Chapter 21: Boiling Point
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
**Several years ago**
Sylvanas tightened the ribbons on her masquerade mask and smoothed out her blood red dress. A slinky number that clung to every one of her well-preserved dead curves. She had made sure the neck was a halter neck, worried her scar would give her away like a dirty secret. She had made sure to choose a mask that was heavily decorated to distract from her actual features beneath it. The red eyes that she knew would betray her. The less she was recognised the better. She had come, to make sure a certain Mage was happy. She checked her lipstick and fluffed her hair up a little in the mirror one last time and stepped through the portal to Theramore that her forsaken mages had summoned.
Stepping out onto the damp grass on the outside of Theramore she took the sight of the large walls in, looming over her but their pristine white gleam winking in the moon light at her. She pulled her shawl tighter across her for a moment. She didn't feel warmth and was always cold. She felt her ears raise and flick towards the music that was coming from the winter veil ball at Theramore. She blended with the crowds that had gathered to walk through the grand wooden gates. Sylvanas could smell the salty air, and feel the damp wind through her hair, and felt the faint flake of snow flutter down and land on her nose. Sylvanas raised her face to the sky. This place was completely Jaina.
As she walked through the thrumming crowd, everyone masked and looking beautiful, she took in the bubbling fountain in the courtyard. Saw the fairy lights glitter around it and reflect in perfect rainbows into the water. She really did stare at it in complete awe, the tallest pine-fir tree she had ever seen, stood proudly in the middle; presents surrounding it at the bottom, stacked in neat piles, decorated with large blue and silver baubles, tinsel sparkling as it weaved itself in and out of it. A bright star shining on the tip of the tree. How Jaina had pulled this off she didn't know, yet she wasn't surprised. It, after all, was Jaina Proudmoore.
Remembering her place suddenly she quickly melted into the shadows of the crowds. Scanning the various faces for her mage. King Varian and Anduin shuffled along, they were masked but it was plain to see them as daylight. Anduin's glorious, golden hair gave him away. They mingled with various other leaders such as Tyrande Whisperand, the forever enthral vision of authority she was. Genn Greymane, silver strands creeping into his hair, it was strange to see the old mutt in his human form. Almost lost in her people watching, almost forgetting her crimson eyes were her most notable feature, she pulled the shawl over her head, holding it close to her. Scanning the crowds, pushing through the brazen Night elves and humans lurking in the shadows to fulfil their inner lusts by offering their services. Coming to the front of the keep, her lips twisting into bitter disappointment.
And then she heard it. That Laugh. It riveted through and danced in the air. It revived her inside. The winds of her memory had gone and faded, but Jaina Proudmoore had managed to unknowingly bring her back from the dead. She watched from behind a wall. Jaina was dressed in a royal, mage- blue ball gown, a princess cut that flowed out from her waist. It seemed to shine with flecks of silver scattered throughout the netting as she turned in the Moon light, A silver shawl gleaming with threaded sea pearls kept her bare arms and shoulders warm from the damp and nippy air. Her hair, those golden curls that Sylvanas had once held between her fingers were pinned up into variously intricate braids and weaved throughout the rest of her head, and then loose strands cascaded delicately down her back like small waterfalls. A crown of ice crystals sat, threaded through the braids. She was in that moment, every inch, The Lady of Theramore.
Jaina turned to great more guests, her glowing blue eyes doing nothing to hide her features behind the mask. Sylvanas could smell the passionflower floating through the air. Jaina carried herself and swayed naturally to and fro, She seemed happy, her pale skin glowing with youth and flushed at the neck with the colour of the night. How her voice rang through and gleamed with excitement. She felt a ghost of a smile twitch in the corner of her lips. Sylvanas was almost content to let go of holding onto nothing and leave Jaina be. Seeing her thriving, happy and healthy was enough to satisfy her. She lingered for hours, entranced by Jaina's small movements.
But she couldn't help herself. Smoothing her dress out she sashayed over and into Jaina's line of sight. She peered over her shoulder, flirtatiously hiding behind her shawl and her mask. Catching Jaina's eye, giving her that knee bending smile. Gaining her full attention, she could see the familiar pools of eyes on her, roaming over her body In curiosity. She knew Jaina recognised the shape. Jaina excused herself from the guests.
