Chapter 25 – Sane insanity

Without a word, Jaina let Sylvanas guide her out of her chambers. Night had fallen upon Orgrimmar and the Kalimdor sky was filled with sparkly bright stars. Jaina glanced up at the now fel free firmament and felt the corner of her mouth twitch for a slight smile. Sylvanas kept the grip of her hand tight as she led her towards the hill of one of the many high cliffs of city. Jaina had stopped guessing as to what the Dark Lady wanted to show her as it could be anything from a new prison cell to some insane plan for exterminating the Legion. Nothing surprised her anymore when it came to Sylvanas.

They walked up towards the steepest cliff and when they reached the top, which Jaina could only assume was the highest point of Orgrimmar, she could feel mist surrounding her feet. It made her think of the magical mists she had experienced whilst being on expedition in Pandaria and she remembered how it had always triggered calm emotions in her. It was certainly needed as her mission on the Isle of Thunder had been nothing but calm.

"Close your eyes". Sylvanas stopped. "What if I don't want to?" Jaina replied with a slight snarky tone. "I like to keep my eyes open when around you, thank you". Jaina turned away from Sylvanas and crossed her arms. Sylvanas sighed.

"For Odyn's sake, Jaina, just trust me." She grabbed the young mage's arm in an attempt to pull her towards her. Jaina scoffed and released herself. "Last time I did that, it didn't go so well, so I don't think so". She rested her eyes firmly on the Warchief.

Sylvanas murmured: "I deserve that… But just…" gritting her teeth as her next word was possibly the hardest one existing in her vocabulary. "Please?"

Jaina frowned at Sylvanas as the word "please" was spoken from the Forsaken Queen's mouth. Jaina read Sylvanas' struggled expression as the word left her lips. Jaina dropped an annoying sigh and closed her eyes. Sylvanas grabbed the young mage's hands as soon as she closed her eyes and steered her up the last bit of the hill, soon reaching the top. Jaina gave a short speech as Sylvanas led her towards the edge of the cliff: "Right, throw me off the cliff. Do whatever. I must be an idiot for doing this… I have already given you so many fucking chances Sylvanas and you have blown every single one. If you don't kill me you better hope that I…"

"Open your eyes". Sylvanas interrupted, and nudged Jaina by clenching her hand around hers. Jaina flung her eyes open and what met her was the most beautiful sight she had ever witnessed.

From where she was standing, the sky was crystal clear and deep emerald green, intense sapphire blue and glossy ruby red colours danced over the firmament. The enigma of colours twinkled in the young sorceress eyes and Jaina could nothing but let out a sigh of fascination over the phenomena she was now observing.

Sylvanas watched as Jaina was taking in the view. It pleased her to finally see Jaina glow again and it was like the mage absorbed the magic from the marvels flying over the sky. Oh how beautiful she looked with her blonde hair shifting in the light breeze. Without noticing herself, Sylvanas smiled.

"Tell me Sylvanas, what is this? What is wonderful magic?" Jaina laughed and smiled. All she felt was happiness and she spun around with her arms fully stretched to each side just taking it all in. Sylvanas took one step back and pointed in the direction of north and slightly west.

"Nordrassil. What you see and feel is the magic from the night elf druids empowering the World Tree to repel the Legion. If you look closely, you can even see Mount Hyjal". Sylvanas placed her hands on Jaina's waist and directed her where to stand to best catch a glance of the World Tree and Mount Hyjal. However, she did not let go and Jaina did not tell her to remove herself.

"It is beautiful, Sylvanas. I have never seen anything like it. Thank you so much for showing me this incredible moment". Jaina turned around and her blue eyes reflecting all the current colours of the sky met Sylvanas' unchanged red. She gently placed her soft palm on Sylvanas' cold cheek and stroked her. Sylvanas, who still held around the young mage's waist, slid her hands carefully up Jaina's back and gently pulled her closer to herself.

Their lips met and the magic Jaina had absorbed exploded from her into a beautiful rain of purple arcane crystals falling around them like snowflakes. Sylvanas swore she could have felt a heartbeat in her chest for a split second as her lips parted from Jaina Proudmoore's. A wave of calmness flushed in over Jaina and in that moment, the last two months of hell disappeared. She leaned in and rested her head on Sylvanas' chest as the warchief, her warchief, held her tight, never wanting to let go.

Over the next week, Jaina and Sylvanas spent most of their time together. They talked, laughed and continued planning assaults on the Legion at the Broken Isles. Reports confirmed that the defense of their base at the Broken Shore was sufficiently maintained and most Horde led attacks on the Legion throughout Val'sharah had been successful. Yet in Highmountain, the Tauren tribes were in urgent need of assistance.

"Lonefang, I want you to take the Third Squire and station yourself at the Thunder Totem in Highmountain. The tauren is expecting you. You will report to High Chieftain Mayla Highmountain upon your arrival and she will give you further instructions on where you and your troops are needed". Sylvanas had insisted that the Horde sent Orasha and her squires to aid the Highmountain tauren as she was the best warrior they had. Orasha was honoured to be appointed such an important task, but Jaina was sad to lose her only close friend in Orgrimmar.

"Promise me you will be careful, my friend". The time had come for Orasha to leave for her mission and Jaina worried for her. "May the old Gods be with you warrior Lonefang". Jaina had said as she laid her hands on Orasha's sword, sealing it with a powerful enchantment. "I will fight with honour, my lady. Thank you for everything, I owe you my life. May Warchief Windrunner watch over you". Those had been Orasha's last words to Jaina before she boarded the zeppelin that was taking them to Highmountain.

