever a part of been a proper one?" Tari raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, re supplies, we'll stop in Theramore. It's the only place anyone was ever nice to me, so I'm sure we'll pay less there."
"It's because you're ugly." Mikah replied flatly. "People are mean to you because you're hideous. Ah!" Mikah yelped as Anduin's elbow dug into his rib as Tari got up and stormed out of their cabin.
"Don't go there, Mikah." The prince of Stormwind shook his head. "Just let that go right now."
"Tari isn't ugly, why should it upset her to be called ugly?" Aila asked innocently, cocking her head to one side.
"Tari could care less about comments on her appearance, Aila, it's the whole not fitting in anywhere but Theramore issue that gets to her. Half-orcs aren't accepted everywhere, you know, especially not those born of a consensual relationship." Anduin cleared his throat as he continued. "If a human or an orc is raped by a member of the other race, the child born of that at least has a chance that it would be pitied rather than hated, or even if the conception was consensual and the parents an unknown couple. However Tari is the result of love between two powerful rulers. Jaina and Thrall were always teetering dangerously close to being branded traitors by their respective people for even having a friendship, when Tari's existence was out in the open, it got far more personal, especially when her parents were no longer together. People who didn't know Jaina personally considered her a betraying whore and those of Thrall's people who followed Garrosh considered Thrall a weak minded pet to some spoiled human tramp. Because her parents are far more powerful and skilled in both leadership and combat than she is, Tari receives the full force of dislike that's aimed at them."
"She brings most of it on herself. No one was rude to her in Booty Bay, she was the only woman in that bar that wasn't a stripper, how was that guy supposed to know she wasn't one?" Mikah rolled his eyes.
"It wasn't JUST Booty Bay. You weren't the one helping her find a place to stay in Stormwind when she started her training, Mikah. Come on, think about it. As much as I love my father, I freely admit he isn't the most open and kind man regarding orcs and yet Tari stayed with us, wouldn't that tell you everyone else's reaction was worse?" Anduin shook his head.
"Oh…So….it's different being half-orc than half-elf?" Aila asked, confused.
"Not in Quel'thalas it isn't." Mikah rolled his eyes.
"Quel'thalas is one city, Mikah, and one that has been humbled greatly, I'm sure you'd find more acceptance there now than before. Tari has been bounced from town to town since she ran away because she doesn't fit in anywhere. The orcs see the shade of blue of her eyes and know she's Thrall's. The humans see her golden hair and the Theramore crest she refuses to remove and know Jaina is her mother. And more than that, even the more open people about such relationships, those who wouldn't fault Tari and would judge her on merit are shallow by standards of merit. The orcs think she's weak because she's a woman and a half-breed at that and if you heard the things the guards said about her in the palace when she was staying with my father and I, you'd think they were talking about some mindless beast." The prince replied evenly, merely explaining. "My father had to forbid them from talking about her so she wouldn't run again."
"Um…guys, not to interrupt, but do you see out the window? What are we passing that has that much smoke?" Aila asked, pointing to the port hole.
Anduin turned and looked out the window, through the smoke and haze, he could see fire in the distance near Ratchet and yet not a simple brush fire in the barrens. His blood ran cold. "Mikah, go get Tari, don't let her stay on deck."
"But why, what-"
"NOW, Mikah." Anduin said through clenched teeth, shoving the paladin towards the door.
Realizing what Anduin was talking about as he looked out the window, Mikah felt his blood run cold as he ran out onto the deck. He knew he had to keep Tari from seeing what was on the horizon, but he himself couldn't help but feel a rush of cold dread at knowing what was happening. The half-elf's mind raced a mile a minute and he moved like a man in a dream through a haze of nausea and disbelief as he raced across the deck, seeing the half-orc girl polishing her glaive, sitting down, not yet noticing the burning swamp land that had once been home to both herself and Mikah.
"Tari, I…I wanted to apologize. Please come back below with us." Mikah said, his voice choked up and a touch squeaky.
"You can take your apologize and shove it up your ass. That would be good for you on two counts as it's the only way you'd ever get laid." Tari spat at him, eyes narrowing. "But, I suppose we will be nearing Theramore soon, it'll be good to see home again." She began to stand up and turn in the direction the isle would be visible from.