Sylvanas reading the intrigue and curiosity on her beautiful face made a move to disappear back into the shadows. Sylvanas slipped into the darkness of the docks, the ships shadows making it easy for her to take cover. She watched Jaina lift her skirts and follow out onto the docks, looking confused as she whirled around in every direction looking for Sylvanas. Question and surprise etching themselves onto her lovely face. Her chest panting up and down heavily, exposing the soft curves of her breasts in the moon light.
Sylvanas felt a sudden pain in her chest that wouldn't go away, she had Jaina before her now. She had seen her face in everywhere she went with her forsaken. She could have exposed herself to Jaina, felt Jaina say the words she wanted her to say, to welcome her back with open arms. No. Everything had changed yet hearing her voice was as exquisite as holding her in her arms. And for now, it would have to surface. Yet the pang now felt like a sharp knife to the chest, taking any breath she had left away. She clutched at her chest, over the scar that burned.
Jaina was happy without her….
She watched Jaina whirl continuously, a look of desperation on her face. She watched Anduin jog up to Jaina, concerned, "Jaina? Are you alright?" she watched him grip her arm and pull her to him in comfort.
Jaina glanced up at Anduin, but still continued to look around the docks, "Yeah, I…..I just thought I saw someone I knew from long ago…." She trailed off, realising it was hopeless and that she must have imagined it.
Anduin wrapped her in his cloak, "Come Jaina, its starting to snow more, you'll catch your death out here if you stay too long." He put a gentle hand on the small of her back and guided her away back to the party. The entire walk back Jaina never stopped looking over her shoulder.
Sylvanas startled herself awake with a gasp, she kept straight and still as she felt the faint pang of heat in the curve of her arm. Felt hair move, the thrum of arcane beside her. She, in a dazzled haze, looked to her right. Jaina had curled herself up against her and at some point Sylvanas had crawled to their bed, exhausted without her missing bracelet, gaining nothing but a dream-disturbed -light rest. She shifted carefully and propped herself up onto one elbow, peering over Jaina, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest, as her breathing fell in soft waves. Sylvanas mused quietly, at least she was sleeping soundly this time and not thrashing around in a nightmare. She brushed stray strands of hair from Jaina's face and then dropped her hand to close over Jaina's on her own hip. She looked for a distraction at the windows but couldn't help but lay her crimson eyes on Jaina. Always wondering back to her. It had never been anyone or anything else. It had always been Jaina.
Sylvanas thumbed gently over her mother's ring. Knowing her and Jaina had always walked a fragile line since she had died. However, she never thought she would technically live it out to see that line fray and eventually break. She knew what was coming. She knew if she locked Jaina out, that Jaina would react. Sylvanas's world would grow dark and quiet like it used to be before Jaina had come back into her life. Knowing she couldn't even trust the one person that she would have laid her life down for, once upon a time. Sylvanas knew that Jaina's reaction would drown them all, watching their downfall as the wave would wash over Jaina in a rush of realisation that Sylvanas was all but a massive mistake.
Sylvanas traced the pattern of veins on the back of Jaina's hand, watching her endlessly. If Sylvanas could breathe she would have held it, she could see the ice in Jaina's eyes burn into her, watching them grow cold as that wave hit. She couldn't breathe. Even if she could she felt like she couldn't trust anything now. She tried to push the thought from her head, she had something to lose and it lay beside her. But Jaina hadn't gone, just yet. She didn't want a repeat of how Jaina and herself shattered like broken glass. She had spent many of her years picking up the pieces of their relationship, trying to glue the pieces back together. Even if it meant they hated each other, they would still be with each other. And being close to Jaina was enough for Sylvanas. But for Jaina, she needed that tangible love. Something she could hold onto. And, Sylvanas realised that she couldn't give that to Jaina. That there would always be a wall she would hit.
Jaina kept hanging onto her, even though she knew it felt like holding onto nothing for Jaina. She could foresee the pain and betrayal in Jaina's eyes when they would have their falling apart, coming unravelled. Jaina thinking she would have had Sylvanas all figured out, to find something had gone horribly wrong, knowing Sylvanas was all Jaina ever wanted. That Jaina was haunted, having too many scars. Sylvanas drawled in her memories, her thoughts; until the sunlight started to rise over the mountains. She looked to the window, feeling as if she would turn back into a pumpkin. She stroked Jaina's cheek with the back of her knuckles and leaned down to gently kiss Jaina on the lips, a slow brush and then she was gone with the memory.
