Chapter 39 – Alive in agony

"Where have you been?" She looked at him with cold, light blue eyes.

"I… I was out. Celebrating Hallow's End, my queen". He bowed respectfully before her.

She studied him, knowing he was lying. But she had no time for petty lies. Her mission was urgent.

"Get my soldiers ready. We leave in the morning, and sergeant".

He dared to meet her eyes.

"She better not show up. Or else I will hold you personally responsible".

Senior Sergeant Grimsford nodded in distress. "Of course my dear queen. Why would she?"

He saw himself out of the throne room while Lady Sylvanas Windrunner glared at him leaving.

She was almost certain he had blabbered to Jaina about her intentions. She had probably been a fool for trusting him with this as she knew he had developed a certain loyalty to the young human mage as well. Perhaps, on some levels, she wished for Jaina to show up.

Sylvanas sighed and her heart skipped a beat. It made her tear up. She still had not gotten used to a living heart pumping in her chest. She felt it with her hand and it was a strong heartbeat that pulsated within her.

She bit her lip and slid over to her desk.

From one of her desk drawers, she fished out a mirror with an old golden frame. She turned it to her face and she studied her image, running her index finger down her cheek.

She still could not believe it. She was alive. A beautiful high elf, with honey coloured skin, cobalt blue eyes and deep red lips looked back at her. She was as attractive as ever before, a glorious high elf. Yet, she did not feel it. She felt the same as before.

Dead.

She threw the mirror into the stone wall, making it smash into a thousand pieces.

Why did she not feel alive? The rest of her surely was. But the nothingness that had consumed her as a Banshee remained. She felt as bitter as the day Arthas had raised her, and the same agony ran through her. At night, she still dreamt the same dreams, her death, Arthas's grin as he pulled his sword out of her stomach. That had not changed, not one bit.

"My queen". Dark Ranger Velonara entered the room and bowed respectfully before her. Sylvanas quickly wiped a tear and snapped out of her thoughts. She could not let her minions see her like this. Not if she wanted to keep the position with her people.

Velonara cleared her throat. "Your army is set for the morning and the preparations are in place. We are ready for the assault".

Sylvanas nodded, and Velonara was just about to leave.

"Velonara, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, my queen?"

Sylvanas inhaled nervously.

"What do my people say… About me?"

"I'm not sure I follow?" Velonara looked at her.

"I mean. I am a living being leading the dead. What do my people think? Do they still see me… worthy?"

Velonara took a minute to respond, choosing her words carefully. She bit her lip.

"As I am sure you can imagine, my queen, there has been… Speculations. If you are, in fact, still fit to lead the Forsaken. However, your people have not experienced that your persona and behaviour has changed. And they owe you their undead lives. Therefore, they have decided to follow you. For now".

Sylvanas was unsure whether she liked the answer. It was as if she almost hoped that they would throw her royal status for seeing a change in her. But no. They thought she was the same, cold, harsh person she was before.

She cleared her throat and faked a smile.

"Very well. I am pleased to hear I have my people with me. Please inform me if that changes will you?"

"Of course, my lady. And also a letter from Lor'themar arrived. Him, and the rest of the Horde are very pleased to hear about your resurrection and that you wish to return as their Warchief. Congratulations on your return, my Warchief".

So they still wished her as their Warchief. Probably more now than when she was undead, Sylvanas thought.

"Thank you for the reports. I will see you in the morning Dark Ranger".

Velonara saw herself out while Sylvanas plonked down in her chair and exhaled deeply.

Jaina… she thought.

What was Jaina doing right now? Was she happy, sad, confused? Did she know she missed her? Because she did. So much. Sylvanas begged that Jaina knew she still loved her.

It felt strange. Since being alive, it was like her feelings for Jaina was completely different. Different in the sense that they were more intense and stronger. Before, she had been able to separate her duties and life as the Banshee Queen and Warchief fairly good from her feelings for Jaina. However, now, everything was a mess. She had emotions she could only vaguely remember ever having as a young high elf. She had longed for the young mage before, sure, but not like this. She needed her.

As she undressed for bed, Sylvanas felt how cold it actually was in Undercity. Her skin got goose bumps and it gave her a prickly feeling that made her shiver. She had never before realised it was cold.

She got underneath the covers of her linen sheets, and she stared at the fireplace. It was as if she could see herself and Jaina make love in front of it, like they had done many months before. How did they get from that to where they were now? Their relationship had been nothing but a rollercoaster. But they loved one another.

Visions danced in the flames, and Sylvanas' light blue eyes envisioned Jaina's beautiful face. Her eyes, her sweet, pink lips and the soft skin on her warm cheeks. She simply could not wait to be with her again, to apologise, and explain it all. The thought of her and Jaina together had made her warm and fuzzy and sleep creeped up on the former banshee.

One day, we will be together, for eternity, Dalah' surfal.

A grunt. A feeling of being tortured. A banging headache.

"Arggh". Jaina turned over in her bed as sunlight lit up the room and sparkled on her face.

Everything hurt. Every-single-thing.

Last night, she had been a total mess. She had probably taken the Hallow's End celebrations further than any other person in Dalaran. She opened her eyes slowly and as her pupils absorbed the light, she felt her stomach turn and she needed to be sick.

While throwing up in a bucket, the door opened without warning.

