A/N: Hi Everyone! Just a quick update before a long chapter. Hope you enjoy it and eagerly await the next ^^ I hope it will be here before xmas!
Chapter 40 – Ancient Riddles
It was just passed noon and Stormheim was filled with beautiful autumn colours. The Legion had completely been eradicated from the lands of the zone and their scourge now only remained in Suramar. The latest update from the battle front was that Gul'dan had invaded the Nighthold, an ancient Nightborne fortress, and barricaded himself inside it together with his strongest minions. Reports read that it was impossible to enter the fortress and that he remained untouchable for now. Both the Alliance and the Horde were extremely worried about whatever Gul'dan was speculating in, but rumour had it he had retrieved the body of Illidan Stormrage and brought it with him into the Nighthold. They hoped to the old Gods it was just that, a rumour.
Jaina inhaled and closed her eyes, smiling as the cold, fresh air swam through her nose filling her lungs. Being back at the Broken Isles felt fantastic. For some reason, Jaina felt at peace here. Despite the Legion having imprinted the lands of these beautiful isles with evil fel, she loved it. Maybe on some levels, it reminded her of Theramore. Not that the two lands were geologically similar in any way, but she felt it nevertheless.
"Jaina, was it?" Hanna, the teenage girl she had brought with her, approached the side of her.
Jaina sighed and turned to the young, human rogue. She could not be more than sixteen Jaina thought.
"Yes?" Jaina replied with a slight annoyance in her tone as her moment of reminiscing had been broken.
Hanna scoffed at Jaina's harsh tone. "Ok, yeah, I'm gonna dash. I only came to see my boyfriend. He lives in Azuna, so".
Jaina frowned.
"He a murloc or something?" Jaina almost mocked her. She had no time to deal with stroppy teenagers right now.
Hanna snarled some nasty words back at her, making Jaina instantly regret triggering her.
"Look, I'm sorry Hanna. I really need your help. Please stay". Jaina looked at the rogue with hopeful eyes.
"FINE!" Hanna screamed and started walking.
Vereesa and Jaina exchanged a worried look, but followed on. So did Orasha, Ayawa and the old dranei Tokalas.
After around an hour long walk, they all stopped in front of a long, familiar stone bridge. Jaina thought back to when she had been here last. Sylvanas had killed Hyrja in Halls of Valor and left with the Val'kyr dust that had later been the crucial ingredient to her resurrection.
"The entrance to Hellheim should be here somewhere, if I'm not wrong. It used to be heavily guarded, but now that the Legion has repelled most of our forces out of these lands, the place is left unattended". Jaina pointed to a great stone hall left of the main temple.
They crossed the bridge wearily, checking behind them at every step. Jaina grabbed Vereesa's hand and squeezed it. She thought it was too quiet in Stormheim today and gave her an iffy feeling.
When they had crossed, they stopped in front of a large stone door. It was too heavy to push aside and there was no way around it. Jaina slammed her hands on the cold stone.
"Help me out here!" She indicated to Vereesa and the others. They all came to help, but pushed to no use. The stone door was too heavy.
"There must be another way". Vereesa said whilst studying the door. The high elf ranger ran her index finger across the cold stone surface.
"Wait a minute…" Vereesa exclaimed as she brushed some moss off the door.
"There are runes carved into this". She removed all the layers of moss from the surface and revealed the ancient writing.
"It looks like old dwarwen runes!"
"Let me see that". Jaina examined the runes and sighed.
"What's the matter?" Vereesa looked at her.
"Well, now would have been the time to understand dwarwen! But I don't! So unless you do, we'll never crack this code!" Jaina let out a loud annoyed grunt before slamming her palm flat on the cold stone door.
Orasha went to pat her friend on the back. "We will find another way in my dear. Don't you worry".
A loud "ahem".
Everyone turned to look at the young rogue who stood in an upright position with arms crossed frowning at the runes.