Jaina stirred, and lazily stretched. Somehow, she had rolled onto the side that Sylvanas had laid on. The usual pristine straight sheets were crumpled and had obvious signs of being slept in. Jaina felt her head swim in a daze. She blinked at the side she usually never rolled onto. Her dreams had been a fog, but she thought it strange to roll onto that side, since she had so sub-consciously avoided it for months. She wasn't too sure if it was her dream or the actual cool hands that brushed her cheek throughout the night. She coincided it was her dreams, Sylvanas barely entered their bedroom as it was. Sylvanas's lack of affection or equality had started to leave Jaina hollow inside. Sylvanas's nightmare had already begun.
Jaina bit her lip and leaned on her staff as Sylvanas carried out court. Or, Jaina thought to herself quietly, bored Sylvanas to death. She side glanced at Sylvanas; her usual lounged appearance forever present. She had a familiar bored expression painted onto her face while her eyes narrowed at Lorthremar. While he rambled about his and Jaina's work on the Sunwell. Jaina had presented formidable ideas in the evenings she had with Lorthremar, in fact despite her purge of Dalaran they had managed to come to some formidable agreement and alliance. He was funny and she appreciated that when all she got from Sylvanas was snarls and her cold shoulder.
She had spent her time wisely, avoiding Sylvanas as much as she could. She was nervous as Sylvanas hadn't brought up the sketch book, she felt regenerating the Sunwell with Lorthremar may put her back in the Warchief's good graces. She sighed blindly. Or Sylvanas avoided her, by locking herself away in affairs of state. Sylvanas had become ultra-secretive. Conversations coming to a sudden halt when Jaina stepped into the room. Sylvanas disappearing more frequently. She could feel Nathanos's eyes on her more and more. Wherever she looked he was there. In fact, Sylvanas holding court was the only time she encountered Jaina, feeling as if she was a disease that needed containing and quarantined off.
Jaina felt the old pang of dread sting in the chest. Their old haunting ways had resurfaced, and she felt her and Sylvanas going around and round until hour by hour brought her closer to breaking apart. She shifted uncomfortably at Sylvanas's quick flicker of a side glance. She watched Sylvanas's ears prick up. She caught Lorthremar's grin as Sylvanas's eyes seemed to linger on Jaina for a moment too long. She buckled under those smouldering eyes.
"That will be enough Lorthremar, take your grin and get out. Leave me in some peace." Sylvanas muttered dryly while waving him away with a flick of the wrist. "That goes for everyone in this hall."
Jaina made a move to step down from the side of the throne, picking up her robes a little to descend the small set of stairs. Intent on making her get away and no small talk with Sylvanas. She felt Sylvanas's eyes slash into her back.
"Apart from you, Proudmoore."
Jaina couldn't help but shiver at her tone. It was sly, with a hint of amusement. She stopped dead, her eyes wondering to the set of doors in front of her. She could make a quick teleport escape. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, turning to face Sylvanas, a sweet and fake smile glued onto her lips. It was all she could muster and forced herself to stop thinking about Sylvanas's hands gripping her hips and sliding up her back and into her hair. Yet, Sylvanas remained poised, her posture changed she was now leaning her arm on the arm rest, her temple comfortably resting on her fist, she sat upright, her leg crossed over the other. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. Jaina blinked and the hard exterior was back.
Sylvanas waited until everyone, including her dark rangers filed out. She released her temple from her fist and tapped her nails on the throne, eying Jaina curiously. Wondering how to present the conversation to her. Sylvanas couldn't falter before Jaina. She stood and clasped her hands behind her back in formality. Sylvanas was an expert at formalities, something Jaina envied her for. Jaina chewed on the inside of her cheek. She held herself up straight and gripped her staff tightly for support. Jaina narrowed her eyes at Sylvanas.
"Proudmoore, how many times are you going to be a thorn in my side?" Sylvanas started, her tone with a swift edge to it.
Jaina huffed, "Not enough, it seems."
"Your arrogance isn't very becoming of a lady of your station. Of a consort to a Warchief might I remind you. " Sylvanas sniped, she couldn't resist the opportunity to take a swipe at the young mage when presented with one.
"Maybe I should have picked my poison better." Sylvanas drawled.
"I'm wounded, truly." Jaina retorted, sarcasm dripping in her tone.
Sylvanas's scrunched her face up in a sneer, she reached for a book that was on the table and stepped down from the dais, flicking through it, "Remarkable really." Sylvanas smirked, turning a page and scanning through it.
