A/N: Hey, y'all! I'm back! Too me a bit, my bad. Life has been super busy lately! I'm moving in with my boyfriend next month, so we are taking a trial run right now, and bringing some of my stuff over (it's been heaven, I'm so happy, AND I'm slowly converting him to WoW! Woohoo!) Life is good, which means I am back to writing! Read on!


Disclaimer: I own nothing except Katryn Silverbane. All rights for World of Warcraft belong to Blizzard Entertainment, including places, events, and characters.


Of Blood and Arcana

Chapter Twelve

It Speaks


Katryn stared at Lo with disbelief. Garrosh wanted to talk to her? Why? What did he want? Her mind began racing with thousands upon thousands of thoughts, and she became suddenly very aware that her mouth was hanging open. She closed it quickly, feeling colour rush to her cheeks. She struggled to find her voice again, and it came out raspier than intended.

"What… What does he want?" She choked out, and Lo continued to look down at her, his expression remaining stoic – unwavering.

"He did not say; only that he wished to speak with you." His face flickered for a moment, and Katryn saw a pang of empathy, "If you do not wish to speak with him, or if you are uncomfortable, of course, you are not obliged. I am merely restating what the prisoner told me."

Katryn felt a small burst of gratitude. How sweet. "Thank you," she uttered softly, working into herself for courage, "but I will speak with him, I think. Where is he?"

Lo was back to being still and quiet as a statue. "If you'll follow me." He gestured towards some steps leading down and away from the temple, and Katryn followed, her eyes narrowing. So, they were to go the base, beneath the temple, to the dungeons where Garrosh was likely caged like an animal. She nodded once, and followed Lo.

They descended the steps in silence, only the sound of the wind, and distant voices filling their ears. For someone so massive, Lo moved with grace and stillness, barely making a sound, while Katryn clumsily stumbled along behind him, her shoes, despite being soft and leather-made, clipped upon the stone steps, causing a soft echo to ring about them. Finally, they came to a small, wooden door, through which Katryn was certain Lo would not fit. However, upon swinging it open, he hunched down, and stepped through, motioning for her to follow. She did, and the door swung shut behind her, plunging them into darkness.

As Katryn's eyes adjusted, she saw there were torches lining the walls, and a small staircase, wooden and rickety looking, leading down and to the left away from them. She could feel the hum of magic in the air, almost like a tingly sensation, itching her skin, and sending shivers through her. She was familiar with that sensation, and in such close quarters, the effect was hyped up. There was a magic shield nearby, and she knew was it was probably keeping in.

Sure enough, as they turned the corner into the small room, with a cell on the far side, bars thicker than Katryn's wrists, a small wooden table, a straw bed, and…

Garrosh Hellscream.

The room was small, smaller than the inside of Katryn's tent. Another Pandaren, similar in size and look to Lo, whom Katryn suspected was his brother, Li, stood on their side of the cage, seated at a smaller, wooden table, arms folded, glaring into the cage at Garrosh, who was still chained, despite being behind bars. Katryn felt a small stab of sympathy, but ignored it. Upon seeing her, Garrosh's yellow eyes seemed to become less dim, and she saw him intake a small breath, sharper than she had expected from him.

Li stood, greeting Lo in the traditional language of the Pandaren, before turning his gaze to Katryn.

"Miss Katryn, I presume?" He bowed low to her, and she saluted respectfully, placing a fist over her heart, and bending herself double.

"It's nice to meet you." She tone was calm, and her gaze never leaving Garrosh, who was doing the same. She finally tore her gaze away, addressing the two Pandaren. "Would it be alright if I spoke to him in private?"

Li and Lo exchanged a look, neither speaking for a moment. Finally, Lo (or was it Li?) spoke, "Are you certain?"

She forced a smile, "Quite; I'll be fine."

Both looked skeptical, but nodded in agreement, leaving Katryn and Garrosh alone in the small room. It was only when the door slammed shut above them, that she turned, and approached the cell. She came to a stop about a foot from the bars, and her hand slowly reached out, gently grazing along the magic shield, feeling the purple energy tickle the tips of her fingers. From out here, it couldn't hurt her. But, should Garrosh attempt to break out, it would shock him like a thousand lightning strikes throughout his body. It was enough to bring down a fully grown Clefthoof; what it could do to an orc, she did not want to know.

