Chapter 8 – The letter

It was cold for a summer day. But then again it was always cold in Tirisfal Glades. Despite generally nice weather, the forsaken land did not warm up. The little black raven navigated towards the Undercity and landed safely on a pole next to Flight Master Garrett. Garrett noticed the little raven and untied the note from his foot. He instantly recognized the seal on the letter and hurried to the Banshee Queen's throne room.

Sylvanas didn't even lift an eye lid when Flight Master Garrett knocked on the throne room door. "Enter!" She said firm and cold. "Excuse me my Queen. There is a letter for you". Sylvanas looked up and her eyes pierced Garrett to the extent where he gulped. The Dark Lady had been in an unusually vile mood the past 3 months. Sure, she was not a happy person by nature, but her mood was very unpredictable and bad even for Sylvanas. "Leave it on my desk and I will attend to it". Garrett gently placed the letter on the desk in front of her before hurrying out. Sylvanas continued to read the document in her hands when she saw the blue seal of the letter in the corner of her eye. She felt a sting in her stomach as she reached for the rolled up piece of paper. Sylvanas knew very well who the sender of this letter was. "Jaina…" she whispered.

Sylvanas broke the seal and unfolded the letter. As she read, every brutal word of it made Sylvanas ache. She bit her lip and put the letter down when she finished reading. With her head in her hands, Sylvanas thought; Jaina was never going to contact her again... It was expected as Sylvanas had counted 14 letters all together that she had not responded to. She sighed and fished a key out of her cleavage. She put the key in the bottom drawer on her desk and unlocked it. Sylvanas lifted out a pile of 14 opened letters all with the same seal as the one she had just received. She randomly picked one out and read it to herself without saying the words out loud:

Dear Lady Windrunner

I still don't know why you sent me away but perhaps you think of me from time to time. I know I think of you every day. It was unexpected but yet so perfect. Nobody ever made me feel this way. It is like you know me without knowing me. I will admit I have never before shared something like this with a woman and it is making me feel vulnerable. Please don't make feel insecure no more, just give me some answers and restore my confidence.

My heart belongs to you now, what will you do with it?

Yours,

- Jaina Proudmoore.

As she read the last sentence Sylvanas gently stroked her index finger over it. Jaina's words were strong and bittersweet and Sylvanas thought back to that night. The memories still warmed her undead body and made her long for Jaina's perfect naked body. Yet, Sylvanas had kept her promise to herself. The promise she made when the coin she flipped gave her heads and decided for her to take a leap of faith with Jaina. Sylvanas had promised herself that the condition for her visit to Jaina's chamber was that it was only to happen once. However, the feelings she further developed for Jaina after their steamy encounter was too overwhelming and startling. If Sylvanas was to keep her promise to herself, she could not have Jaina around in Undercity like a walking temptation. She had to look out for the Forsaken and she could not distract herself with love. Besides, she wasn't made for love right? It would never work. "I'm sorry Jaina… But I had to". Nevertheless, Sylvanas thought it was unfair. Unfair that she had to give up on the one woman that desired her despite who she was and with full knowledge of everything she had done.

Sylvanas stacked the letters neatly together again and put them away in the drawer. She locked it and hid the key where it belonged. Nobody could ever read these, it was too risky. What would her people think of her if they found out? She would lose all authority and even be thrown as queen of the Forsaken. She could simply not afford to lose her undead followers. However, Sylvanas had not yet managed to go a day without thinking of Jaina. Some days the urge to contact her was so strong that she had written letters to send, yet stopped herself before she did.

With a deep inhale and strong exhale, Sylvanas made an attempt to get Jaina out of her head. But after those harsh words in her last letter, it was impossible. She had to see her, she just had to. She could not lose Jaina whatever it was they had together. Despite not actually having her in her life, Jaina was the only thing that kept Sylvanas going. The Dark Lady rose from her chair. "Sergeant!" Senior Sergeant Grimsford slid into the room and hesitantly answered: "Yes, my lady" and bowed before his queen. "Can I confide in you?" Sylvanas was firm in her tone. The Sergeant raised an eyebrow but answered promptly: "Of course my lady. I would never betray my queen". "Good. Let's keep it that way. I need your assistance". Senior Sergeant Grimsford's eyes lit up. The Banshee Queen was going to trust him with a meaningful task. "It will be my honour to assist you my lady". Sylvanas looked down at Sergeant Grimsford. She pitied his gratitude to obey orders, what a meaningless life. "I need you to lead in my place while I am away". Despite his occasional strop, Sylvanas trusted that Sergeant Grimsford's loyalty weighed strongly in her favour. "May I ask where you are going my lady?" Grimsford looked up. "I will be going to Dalaran. I need to speak with Lady Proudmoore. It cannot wait. But you must not tell a soul, it is for your ears only. I trust you will compose a believable story to the rest of our people in my absence". Senior Sergeant Grimsford's jaw-less face smiled up at the Banshee Queen as she confided in him. "Of course. Everything for you my queen. Thank you for trusting me with this task". He kneeled before his queen. Sylvanas smirked and knew exactly which buttons to press. The key to Sergeant Grimsford's loyalty was without a doubt to make him feel special and needed. "Thank you Sergeant, I knew I could count on you". With that Sylvanas left the throne room in a hurry.