"What is?" Jaina asked, squaring her shoulders. Her eyebrow raising in suspicion. She chewed more on the inside of her cheek, she hoped Sylvanas wouldn't turn to the back of the book.
"I thought you would have figured out how to take the wards down sooner. Disappointing really." Sylvanas sneered, coming to a stop before Jaina.
"I have had distractions lately." Jaina remarked dryly. She eyed Sylvanas up and down, head to toe.
Jaina reached out to snatch the book from her hands but Sylvanas's cat like reflexes were too quick and she snapped the book shut with one hand and held it back from Jaina's reach. Sylvanas tutted, enjoying the little huff and whimper that escaped from jaina's lips, watching the pout those same cute lips formed into. She mockingly tsk'ed Jaina, waving a finger Infront of her, "Ah. Ah. Ahh, is that any way to ask for your book back? I think I will hold onto this a while longer." Sylvanas continued to hold the book from Jaina's reach but she leaned forward into Jaina's personal space, "It has…. interesting…sketches in it." Sylvanas grinned, a grin of fangs flashing in the fire light. She pulled back and watched Jaina colour furiously and look away hurriedly, trying to hide behind her braid in the shadows of the fire light dancing on the walls. "Quite the little artist you are, Proudmoore."
"It's….Personal…" Jaina mumbled defiantly, gritting her teeth. Her nails digging into the wood of the stave. The anchor around her neck glowing a faint blue.
"That may be so," Sylvanas turned on her heel, walking back up to the throne, her hips swaying to and fro. Her walk was of a seductive feline. Slow and agonising. She stopped on the second step, turning to glance over her shoulder, "But you should have thought about that before you tried to bring down the wards on my dungeon!" Sylvanas snarled viciously.
Jaina opened her mouth to speak but snapped it shut. A sarcastic and cutting remark on the tip of her tongue. Sylvanas turned and walked to the throne, sitting almost teasingly down onto it. The small icy crystals danced nervously around Jaina's staff. Jaina's lips twisted, biting her tongue, "I should punish you, Proudmoore." Sylvanas observed her tone that of a Warchief but had the edge of a lover.
"And you shouldn't disappear so often." Jaina muttered under her breath, pulling the hood of her cloak up to hide her distain.
Sylvanas frowned at the sight of Jaina covering her lovely hair, but she clenched her curled fist at Jaina's muttering. The Mage knew how sensitive elf ears were, even in death. "And you shouldn't be sticking that pretty, button nose of yours in affairs that don't concern you. " Sylvanas's jaw tightened, her hands rested on the book in her lap, their grip digging and leaving embedded nail marks into the soft leather.
"Oh, fuck it!" Jaina rolled her eyes and stuck her chin out defiantly, "It does concern me, Windrunner.
Have you ever considered the fact we are married?" Jaina smirked at pointing out the obvious, leaning casually against her staff.
"Ever considered just what a little shit you are Proudmoore?" Sylvanas snarled back quickly, slowly growing infuriated. Jaina could see it in her eyes, she decided to play with fire.
"Ever considered what an un-honourable bitch you are? "Jaina smiled sweetly, knowing how to push her buttons, giving her everything and getting nothing back, this mad love in all its entirety making Sylvanas come running to her again, "A real Warchief would live up to their word and treat their consort as an equal. And not disappear constantly when things get awkward. They wouldn't be so shrouded in secrecy."
Sylvanas went deadly quiet. Jaina couldn't even feel her energy anymore but could feel the crimson eyes cutting straight through her like one of her arrows. After what seemed like an age, Sylvanas spoke.
Her tone could have shattered glass, "Are you questioning my leadership?".
Nails tapped along wood.
Jaina shivered at the tense atmosphere that screamed in the shrouded silence.
Even the flames of the fire dared not crackle or move an inch.
Jaina sighed, exhausted by their constant back and forth, "Yes, Sylvanas." She announced, loud and clear, standing straight and tall in defiance "I have seen better. I have served alongside better." It was then that Jaina decided to become cutting, if Sylvanas wasn't going to change why should she?
