Chapter 24 – Nowhere to go
Jaina woke up feeling rather groggy. Yesterday's drinking had taken its toll and she suffered badly from a hangover. She had only just opened her eyes when someone knocked on her door. Jaina shot up instantly remembering what happened last night. "Who is it?" She shouted warily, fearing it was Sylvanas. "It's Orasha, my lady". Jaina exhaled in relief and told Orasha to come in.
"I only wanted to make sure you were alright, you were quite unstable when you left the feast last night". Jaina chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Yep, paying for it today". She pointed to her head that was inflicted with a pounding headache. "Well, I don't know if you want to know Jaina, but as a friend I feel obliged to deliver the gossip". Jaina laughed ironically. "Oh go on, whatever it is I can handle it". Orasha cleared her throat. "After you left, it only took the Warchief seconds to push that rogue away. She abandoned the feast and did not return. The elf was left alone for the rest of the evening and she was furious". Jaina's eyes widened. Sylvanas had gone after her. She had left Helitha to it and gone after her. However, even after what Sylvanas had whispered in her ear last night, Jaina was not sure what to make of it. She decided to keep the incident to herself for now. "Wow, I bet she was…" Jaina mumbled.
Sylvanas was arranging a meeting with the leaders of her squires and other troops today. Though she had been drunk last night, her undead body did not endure hangovers. It surprised her that her body even had the ability to get drunk anymore, but it did. She remembered what she had done yesterday and she did not blame the alcohol, she blamed her desires. Sylvanas was annoyed that she had let herself go after Jaina. It would have been easier to simply take Helitha to bed. But her longing for the young mage was no longer rational. It made Sylvanas feel weak. She had been lonely before they met. After their short romance, Jaina had left a deep, black hole in Sylvanas' otherwise deceased heart. She needed Jaina. The magical sorceress had the power to make Sylvanas feel like her existence on this planet had a purpose. In all the darkness around her, Jaina brought light to her life. Regardless, Sylvanas was forsaken. For Jaina, a human, to be by her side was impossible. Her people would never accept it and neither would the Horde. The same went for Jaina, especially after what Sylvanas had done to the Alliance, costing them their great leader, Varian Wrynn.
Sylvanas noticed that Jaina was not present at the meeting and found it strange as she was always involved in these decisions. She hoped it was not because of last night. Sylvanas closed her eyes for a second and she could still smell the sweet scent of the young mage. "Warchief?" Baine Bloodhoof nudged Sylvanas lightly, bringing her absent mind back to reality. Sylvanas cleared her throat. "Pardon me, Chieftain…" She mumbled and pointed to different locations on the map where the next assaults on the legion had been planned. "Lonefang, where is Proudmoore?" Sylvanas snapped after a while. Orasha swallowed. "In her chambers my queen, she was not feeling too well today". Sylvanas scoffed, but left it at that to not raise suspicion among the others.
When the meeting was over the others left and Sylvanas remained in her chambers, as did Senior Sergeant Grimsford. "My Queen, are you informing Lady Proudmoore about the decisions made here today?" Sylvanas kissed her teeth. "I would think that if she wished to be informed, she would have made an appearance at this meeting". "She is hungover my lady…" Senior Sergeant Grimsford murmured. "Excuse me?" Sylvanas raised an eyebrow. Sergeant Grimsford shrugged. "She is human. She drank too much. You know what the livings are like…" Sylvanas had certainly forgotten what it was like. "I will go and inform her myself. Nobody misses a meeting as a result of their own stupidity". Before Sergeant Grimsford could even make suggestions as to why that would be a bad idea, Sylvanas went to see Jaina.
Jaina laid in her bed and snuggled up to the embersilk sheets she had been given. She drifted in and out of sleep and the hangover slowly let go of her. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt Sylvanas lips touch her earlobe and whisper the sweet words Dalah'Surfal, and it made her smile. Every time she woke up, she felt the cold touch of nothingness and it made her cry. She wanted to run away, but there was nowhere to go. She would not go home, not after resigning her post as leader for the Kirin Tor. Kalecgos was dead and nobody but Vereesa would care if she was okay now. However, if she stayed here, it would be like accepting the awful treatment from the Warchief. Nothing about this situation was okay. She was a respected and powerful mage. Yet, she was wandering meaninglessly around Orgrimmar in hope that things that had happened between her and Sylvanas would be mended. Jaina was not sure if she had forgiven Sylvanas for abandoning Varian, although she understood her reasons. She also felt a sharp pain in her heart when she thought of the blood elf rogue Helitha kissing Sylvanas.
Just as Jaina slowly opened her eyes again, she once more heard knocking on the door. Expecting Orasha, Jaina shouted "Come in!" However, in came Sylvanas, not attempting to be polite or quiet. Jaina jumped and pulled her covers up, holding it tight to her chest as some kind of safety blanket. Sylvanas' red eyes pierced hers and the Warchief looked displeased. "Proudmoore, when I call for a meeting, I expect my right hand to be present. What is the matter with you? Get up!" Sylvanas reached for Jaina's arm and pulled the young mage out of bed. Jaina yelped as she was yanked up. Dropping her covers, she now stood in her short, red nightgown wrapping her arms around her as she felt exposed. She gave Sylvanas a confused look and wondered why she was so aggressive. "Get dressed, we have work to do!" Sylvanas threw Jaina's robe at her like she was some peace of trash she tried to get rid of after a one night stand. Suddenly, extremely embarrassed Jaina rushed to her bathroom to put her clothes on.
Sylvanas watched as the mage hurried away with tears in her eyes. She wondered why it was so difficult for her to simply be nice. In some ways, Sylvanas felt sorry for Jaina. The fact that she was still here after how she had been treated the past weeks was a miracle. Sylvanas hoped it was because the mage still loved her. However, the treatment Jaina received was not a test of how far Sylvanas could push her. It was about letting the mage back into her heart. After the kiss… Varian kissing Jaina still flashed before Sylvanas' eyes. The Dark Lady had let herself love and be betrayed. Again. But the unexpected longing for the beautiful Jaina Proudmoore overpowered all the treachery. It had made her vulnerable again, to the point where she ambushed Jaina last night. It had taken all the power Sylvanas had to not take it further with Jaina last night. But it had been perfect. She had whispered no more than she needed and made a swift escape.
Sylvanas did not know why she was still stood waiting for Jaina, or why she had come in the first place. They had no work to do, the decisions had been made. She found herself simply seeking out the company of Jaina. Suddenly feeling silly and fragile, Sylvanas cleared her throat and tapped her right foot at the floor. The mage stepped out of the bathroom, clearly baring signs of shedding tears. Sylvanas felt a sting in her chest when she saw Jaina so unhappy. She had been put through a lot during her stay in Orgrimmar. Even though she was now physically being treated well, Sylvanas knew she was mentally exhausting the sweet sorceress. The light that normally surrounded Jaina was weaker and she did not glow of confidence anymore.
"My queen…" Jaina mumbled and looked to the floor. Sylvanas took a step forward and reached for Jaina's chin. Jaina wanted to flinch, but she remained staring to the floor, expecting anything from a slap to a kiss. Sylvanas slowly lifted Jaina's head by her chin and said: "Come, my lady, I have something to show you".
