Chapter 21 – Only darkness now

Jaina felt uncomfortable as the Kor'kron guards almost carried her down into the deep, cold and dark dungeons. She heard distressed howls from other prisoners and water dripped from the damp ceiling that was covered in moss and mould. The captives' voices were piercing and painful. She was taken past the cells of other prisoners and deeper down into the dungeons. As she passed some of the prisoners, she could almost smell illness and starvation, and desperation lingered in their eyes. But they knew they would never see the sun again. There were all kinds of factions imprisoned in these cells, but mostly orcs from when Garrosh ruled the Horde. They were forgotten down here and nobody would ever know about their existence. It sent shivers through Jaina. Was this really how she was going to die? She had always imagined her death would be heroic, but this was a result of pure stupidity.

"Get in, Alliance scum!" The guards had stopped outside the cell furthest down in the dungeons and they forced her in. Jaina refused to give them the satisfaction of showing her fear and kept a straight face. Sylvanas would pay for this. One way or another, the Kirin Tor will punish her, Jaina thought. The cell door was slammed shut and the guards left. Jaina was unsure if she was ever going to see Azeroth again. With a silent sob, she slid against the dirty, wet wall and onto the floor. Right this moment, she hated Sylvanas. Yet, there was that unbelievable painful feeling of losing someone she loved. Because she had lost Sylvanas to the darkness within the Banshee Queen. She was aperson she had loved more than she had ever loved anyone. Their love had advanced fast, but it had felt so real. Jaina had given all her love, honest and pure. It had felt real from Sylvanas' side too, but how could Jaina believe that it was after all. After this…

You kissed him

Sylvanas' words rung in her ears like alarm bells. She had not kissed Varian back. But she did not push him away. It was not like the situation had allowed it. Perhaps she should have anyway. Sylvanas had seen it all and drawn conclusions. Was all this Jaina's fault? She was utterly confused and it seemed like nothing in this world made any sense anymore and now she would rot away in this hell hole.

"The Dark Lady is hurting". A rusty and sleazy voice broke Jaina away from her thoughts. She was unsure exactly how long for she had been sat sobbing. She looked up from her where she had buried her head in her arms to find Senior Sergeant Grimsford staring at her. His face was as ugly and slimey as always, and drool dripped from his gums. Jaina did not reply but continued to look at him, wondering if we would tell her more. Right now, she was not buying the fact that Sylvanas was hurting. It had not looked like it in the slightest.

"I know when my queen is not okay. It is not often, but now is one of those times". Sergeant Grimsford looked around him to make sure nobody had followed him down there. He crept closer to Jaina's cell and placed the bones that were left of his hands on the bars. "Between you and me, Lady Proudmoore, she is rather fond of you. She is hurting because she loves you. I do not know why she has put you here, but you must have done something to upset her. She does not always need a reason to unleash her evil, but with you it is different. I doubt she would throw you away in these dungeons unless you did something to hurt her".

Senior Sergeant Grimsford's words hit Jaina hard. It was like a light switched on and she realised the obvious, something she had been unable to due to her self-pity. Sylvanas did not trust people. Senior Sergeant Grimsford was perhaps the only person Sylvanas trusted besides herself. She had been let down so many times that trust did not come easy to her. With Jaina, she had been exposed to emotions she normally would block. When she saw the kiss with Varian, she had felt overwhelmed with betrayal and acted irrationally because of it. She had thought that the one person she loved in this world had used her. Hurt her. Betrayed her. It was about a lot more than a petty little kiss for Sylvanas. Of course, it did not fix the fact that she left Varian to die a horrible death, but it helped Jaina understand.