"Ohhhh so it isn't a good morning. I thought as much". Vereesa Windrunner scolded Jaina.

"Not… today". Jaina slid back into her bed and curled up in pain.

"Where did you go last night? I looked for you for hours!" Vereesa dumped down on her bedside.

"What?" Jaina mumbled. She had no memory of last night past the first arcane screwdriver she had drank.

"You disappeared. That blood elf was grinding you, may the Old Gods help you! And then you were gone. Did you take her with you? Please tell me you didn't sle…" Jaina's grunt stopped her mid-sentence.

"Nooo I didn't. I… I don't know what I did. But I was alone. I think. I must have just gone to bed". Jaina took a sip of some water that was on her bedside cabinet.

"Hmmm… Ok then. I suppose you wouldn't do that to Sylvanas".

Jaina shot up as if she was instantly cured of her hangover.

"Sylvanas!" She said out loud as her azure blue eyes widened.

"Erm, yes? The one you love, remember? Supposedly, anyway…" Vereesa murmured and rolled her eyes.

"No! I mean, yes! The one I love but no, not that, Grimsford!" Jaina swallowed every other word she was gasping, not making much sense for Vereesa to interpret.

"BREATHE!" Vereesa patted her back. "What the hell are you trying to tell me?"

Jaina inhaled sharply.

"Sergeant Grimsford came to me last night. He fetched me outside that's why I was gone! Sylvanas, she… Oh for the love of the Titans… Sylvanas, She..."

"Speak!" Vereesa, rushed her impatiently.

"She is leaving for Helheim today. She is going to kill Helya!"

Vereesa's eyes widened in disbelief and she started shaking her head.

"No… She's going to die…"

"NO! Don't say it. I cannot go through that again". Jaina kicked the duvet off her and jumped out of bed. It made her head spin and her stomach turn. But she ignored it.

"Assemble your rangers Vereesa. We are going after her". Vereesa gulped and looked at her.

"But… She wants us to stay away".

"I don't give a single shit. Senior Sergeant Grimsford came to me last night, pleading for me to save her. Sylvanas does not know the danger of this. She is blinded by the lust for her Val'kyr and by her desire to make up for… the deal she made with that monster".

"I know about the deal. But I just did not think anything came of it?"

"You don't get it. She collected the dust from Hyrja anyway and now Helya wants either the resurrection potion that revived Sylvanas or she wants her soul for eternal torment! And giving her the vial with potion would be fatal for all living people in Azeroth, so kind of not an option!" Jaina rattled through her clothes in one of her drawers to find something to wear, her hair pointing in every direction possible.

Vereesa stared at her not quite knowing what to say.

"Vereesa! We don't have time! Get your rangers, get the mages, get whoever! We are going to Helheim, TODAY!"

Without responding, Vereesa hurried out, hunting for volunteers.

Two hours later, Jaina inspected the people Vereesa had gathered. She had to admit, the turn-out was appalling. One old dranei, paladin who went by the name Tokalas, a teenage human girl, Hanna, Jaina doubted had ever wielded her rogue daggers before and Ayawa.

Jaina scoffed and glared at Vereesa.

"Where are your rangers?"

Vereesa curled her lips.

"They refused the call". A tear ran down her face.

"What? She is your sister!"

"They know… And they refused".

Jaina watched as Vereesa bravely wiped the tears away. It must have been hard for her hearing her rangers reject saving her own sister.

"Well…" the young sorceress stared at the three people in front of her.

"Are you ready to save the Warchief of the Horde?"

The teen rogue giggled.

"Suuuureee, I'm just going to explore the Broken Isles. This was the only way my parents would let me go. To make a name for myself of something". She made some weird gesture.

Jaina raised an eyebrow and sighed moving her sight to the old dranei, Tokalas, who coughed like he was ill.

"I want one good fight before I put my sword on the shelf forever. Raid groups and other armies won't take me, so this was a good opportunity for me to fulfil my dreams". He panted.

Great. The rejects of Azeroth had signed up for this mission. But there was Ayawa. Jaina had seen what she was capable of before. Perhaps they would be okay. Ayawa smiled at her and nodded to comfort her.

"WAIT!" A voice behind them shouted and Jaina turned around.

"Orasha?! She exclaimed in happiness. "What are you doing here?!" She embraced her Orc friend.

Orasha hugged her back.

"I have a couple of days off from my duties in Highmountain and I figured I wanted to visit my friend, Jaina Proudmoore. So when I heard this was your current location, I travelled straight away". She smiled.

"Well you are just in time for me to ask you the biggest favour one ever could ask".

Orasha tilted her head and looked at the others that was stood behind Jaina.

"Sylvanas is going to Helheim to kill Helya, and I have to save her. But I need help. Now these three and Vereesa have agreed to help me, but I'm afraid it won't be enough". Jaina looked worried.

"Of course, I will come with you, Jaina. I owe my freedom to you, you saved me. And so did Sylvanas. Hopefully, now, I can finally even my debt to you both". Orasha's soothing smile warmed Jaina.

"Thank you, my friend. This truly means a lot to me".

She smiled nervously and clapped her hands together.

"Okay! Great! I appreciate your support, everyone. Let's kill Helya! I will summon a portal to Stormheim which will speed up our travel".

The others nodded and as Jaina summoned the portal ready, all six of them stepped through, landing safely on the grounds of Stormheim.