That same night, Sylvanas and Jaina stayed up late studying the map of the Broken Isles in Sylvanas' chambers. "I am sorry, Jaina. She is the best we have. I had to make that decision". Sylvanas laid her hand on Jaina's shoulder as she saw the young mage's sad expression when they discussed Highmountain. Jaina shrugged. "I know. I just hope she will be okay. She was my only true friend here". "I am sorry, my dear…" Sylvanas removed her hand.

"You know… If you hadn't put me in the dungeons, she would still be down there. I keep thinking, what if there are more like her down there? I am sure they could be of great asset to Horde". Jaina turned to Sylvanas.

"Can we go visit the prisoners?"

Sylvanas frowned. "You want to go back into the dungeons to visit our captives?!" The Dark Lady looked confused.

"Yes? Garrosh was a ruthless leader. If I am right, most of the people down there probably just looked at him wrong! If you save them, my lady, they will fight for you!"

Sylvanas liked the idea of more soldiers. They truly needed more, but what was a capital without prisoners? She liked the power of having hostages. Although, Jaina was right, they were Garrosh's prisoners, not hers. Perhaps an exception could be made.

"Eugh, let's go see if we can find someone who fulfills my requirements then". Sylvanas rolled her eyes at Jaina, but saw how it pleased her.

The following day they had released thirty of the forty prisoners in the dungeons. The ones left in the cells were traitors, thieves and murderers. The rest had been brought before their Warchief outside her chambers to be assigned tasks. There were even two Alliance that Jaina had successfully persuaded Sylvanas to release. One human named Kevin Barrel and a night elf who bore the name Fayleen Mistheart.

As the twenty eight others were assigned to different tasks and troops based on their classes and professions, Kevin and Fayleen still stood before Warchief Windrunner. "Sylvanas, what is the meaning of this?" Jaina whispered as the two Alliance members stared in the floor, too weak and scared to meet the Banshee Queen's eyes.

Sylvanas cleared her throat as she felt embarrassed to have shown mercy on prisoners of the Alliance. "Lady Proudmoore here has persuaded me you two weaklings may come in handy. I expect you to show her how. All yours, my lady. I have other matters to attend". Sylvanas went inside her chambers. Jaina opened her mouth to say something, but Sylvanas had already left.

"It is okay, you can look up now", said Jaina in attempt to calm the human and the night elf. The two slowly looked up, their hands still tied together. Jaina approached them and cut them lose. "That's better, now tell me. What are you trained in?" Kevin looked at Fayleen who remained silent. He cleared his throat.

"I am a paladin, Lady Proudmoore. But please, tell me, what are you doing here? Let's teleport to Dalaran! I am sure Archmage Khadgar will protect us!"

Jaina flinched as she heard Dalaran and Khadgar's name. It had been a good few days since she had last thought about either. It annoyed her that the paladin had brought it up. She kissed her teeth. "I am here of my own free will, you are not. So tell me, how can the Banshee Queen use you?" Kevin mumbled something about Jaina being a traitor to the Alliance.

"Let me assure you paladin that I have no intentions of betraying the Alliance. However, I have come to the conclusion that by working with the Warchief, my chances of exterminating the Legion are greater. Now, what will it be: back to the dungeons or help me?" Fayleen suddenly broke the silence.

"I am a discipline priest, my lady, and a good one. I have experienced the Burning Legion before as I fought the previous scourge". Jaina smiled. "Very well. You will go train with the other priests, I am sure you will do excellent. As for you paladin, you can report to the First Squire. They will make an appropriate position for you there. The Kor'kron guards will take you to where you need to be".

The week passed quickly as the planning for further stationing of troops at the Broken Isles intensified. The Third Squire reported from Highmountain that they needed reinforcements as many lives had been lost already. Jaina worried for Orasha, though the reports were signed Lonefang. She was okay for now.

"It's not going well…" Sylvanas was tapping her finger as she read a letter the Alliance had written, informing her that the Emerald Nightmare had been experienced by several of their men in Val'Sharah. "Can the druids not fight it?" Jaina asked as she sat down with Sylvanas. "Not this time. It requires more than that. Something stronger…"

That night Sylvanas did not sleep. Not that she needed a lot of sleep, but her thoughts were occupied. The Emerald Nightmare scared her and she was frightened to experience it. Although the reports said it had only occurred for people currently in Val'Sharah, she was frightened nevertheless.

Sylvanas got up and walked outside where the previously clear sky was now covered in clouds. She remembered how she had loved to sleep under the stars when she had been alive. She truly missed how everything around her felt different and looked different in life. When dead, things were simply more miserable.

"Good evening, Warchief". Apothecary Jezel greeted her and Tawny, who had followed her Warchief to Orgrimmar, was with her. "Good evening". Sylvanas murmured.

"Great night for mushroom picking, my lady". Tawny grinned and poked the sand with her stick. "Is that so Tawny…" Sylvanas looked up at the clouds again and sighed. If only…

Tawny and Jezel was about to walk away when Sylvanas stopped them and waved them closer as she whispered a few words to her minions. Both of them ,shocked at the words coming from their queen, they looked at each other confusingly.

"I mean nothing is impossible, my dear queen but…" Sylvanas placed a hand on Apothecary Jezel's shoulder. "Then try!" The Banshee Queen stated firmly. With a concerned expression, Jezel replied in gutterspeak and Sylvanas nodded before heading back into her chambers. She got in bed and thought of the stars behind the clouds. If only…