At that moment Nathanos stepped out from the shadows, his glowing orange eyes lusting with murder, vengeance and malice. His hands clasped behind his back, a thoughtful arrow twirling between his fingers. Sylvanas held up her hand straight away, almost sensing his actions before he even moved. He froze, surveying Proudmoore. Jaina observed black smoke curling up Sylvanas's raised arm. Her hand started to toy with the black wispy flames. Her face a porcelain mask, Jaina watched her ears completely flatten against her skull.
Jaina swallowed thickly, throwing a glare at Nathanos. Jaina's eyes glowed blue, taunting him to challenge her. Her scar on her arm tingled, if not stung. She couldn't wrap her head around that and pushed it to the back of her mind. Her vision focusing back on a furious Sylvanas.
"My Queen, Proudmoore has insulted your leadership! As your champion let me avenge you!" Nathanos hissed beside her. His eyes never leaving Jaina.
Sylvanas's grip tore scratch marks into the leather-bound book, still playing with the purple flames that danced in her hand, "Leave Nathanos! I didn't request your damned presence!" Sylvanas hissed, throwing him a raised eyebrow in warning. She turned her attention back to Jaina as he nodded reluctantly in acceptance and melted back into the shadows. But not before casting a long and hard steely stare at Jaina.
Jaina hissed, "Let me save you the breath. Oh, wait…. You can't even breathe! You can't even feel anything Sylvanas! You are dead!" Jaina muttered darkly at Sylvanas. "You strut around, acting as if you're Azeroth's god given gift! When, really, you are nothing!"
Jaina all but blinked, finding herself pinned to the wall by Sylvanas, her hand to her throat. Purple and black tendrils of smoke swirling and forming around her, Jaina rasped and winced feeling her ribs bruise by the impact of the wall. Her nails scratched into the wall, claw marks that resembled a desperate struggle, her magic crackled in her fingertips.
"Dare question my leadership again, Proudmoore, and you will not live to see a second more of this world! " Sylvanas spat deliriously. Jaina had never been afraid of Sylvanas but the glare in her eyes made fear trickle down her spine.
Jaina's hands flew to Sylvanas's hand around her throat, she didn't know where it came from but she matched Sylvanas's blazing eyes with her own flurry of iced over eyes, Sylvanas regarded for an age. Considering murdering Jaina there and then. Her human lungs closing and starving for air. But Sylvanas was clever and eventually loosened her grip.
"You're not worth it, Proudmoore." She muttered bitterly as she walked back to the throne. Jaina flattened herself against the wall, rasping and gulping for air. Her lungs heaving. She slid down the wall and crumbled as she hit the ground. Her eyes begged Sylvanas the question why?
Sylvanas looked away with no vacancy, whilst she retook her throne, scowling. She could answer it. She couldn't cast aside her stubbornness nor jaina's challenge of her leadership.
Jaina having regained her breath, stood shakily, "You, Sylvanas Windrunner, are a horrible being." And with ending on that note Jaina stepped out into the great unknown by giving her a flash of a bow, mocking her almost, a sweet smile that oozed distrust. She teleported out of the hold.
Nathanos hurriedly stepped forward, "Did she just do what I think she did!" His face lit up in absolute delight and Proudmoore possibly breaking the contract.
Sylvanas scowled furiously and launched the book at him, "How many times, this does not concern you! As for Proudmoore, I know where she went."
Jaina stumbled out from her portal and into their room. Furiously breaking the clasp on her cloak and throwing it onto the bed. Ripping the ribbons that bound her corset off and casting it hurriedly onto the ground while muttering curses. Shrugging and wriggling impatiently out from her robes, scooping them up and launching them at the mirror with a rough scream of rage. She flung her shoes into the room, not necessarily targeting anything but they bounced off the wall and skidded across Jaina's dresser and knocked everything crashing to the ground. Including the small trinket box that kept the bracelet she had found in Sylvanas's possession that night they kissed. The sapphire, no bigger than the size of a robins egg, that she had given her on her wedding day for something blue. She pulled like a rambunctious child at the binds of her braid, scattering pins that kept it in place all over the ground. Hoping Sylvanas would end up stepping on them if she ever dared come in. She used her magic to angrily fling open the door that lead to the bathing pool. It tore itself from the hinges. Storming through it, she commanded the water to attend her as she entered the pool. It rose up in swirls, wrapping her naked form in a body of steaming bright blues and greens, glittering and gleaming like crystal clear jewels in the candlelight.