She closed her eyes, taking in a few breaths. Back in Dalaran, she had meditated almost daily to calm her nerves. She had sat in her room, cross-legged in the middle of the floor, hands on her knees, and breathing deeply. Now, with her hand resting upon the magic shield, she was reminded of her home, and felt nostalgia hit her hard. She squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to not think of her home, and how much she missed it. Instead, she took a few deep breaths, steadying herself. Finally, she opened her eyes, and found Garrosh standing before her, staring down at her.

She nearly had a heart attack.

With a cry, she leapt back, clutching her chest, her eyes wide. Garrosh's lips curved over his tusks, a mocking grin spreading across his face. Once she had calmed, Katryn glared at him, her eyes narrowed, and her heart slamming against her ribs.

"By the Light, Garrosh!" She stepped away, scowling at him, while the orc snickered to himself, looking smug. She'd half a mind to leave then, but her curiosity got the better of her. She backed up, and seated herself on the wooden stool that Li had been sitting on before, turning it to face him. She folded her arms across her chest, fixing him with a penetrating stare, crossed one leg over the other, leaned back in the chair, and waited. When he said nothing, but continued to stare at her, she rolled her eyes, sighing.

"Lo said you wanted to speak to me." It had been days since they had last spoken, and Katryn had seen quite a lot since then. If Garrosh had anything to say now, it would take a lot to make her stay and talk with him.

Garrosh took a pause before answering. "I did."

His voice sounded hoarse, as though he had not drank water in days. Katryn knew that wasn't true, however, as there was a half drank jug of water behind him, as well as a tray that had possibly contained food beforehand.

She stared at him. "Why?"

More silence; more irritating, heavy silence. Katryn began to grind her teeth. By the Light, was he ever infuriating.

Garrosh moved to the back of the cell, leaning on the wall. If he spread his arms length wise twice, that's how much space he had. He was basically living in the closet. "What are your thoughts on the trial?"

The question caught her off guard. Katryn blinked, staring at him. Why did he want to know her opinion? She sighed, "Garrosh, I'm not going to discuss the trial with you. I'm here a spectator, nothing more."

He didn't seem to hear her. He continued to stare at her with those unsettling, yellow eyes. There was something else in them this time, too, though she could not place. Was that… kindness?

He tilted his head, his face no longer smug, merely curious. "Do you believe I am deserving of an execution?" Again with the questions that took her aback.

Katryn stared at him, becoming more and more confused by the minute. She too tilted her head, pondering what he had asked. Before, she would have said no, that he didn't deserve any kind of execution, merely to pay back his crimes in life. But now, however, after his treatment of Aerin, and his actions on the first day of the trial… Then she remembered what she had overheard Anduin say to his father, that he believed what some did, that Garrosh was capable of redemption, and she felt her heart stir in her chest.

"I can't really say," she said slowly, looking down at her hands, her fingers locking and unlocking. "The August Celestials seem to believe that you can be redeemed," she looked up at him, "as does Prince Anduin."

That same smug smile was back again, she felt her eye twitch. "And you."

She clenched and unclenched her jaw. "Humph." The grumble escaped her before she could stop it.

They sat in silence for a few moments, just looking at one another. Katryn was reminded of their talks by the fire during the journey to the Temple of the White Tiger. Despite only having been a few days before, it felt like another lifetime ago. She marvelled at how much she had already changed in just a few, short days.

"I will speak with him, as well." Garrosh said suddenly, and Katryn stared, the silence being broken to abruptly.

"Prince Anduin?" She asked, her tone surprised. "Why?"

He shrugged, looking thoughtful, and not looking at her for once. "Curiosity."

She raised a brow, "Curiosity? About what?"

His eyes returned to her. "My ability to change." It was simple statement, yet so familiar…

Her eyebrows drew together. "Huh... That sounds like -"

"Like what you told me, yes." Garrosh looked up at the ceiling as though something very interesting resided there. "Apparently, as you said, the whelp believes the same thing."

Katryn pursed her lips. "That isn't kind, Garrosh."

Yellow eyes found hers. "Have I ever been truly known to be kind?" The statement hung in the air for a moment, and she felt a small sting, as though feeling the hurt he had no doubt felt at a time.

She sighed, mildly defeated. "Fair point."

Garrosh approached the bars again, "You believe I can change as well, don't you?" His voice was soft, softer than she had ever heard it, and it sent a chill up her spine. He sounded genuinely curious, perhaps even a little grateful, if Garrosh was even capable of feeling such things.