"No! I….It's better we re-supply in Ratchet! W…What if…ah….what if your mother is back in Theramore? She'd be really emotional seeing you again!" Mikah fumbled for excuses, grabbing Tari and trying to hold her still so she wouldn't look.
"Nonsense! She was captured by someone, you know that! Now let go!" She began to turn in the direction of Theramore, but Mikah quickly pulled her close into a tight hug.
"Don't look, Tari, please…Please just come with me." Mikah whispered softly. Could Tari hear tears in his voice? A muffled sob?
"Let me go! What's the matter with you!" Tari kneed Mikah hard in the gut and turned towards the sight of the burning island stronghold that had once been her home. "No…" Tari's blue eyes widened and without a moment's hesitation, she leapt off the boat and began to swim for the shore as quickly as she could.
"Tari! Wait! Come back!" Mikah stumbled towards the edge of the boat, cursing under his breath as he quickly turned and ran to go find Anduin and Aila. The whole run back to their cabin was a blur to him as he quickly threw open the door full force. "Anduin, Tari saw the fires, she's swimming to shore."
"Dammit!" Anduin cursed in frustration, climbing to his feet as Aila quickly followed suit. The three also rushed towards the deck and also quickly jumped off the boat, beginning to swim to shore, though Tari was already on land running towards the only true home she'd ever known, eyes wide with worry.
Quickly crossing the swamp, not stopping for anything and only taking the briefest moment to slow down and slash the legs off of a giant spider as she rushed to the gates of the city. When Tari reached the front gates, they were smashed and the city was burning. "No…" She shook her head. "NO!" And with that, she rushed through the broken gates, storming into the fallen city and beginning to look for survivors. As she searched, she heard voices in the tower. "M…Mother?" She whispered to herself, not quite able to make out how many voices there were or what gender and race they belonged to.
Tari was about the rush into the tower when suddenly, she felt a hand grab her and another over her mouth. She began to struggle and squirm, angry and frightened.
"Stop your struggling, girl! Are you mad? I'm saving your life!" A stern, bossy female voice hissed in Tari's ear. Tari raised an eyebrow. She knew that voice.
Darting her eyes back to look at her alleged 'rescuer', Tari was face to face with a spectral old woman with long glowing white hair, gently glowing green eyes and a diadem of jade and silver adorning her head. "Chamberlain Aegwynn? But….you're dead."
"Really, child? I hadn't noticed." The former Guardian of Tirisfal rolled her ghostly eyes at the young half-orc, releasing her. "But anyway, be that as it may you will find no survivors here, the city lies in ruin and most of its people lie dead. I always knew the people of Theramore would rather go down with their city than ever fail their city. Your mother certainly knows how to inspire loyalty, though I doubt this is what she'd have wanted for them." The mage looked around, shaking her translucent head.
"But Aegwynn, I have to try, if even just one person could be alive…These were the only people who showed me kindness my whole life, this whole city was like family to me!" Tari was bravely fighting back tears at this point.
"Tari! Listen to me, there is NOTHING you can do for these people, but if you're intent to at least know who did this, then come with me but be quiet and don't draw attention to yourself." Aegwynn commanded, leading Tari behind the tower. There, she would find an orcish helmet with the insignia of a screaming demon skull emblazoned on it. "Put that on. The owner's body should be nearby, take his tabard and shoulder guards as well. Hide all of your Theramore insignias; cover them with the one on the helmet."
Tari nodded and quickly began to loot the orcish corpse at her feet, slowly putting on his helmet, shoulder guards and Tabard. She looked up at Aegwynn, questioning what to do next.
"You need me to tell you what to do next? By the light, child, you are certainly not your mother's daughter, constantly needing others to make decisions for you. That's one of the things I liked about her, very decisive and wanted what she wanted. Anyway, you can now walk around freely and explore. You could even go directly speak to their commander in the tower." The spirit suggested.
"As sharp tongued and crotchety as ever, milady." Tari shook her head, managing a weak smile as she headed towards the tower, looking around as she stepped through the splintered door and climbed the stairs towards her mother's room where she could hear male voices. Gruff and deep, most assuredly orcish. Though one was not so.
"Ya gone too far, Hellscream. Jaina always been a good woman, nevah cause no trouble wit de Horde. Dis be treason, attackin' her city! T'rall be havin' yer head when he come back! Don' be t'inkin' I won' be makin' him aware 'a dis." A tall, lanky troll with shockingly red hair and blue skin stood there in the armor of what Tari knew from books to be a shadow hunter.