Jaina smashed her firsts against the wall and let out a wild scream, staring wide eyed while gripping onto the ridge of the pool, her shoulder blades and muscles protruding from her skin as her shoulders trembled with pure rage. The cracks in the walls around her started to glow blue as ice slowly trickled like water down into them. Her breathing came in quick gasps, ice started to sprinkle like snow out from underneath her fingertips. She could hear the crackle and snap! As the frost wondered up the walls in her out of control anger. She closed her eyes, trying to summon the frost to retreat, to steady her breathing and put a lid on her rage. Sylvanas was just so infuriating! So ignorant, arrogant and just…...Jaina sighed, heaving the air from her lungs reluctantly.
Just so…Sylvanas Windrunner.
Sylvanas was a runaway train on a broken track. The persistent ticker on a mana bomb that she couldn't turn back. She always got away with absolutely everything and managed to still somehow be alive…even though she was dead. To escape justice. She would always be the last man standing as the dust and cloud cleared. Still alive. After everything, Derek, Teldrassil, Lordaeron…..She would look into those crimson eyes, seeing she was still alive inside as much as the outside.
Jaina heard the whistle of something light flying through the air, felt the light grazing of a feather brush in mid-flight against her arm. Her eyes snapped open to follow the trail of smoke in the air to her right. A purple glowing arrow, tipped with feathers thudded into the ground, striking true. It wobbled for a moment and Jaina stared at it stupidly. Jaina went to blink, went to try and move 20 feet but was caught mid spell and felt her wrists cuffed tightly in violet and black smoked chains. The water dropped back to its natural rhythm around Jaina's body, splashing her in the process. She coughed and tried to pull away but found herself being reeled back in by the chains attached to the arrow. Jaina tried to spark the slightest bit of arcane magic but found she couldn't even make a crackle sound with her magic.
Magic muffling cuffs. Damn the fucking elf!
"Are you done being a little brat?" Sylvanas bristled, twirling another arrow in her hand.
Jaina gritted her teeth, "No." she murmured quietly.
Sylvanas knelt by jaina's side, watching her struggle with the cuffs, amusement thrumming through her. Jaina glanced up suddenly, her eyes darkened sapphires sparked with arcane magic, " You surprise me Sylvanas…"Jaina drawled and grin on her lips, "I imagined you to be the type to treat me to dinner first before getting kinky."
"As much as I want to keep you like this, my little mage, I need you to be serious with me." Sylvanas's expression hardened, her crimson eyes becoming burning steal, "I mean it Proudmoore. You can't be sniffing around the dungeon." She reached out and started to lightly brush her knuckles against jaina's cheek.
"Why are you trying to protect me?" Jaina asked innocently, silently adoring Sylvanas when she had authority. She shivered. She was fully exposed to Sylvanas. "Or what are you trying to protect me from?" Jaina could hear her heartbeat in her ears, feel both of their magics thrum and vibrate through her. She watched Sylvanas look longingly at her, fighting with her reluctance to tell Jaina why.
For the first time Sylvanas had something to lose as she watched Jaina's thumb gently twist her mother's ring on her finger. Sylvanas tilted the bottom of Jaina's chin up, her eyes roaming over her naked form, completely delicious beneath the transparent water, she licked her lips. Gaining a small whimper from Jaina, "I can't tell you why Proudmoore, just…just listen to me! Stay away from the dungeon and we are all happy. Stay away from the dungeon and I won't have to put this arrow through your beautiful throat."
"But Sylvanas, I'm yourwife. Whatever it is in there it can't be that bad? I'm not some little girl that always needs protecting!", Jaina protested defensively.
Sylvanas watched her eyes move, something mischievous lurked behind them. She felt her own darken, being thrown into the shadow of her hood, "Proudmoore, I have business to attend to outside of Orgrimmar. I cannot have you causing my rangers any more trouble while I'm gone!"
Jaina huffed, seeing Sylvanas's evident annoyance, "wait, where are you going now? How long for!?" Jaina pouted.
Sylvanas replied, "Outside of Orgrimmar for now. I will be back in 3 days." She withdrew her hand and stood, towering over Jaina in all her armour. The Skulls on her pauldrons glaring disapprovingly at Jaina. She knew those skulls were the skulls of her enemies. It installed a feeling of dread in Jaina's chest.
"Sylvanas you can't keep just disappearing like this! If its official business I still deserve to know about it! " Jaina felt the heat of her anger rise and colour her cheeks, felt the pang of betrayal in her chest.