"Lucky for you guys, I majored in dwarwen in school. And I was top of my class! Not so stupid now am I?" Hanna smirked as she looked at Jaina.
"Are you serious?" Jaina exclaimed in happiness.
"Yes, now step aside old woman and let me work". Jaina's smile quickly faded as the rude girl nudged her to the side.
Orasha shook her head at Jaina, indicating she should let it go. Jaina inhaled sharply and counted to ten before stepping aside. Ayawa and Tokalas glanced at each other and shrugged.
"So, what does it say?" Vereesa carefully asked after five minutes.
Hanna cleared her throat and read out loud:
"Step inside and taste her wrath. She will watch you on your path. To the left you will find, the lock that will bind, her world to yours, but be careful, she shows no remorse. The key is found with a certain spell, at the bottom of a well. Dark and cold as hell. PS: Bravery will be rewarded with death".
Jaina gritted her teeth. "What fucking WELL? This is hopeless! She might be getting killed down there and we have to stand here like fools, solving ancient riddles that I don't give a shit about!"
She threw her staff to the floor with great force and stomped off before sitting down on a rock away from the others. She planted her face into her palms and sobbed silently.
"Dear…" Vereesa appeared on the side of her after a few moments.
"No… She's going to die again. I can feel it. And she won't be coming back this time. I didn't even get to kiss her. Feel her. Speak to her. Nothing. It's just a big pile of nothing, Vereesa. What is the point of all this? All I want is for the Legion to be buried forever and to do mundane things every day with the woman I love".
She hulked. She almost felt a little like a child not getting her wishes fulfilled, but had she not suffered enough? Was it so much to ask?
"Look. I want to save my sister as much as you do. But you have got to get it together woman! You're not the only one who has lost your love in this world. God I know what that feels like more than anyone. If it was not for my husband, you would not be sitting here. But I thank him every day that you are. I don't have a chance to get Rhonin back, but you have a chance to get Sylvanas back. Take it and stop sulking. Don't forget, she is MY sister. Her blood run through my veins. My last living Windrunner family. And we are getting her back to this world".
Jaina wiped her tears and clenched her teeth. She instantly felt shame. Shame for whining the way she did when Vereesa had lost so much too. And she knew her best friend was right.
"I… I am sorry Vereesa. I just, had a moment. It won't happen again". She stood up.
Vereesa nodded. "Good. Now let's save my sister yeah?" She grabbed the sorcess' shoulder and shook it lightly. Jaina pulled a slight smile and nodded back.
"Are you ok, my friend?" Orasha gave Jaina a hug when she returned to the group.
"Yes, don't worry about me, I was being silly. Shall we solve this riddle together?" Jaina looked around. "Erm, where is Hanna?"
"Hanna is here". The young rogue said, waving with an odd looking rock in her hand.
"While you were over there, whining like a child, I actually did something constructive". Hanna tossed Jaina the rock, and she caught it. It was hexagon shaped and somewhat red. But more pinkish than ruby.
Jaina looked up at Hanna, smiling when she realised exactly what she had achieved. Just as she was about to ask questions Hanna stopped her.
"You can thank me later. Now place it". Hanna pointed.
Without questioning the rogue further, Jaina did as she was told, and the rock melded with the lock on the stone door. It flashed in a purple colour, blinding them all.
Suddenly, the ground underneath their feet trembled and bits of the earth around them fell down into a large crater.
"The underworld…"Jaina whispered to herself as the ground sunk.
Through the chaos Hanna shouted. "Guys, I'd rather not fall down there!"
Jaina snapped out of her thoughts. "Don't worry! Let the ground disappear under you. I will cast a slowing spell on you all. You'll land just fine". She shouted.
Hanna looked worried as if she did not want to trust Jaina. "Hanna, I promise. You will be ok!"
Hesitantly, Hanna nodded and as the ground fell apart underneath them, they fell into the depths of Hellheim.