"Well, as you can see, Vol'jin, the FORMER Warchief's whore isn't even here. Besides, I am the Warchief now and I can do whatever I want. You'd do well to remember that." A hulking brown skinned orc with a bald head and very intimidating armor spoke up. "Regrettably, their brat wasn't here either. Pity, I'd have enjoyed that." He sneered, crushing a framed image of Tari and Jaina beneath his heavy boot.
"Oh, ah be rememberin' ya ain't T'rall, believe me, WARCHIEF. Because de Warchief ah followed didn't be causin' senseless slaughter an' threatenin' children an' women." The troll's gaze was hateful and cold at the orc, whom Tari now knew was Hellscream.
"Watch your tongue, old fool, I've informed that uppity bitch Sylvanas what happens to those who cross me and you'd do well to remember it too." Hellscream grabbed Vol'jin by the front of his armor and pulled him threateningly close.
"An' ah be watchin' mah behavia' if ah be ya, mon. De Darkspear 'ave ancient powah' ya can't begin ta comprehend, ya harm me, ya be learnin' dat." Tari felt a rush of respect for this old troll as he spoke. She'd never much liked the Horde, but she'd never known they could be so different from the horrible beast that Hellscream was.
Tari stepped into the room, looking around a bit. With her green skin and now this disguise, she wouldn't appear suspicious. Her blonde hair and blue eyes were covered well enough. "Ah…sirs, a full sweep of the island reveals no survivors and neither is there a sign of Lady Proudmoore." Yes, that was it, just like one of their soldiers.
"Hmm…Quite a pity, I've wanted to put that whoring little bitch in her place for quite some time." Garrosh snorted, then looked at Tari. "I don't recall appointing such a scrawny female to my invasion detail, though." His eyes narrowed as he looked her over.
Vol'jin watched this scene unfold, noticing a stray lock of blonde under Tari's helmet, the cogs in his mind began to work out what that would imply about her and quickly he stepped forward. "Ah be de one appointin' her. She be part troll, dat why she so skinny. Ah send her ta scout de isle fer survivors. But now her duty be ovah an' it be time she get herself home, right, girly?" He asked, gripping Tari's shoulders and steering her towards the door.
"See to it she is not given such position again, her weakness reflects poorly on our army. If that human kind were to see us employ filth like that, he'd mark us for easy conquest." Garrosh sneered. "Take her back to the ship and put her on cooking or cleaning duty back on your miserable islands."
Tari seethed with rage, but Vol'jin's grip on her shoulders tightened as he steered her out the door of the room and down to the kitchen area where he quickly shut and locked the door, reaching forward and removing her helmet. "Ah t'ought so." He said, seeing her golden hair and wide blue eyes. "Tari Proudmoore, ah mus' be hones', ah was hopin' ya don't be here, an' yet ya come back at de wors' possible time."
"Who are you? How do you know me?" Tari asked, stepping back a bit.
"Ah be probably yer dad's oldes' frien' now dat Cairne be wit' us no longah. Ah course t'anks ta de pushy bastard ya seen up dere. Ah be Vol'jin, leadah of de Darkspear Trolls, we de firs' race ta join ya fatha's Horde." Vol'jin bowed politely, knowing Tari was raised by humans and would best understand that form of greeting.
"Well, as much as I dislike my father, you seem a good man, Vol'jin, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Taretha Proudmoore…daughter of…Jaina? Granddaughter of…uh…" She scratched the back of her head for a moment. "Daelin. Yeah, that was his name…"
"Dat ain't how 's done in Orcish culture. Ya don' mention ya ma's family, only ya dad's lineage be important." Vol'jin explained, more conversationally than chastising.
"Yeah, I know…but I changed it because I don't much like the other. But…I'm a little rattled, just to help me calm down; do you know what my full introduction would be that way?" Tari asked with a weak, tired smile up at the troll leader.
"Ya be Taretha, daughtah 'a T'rall, son 'a Durotan, son 'a Garad. Heir to de Frostwolves." Vol'jin humored the girl, best to keep her calm, he knew well that she was sixteen and forced to hide from, rather than confront the man who had destroyed her home. Vol'jin knew all too well of losing one's home. It had been a hard fought battle to reclaim his own.