Jaina slammed her hands to the cold ground she was sat on. "She thinks I wanted Varian instead of her. She thinks I kissed him back. She has to understand, I did not kiss him back!" Jaina looked at Sergeant Grimsford. "I would not do that to her!" Sergeant Grimsford stared at her. "You still love my queen? Even after everything she has done? Even after this?" He waved a hand at the dungeon. "I…" Jaina started. "I do. I can't help it… I hate her and I love her". Sergeant Grimsford hummed. "I believe you, Lady Proudmoore. I like my queen better when she is pleased, and you pleased her. I shall try to convince her you meant no harm". Jaina could not believe that Sergeant Grimsford was about to support her. He probably did it for Sylvanas, but Jaina could not help but detect a slight tone of compassion in his voice. "Thank you, Sergeant. I will always be grateful to you for this. You are my only hope". Sergeant murmured something in gutterspeak, Jaina did not understand. "Here, take this. It isn't often anything eatable comes around down here". Sergeant Grimsford handed Jaina a loaf of bread and then he lef.

"Tell me what you want, I can give you it all". "Shut up, slut. You can't give me anything". "Come on, just tell me, Warchief, you know I can". Sylvanas looked at Helitha, who was almost rubbing herself on her desk. Sylvanas was trying to work and she found the rogue rather annoying. "Beat it, Helitha! You are only to come here when called on!" Sylvanas started to get frustrated with the young high elf who would not take no for an answer. "Oh, I like it when you treat me like a slave. I could get used to that". "Guards!" The Kor'kron guards entered the room. "One last chance Helitha, leave! And do not dare to come back unless asked". Helitha seemed to finally get the message when threatened by the guards. She retracted and licked her lips. "Better call upon me soon then Warchief. It isn't healthy to abstain from sex you know!" Sylvanas watched as Helitha left the room. Sure she was tempting, but she was extremely irritating and Sylvanas cared little for begging. Besides, her head was spinning with other thoughts. Jaina was here and she was not sure what to do about it. Her former lover had come with the intention to kill her, how was she supposed to feel about that? Sylvanas had left Jaina in the awful dungeons for three days now and had gotten daily updates. She had been starved and threatened, but not beaten. Sylvanas could not find it in herself to give those violent orders. The guards had asked why they were not allowed to beat her and Sylvanas had warned them not to question her.

Sylvanas sighed and looked down in her papers. Nothing was getting done, not with knowing Jaina was around. Senior Sergeant Grimsford ventured into the room. "Whatever it is Sergeant, I'm not sure I care". Sergeant Grimsford frowned. "I think you will. It is about Jaina, my lady". Sylvanas looked up. "Speak"… She murmured. "She is looking rather… Unwell, my lady". Sylvanas scoffed. "And I am supposed to care, why?" Sergeant Grimsford swallowed hard before he spoke his next words. "I think you already care, my dear queen. You could perhaps have mercy on her. She loves you dearly, she just does not understand your decision to leave King Varian". Sylvanas clenched her fists. "Who do you think you are to tell me to have mercy on someone?!" Sergeant Grimsford took a couple of steps back and fiddled with his fingers. "I am nobody, my lady. But as your closest advisor, I feel it is my job to give you this information. You should talk to her. Maybe you two will figure it out?" It shocked Sylvanas how sympathetic the sergeant was for Jaina. He was not one that cared for others whatsoever, so this was unusual for him. She rose from her chair and Senior Sergeant Grimsford stared in the floor like he was scared the Banshee Queen would strike him. "Look me in the eyes, sergeant". Sergeant Grimsford slowly lifted his head and his eyes was met by Sylvanas' glaring red. She placed both fists on the desk. "You are NEVER to comment on my private affairs EVER!" The Banshee Queen's voice was sharp and loud, almost deafening the Sergeant's forsaken ears. Sylvanas unclenched her fists and lifted her head authoritatively. "But I hear you… I will speak with Lady Proudmoore. Perhaps we can come to some sort of… Agreement". Sergeant Grimsford could barely believe his ears and he blinked in disbelief. His dear queen had listened to him and taken his advice. "You can go Sergeant. Thank you". Senior Sergeant Grimsford almost felt warm even though his undead body was not able to. His queen had thanked him for his guidance. It was a good day to serve the Dark Lady.