Sylvanas scoffed and scowled, folding her arms, "Don't worry your pretty, little head Proudmoore. It doesn't concern you." Sylvanas lied. It had everything to do with Jaina. But Jaina needed to be protected, leaving her was the greatest anxiety as it was.
Jaina's bottom lip trembled slightly, she could feel tears welling in her eyes, "What use is being married to you if I'm not your equal? If you won't tell me anything? If you won't even properly look at me !?" Jaina cried out defensively, a tantrum brewing in her eyes. Jaina could feel the knife in her chest, twist with every look Sylvanas didn't give her, for every shit excuse, for every dodge of Jaina's questions.
Jaina noticed Sylvanas visibly shaking, with what she didn't know. Her face was in the shadows of her hood again. Yet, Jaina kept poking her, "What have I done Sylvanas? That you can't even be in the same room as me without grimacing!? The confusing signals you give out, that I can actually touch and feel and then rob me of the next!?" Sylvanas's hands curled into fists, digging half-moons with her nails into her palms, drawing black ichor.
Jaina continued to be blinded by her own agony, "The fact you are constantly trying to protect me but will be the first one to hurt me! Sylvanas, I've never been able to work it out….You are just a total mind fuck!"
"Jaina…." She groaned, exhausted and fatigued, pinching the bridge of her nose. Jaina caught the flash of a pained look on her face as it briefly came into the light. She looked like she was bleeding from the inside out. But Jaina was too consumed in her own grief.
"Seriously Sylvanas! I don't know how much more I can take…...You always lock me out when I let you back in!"
"Jaina…don't…", Sylvanas looked to the ceiling, squeezing her own eyes shut tightly, trying to choke back the truth. Trembling harder.
"Please Jaina…"
The arrow between Sylvanas's fingers snapped and clunked to the ground.
Jaina squeezed her eyes shut, her chest starting to heave with sobs, "You are not the Sylvanas I remember! The Ranger General that would have done anything for me! That would have told me everything! I didn't belong in Quel'Thalas, but you still made sure I felt welcomed enough!" Jaina buried her face into her cuffed fists. "Why is it even bothering you that I took down a couple of your shitty, fucking, wards! Your dungeon is my dungeon too!"
"Jaina…..." Sylvanas's voice shook, it was tinged with unevenness. It became almost panicked, rising in volume and echoes. Jaina herd her swallow, "Just please…don't….", Sylvanas gritted her teeth, feeling her own tears biting into the cheeks they rolled down. She shook her head and turned her back on Jaina, ready to walk out.
"The Sylvanas that still saw everything I went through with Arthas when she died! It's like you just treat me as something that is under your shoe! Why Sylvanas!? WHY !?WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?" Jaina screamed at her, tear tracks visible and tears dripping from her chin, they glistened in the light.
Sylvanas whirled on Jaina then, "Because Jaina!" she cried out in indignity, tears searing her own face.
Sylvanas's eyes were a conflagration, the Smokey cuffs evaporated, leaving Jaina unbound and visibly racked with sobs, shaking hunched over the ride of the pool. Sylvanas hurriedly knelt and gripped Jaina's shoulders, shaking her roughly, her fingers slipping with the water, and digging back into her soft flesh. Jaina whimpered in defeat, wide eyed. She feared what was coming next, her hands splayed out on Sylvanas's chest armour.
Sylvanas could feel her own admission of guilt rising in her throat, trying to push it down with all her might. It wasn't enough. She already felt like she had lost Jaina all over again. And this time, she wasn't going to lose Jaina without putting up fight. She stared Jaina directly into her eyes. Both a broken and sniffling mess before each other. Jaina sobbing and whimpering, the betrayal in her eyes made Sylvanas's chest ache widely, her glass heart, caged in an ice shield of emotion, shattered. Feeling like she had been struck by Frostmourne all over again. It was the best of times and yet, the worst of crimes that Sylvanas was about to commit. This was tough love; they were both being given a lesson to learn. The match had been struck.
"BECAUSE JAINA! I, FUCKING, LOVE YOU!"
I know it is really long. I wanted to cut it but couldn't. None the less if you are reading this now, you made it! congrats :D
Thank you for the love, it means everything and I live for it 3
p.s a reader pointed out chapter 16 was the same as chapter 9, it should now hopefully be fixed. I don't know what happened as the documents were different in document manager and labelled correctly. Either way its now fixed, thanks 3