"Right, well I may try and remember that one then. I'd imagine mentioning my mom's dad in front of the Horde is probably a dumb idea anyway." She nodded.
"Ah'd say ya right 'bout dat." Vol'jin nodded. "Now come on, we gotta get ya outta here before Garrosh find out an' try ta kill ya. He already wanna kill yer mom, she jus' lucky she safe where she at now."
"Wait, Vol'jin, you know where my mother is?" Tari gasped. "You have to tell me!"
"Ah tell ya when we safe an' away from here!" Vol'jin replied, grabbing Tari's hand and leading her to the door, which swiftly flung open.
"Tari! You're safe! Thank the Light!" Anduin said gratefully, recognizing Vol'jin and realizing Tari was not in danger as long as she was with him. The priest still ran forward to embrace the half-orc in a friendly, relieved way.
Mikah stared blankly at Tari and approached her. "You…ah…you made them worry…So I had to deal with that the whole way here, so yeah, thanks, bitch." He rolled his eyes, speaking entirely deadpan, though his mannerism was closer to an older brother who had almost lost an annoying sibling whom he still cared for despite their differences than someone who was honestly annoyed and uncaring.
"Oh, Tari, we were so afraid! We….we thought you'd be captured…or…or worse!" Aila said softly, a little tearful as she approached the former paladin.
"Save de sappy reunion, kids, we ain't outta de woods yet." Vol'jin frowned, shepherding the younger adventurers towards the shattered door of the once great tower.
"Nor will you be any time soon." A cruel, cold voice rumbled from the nearby stairs as hulking, heavy footsteps sounded towards them. "I may not have gotten my hands on that human wench today, but it looks like I've got a far greater haul. Is that the human prince I see among your protectors, little half-breed?" Garrosh sneered as his eyes fell upon Tari and her friends, focusing most intently though on Anduin. "It seems the little rat has led me to far better prey. The human prince, a half-breed brat and a traitor to the Horde, I'll be regarded as a hero for this little clean-up effort. Destroy the enemy, keep the Horde bloodlines pure and make an example of all who would oppose me."
"And also there are two half-elves here, but I suppose we're not important enough for your little villain diatribe, are we?" Mikah folded his arms across his chest, rolling his eyes.
"Way to draw attention to us, Mikah. I don't know you that well, but I think I hate you." Aila sighed, drawing her daggers. Tari and Anduin were already armed and Mikah soon drew his weapon as well, preparing to face down the tyrannical and cruel Warchief of the Horde.
"Lowah ya weapons, yer more important den an old troll pas' his prime, ya got lives ta live, get outta here, Tari go find yer ma before dis bastard does." Vol'jin's eyes narrowed as he glared towards Garrosh, stepping between him and the four travelers.
"But…But Vol'jin, let us stay and help you!" Tari pleaded.
"No. Ya run an' ya don' look back. Ah can take care a meself. Don't underestimate de spirits' powah." Vol'jin shook his head. "Now go!"
Sylvanas had received the troll out runner only an hour ago, Theramore lay in ruins. How could she tell Jaina? Or…could this work in her favor? It would certainly hurt Jaina, but the fire of pain would reforge her soul stronger and darker than ever. Sylvanas could have her without ever having to give up her own goals and agenda. But could she knowingly hurt Jaina just to achieve that end? She would have to think on this.
Looking over at the beautiful dreamer laying in her bed, sleeping peacefully and likely dreaming of a better time, Sylvanas opted not to disturb Jaina with this until there was truly a need for it. Let her have as many sweet dreams as she could, those were a rarity for anyone these days, Sylvanas knew that well enough.
Approaching the bed, she gently caressed Jaina's golden hair; feeling the silky soft locks cool and smooth beneath her long dead, bow calloused fingers. A smile crossed her face and she softly kissed the mage's head. Who else could ever have made the banshee queen put their feelings before her own agendas?
A/N: Again, I apologize for the long wait and the possible (likely?) lapse in quality, I *really* like this one girl I know and I made her a Sylvanas cosplay for Otakon as a present, it was a lot of fun and I'm proud of how it turned out, but it did take up a lot of time to do. Also, I have a workout schedule, two jobs and a dying grandmother, so my time to write is very scarce. I literally woke up at four AM for two days just to have an extra few hours to write up this chapter, though it is longer as many of your requested, even without this rambling note.