She chewed her lower lip, contemplating what to say, or what to admit, next. After a pause, she took a breath, "I do, yes."

"Why?" So blunt, so direct. It felt unlike him.

Katryn leaned back in her chair, regarding him. She uncrossed her arms, letting her hands fall limp into her lap, showing him her hostility had ebbed. Her eyes wandered over his face; scars littered it, bags clung to his eyes, and he looked so tired. Her face was blank, and his expression slack. Neither spoke for a moment, before she said what she had been thinking during the first moments of the trial.

"Nothing stays the same. You went from someone living in Outland, to living alongside Thrall, to becoming Warchief, to this. Odds are, nothing will stay the same for long. Besides, you of all people know how people can change."

Garrosh twitched slightly, but said nothing. Instead, he retreated farther into the cell, leaning back against the wall. Katryn figured that he had had his fill of her information for the day, and stood slowly. She turned her back on him, and was about to make for the stairs, and the door, when a thought struck her. She turned back slowly, her eyes filled with questions, confusion, and hoping for answers.

"Why did you save my life?"

It was the question that had been burning within her for days, ever since they had arrived at the temple. Ever since Garrosh had reached out, seized that monster by its throat, and stopped it from killing her with is bare hands.

Garrosh stared at her, his expression blank, and his demeanour relaxed. He seemed to ponder her question for a moment, before replying, his vice soft, yet firm, and carried from the cell to her ears.

"Curiosity."

The word, simple yet confusing, hung in the air, so thickly Katryn could almost see it, spelt out, mocking her. It wasn't the answer she had expected from him, and yet it also made her almost want to laugh, mostly at the sheer incredulousness of it.

She watched him, still, unmoving, like a stone, barely breathing. "Is that all?"

No movement from Garrosh, he may as well have been made of jade. "That, and I knew your opinion could prove useful to my trial. But, yes, that is all." A small air of smugness trickled onto his face, but Katryn paid it no mind. Instead, her mind focused on the first thing he had said. Curiosity was the reason she was still alive? Bullshit.

"I don't believe that." Her voice was calm. She stared at him, challenging him to say more.

Garrosh began to smirk, his yellow eyes boring into hers. "And what do you believe."

In truth, she did not know. But, it was now that she could plant a seed in his mind that he was not truly evil. Yes, he had done terrible things, and yes, she was angry with him for his recent actions, but she also had to be true to what her mother had taught her.

She approached the cell, looking directly into his eyes, showing no fear. Garrosh actually looked a bit surprised with her confidence. "I believe that I am still alive because I showed you kindness, and that's something you don't understand. I believe that you saved me because I said you could change, because I essentially believed in you. Your curiosity isn't based on me being useful to you, its based on you being curious if I'm right about you."

They stared at one another for a moment, again in silence. It seemed a common thing between them lately. Garrosh broke it first, his smirk still fixed in place.

"Believe what you will, human, it doesn't matter to me."

"Doesn't it?" She shot back, and his smirk vanished, to be replaced with a scowl, deepening into the creases of his face. Katryn stared for a moment, before slowly nodding, accepting that that was going to be the best she would get out of him. "Alright." She slowly turned her back again, making for the door. Before she had exited, however, Garrosh spoke again.

"The whelp will be next."

Katryn turned back, giving him a withering look. "You shouldn't call him that; if he believes in you too, I hardly think he's deserving of such a derogatory name."

Garrosh chuckled mirthlessly. "I've been called worse."

She rolled her eyes. "That isn't the point, Garrosh."

He said nothing, and she watched him for another moment, wondering where in the name of the Light things would go from here. She shook her head slowly, and turned away again, heading for the door, ready to actually leave this time. Before she did, she looked back, getting one last word in.

"I have to go; I've a feeling we will talk more later." When he didn't reply, she said spoke the last bit more softly, gentler than she had anticipated. "Until then, goodbye, Garrosh." As she exited the door, and began to ascend the stair leading back outside, she heard a voice follow her out.

"Goodbye, Katryn."


A/N: Holy, crap! I wrote this in two hours. That's the fastest yet! I guess I just really wanted to get this one done. It was really short, my bad, but the next will be long as hell, because it'll be Day Two of the trial. I am excite. Thanks for reading and reviewing, guys! Love you all.