Disclaimer: The characters and settings created by Blizzard Entertainment Inc in this story are owned by their creators. I do not claim them as mine in any way, shape or form. I am not receiving monetary profit from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.

Note: I not sure if the presence of the Night Elf body guard Pained is consistent with a timeline involving young Jaina, Kael'thas and Arthas in school at Dalaran but… this is an alternate universe anyway, so why not? I always liked Pained. Ya'll remember her? From vanilla WOW? Enjoy!

Chapter 22: Sunstriding

Lady Jaina Proudmore had a wonderful portrait of Kael'thas in her dorm room. He was smiling, his blonde hair fell over his red robes. It would have been from some promotional material the Highborne sent around to the Human kingdoms.

So, you see, it's not like Jaina went out of her way to get the portrait. And there were plenty of dart holes, knife wounds and burn marks on it.

Pained, Jaina's Night Elf roommate, lay with her feet up on a couch arm, spinning an arcane crystal on her fingertip.

"These things are nasty, Jaina. I can't believe other Elves out there actually eat them."

Jaina had her hand up on a modified jeweler's table. Actually, since her enforced engagement, Jaina had discreetly removed her furniture in the night and replaced it with half a jeweler's workshop. Strong metal files, corkscrew metal shavings, bits of smashed gemstones… Jaina reasoned that she wasn't actually seeing Kael'thas romantically, so he wasn't going to ask to see the ring he'd put on her finger. So, she used a lot of her free time fiddling with it.

"That man is a great, big, fat ass."

"Did you say asp? Like the snake?"

"Is that what I said?!" Jaina looked up from where she was gently tightening a vice around her ring finger.

"Well, I'm not sure what you were trying to say, but 'asp' is what came out. I hear they're noble creatures. Though, it was a nice try at an insult."

"Feh."

Once Jaina was done with positiong her hand and tightening the ring so that it was still, she relaxed her right arm and rested it on the small silver platform she'd welded beneath it.

"I can't believe you studied up on jewelcrafting just to be free of him."

"And blacksmithing, don't forget that part. Mining all the ore for the finer equipment was the real bitch, though." Jaina looked up from what she was doing once more, "Don't ever tell Arthas that I went down into an old mine with a pick axe. I will never live that down. He thinks of me as some princess."

Pained laughed, indulgently, "You even smelted it too, I watched you."

"You didn't offer to help me, either."

Jaina made her hand perfectly still, then picked up a pen with her left hand and began scratching down calculations.

"And you even became left-handed."

"I had to! Do you think I want to be married to that crazy Elf for all time?" Then, Jaina thought better of her outburst, "Well, that particular Elf."

"You have something against us Elves, whether you like it or not."

"I didn't mean to say all that, obviously Kaldorei are fine. I'm just… I'm just so very frustrated with this whole thing!"

"I think you're jealous of how much more beautiful, intelligent and perfect we are. You also won't forgive yourself for sleeping with Kael'thas because of how handsome, clever and good-looking he is."

"You said he was attractive, like twice, Pained." Jaina got distracted again. This time, because she was giggling, "Wait, are you the one who's jealous of me? For getting to have Kael'thas?"

"Well, I wouldn't want to keep him afterwards."

"Touché." Jaina sighed, then reached for the metal file nearby. "Well, that last spell lock didn't work."

"You really are going to shave off… miniscule layers until you're free? And that device doesn't look none to comfortable."

"What must be done must be done."

"Jaina, isn't that a lot like an animal chewing its leg off in the wild, to get out of a trap?"

Jaina sang, "It isn't funny, Pained…"

Pained blew out a breath. She put down the magazine she'd been reading and picked up a newspaper.

"And you're never any help, are you?"

"Jaina, don't complain. I did move in here and stay over the summer to help keep an eye out for Highborne Prince-shaped shadows in the corners, and in your closet."

"You work better than any repellant, that's true. It's why Kael'thas hasn't tried coming over here."

"I'm taller than him. Actually I think he likes me, too. He always wears that stupid smile of his when I walk past him in the quad—Woah!"

Jaina didn't want to rise to the bait this time.

"Jaina, this is hilarious! You have to read this!"

"Kind of can't. Kind of have my hand in what looks like a miniature torture device. Which is also a pretty good descriptor of Kael'thas these days…"

"But this is Kael'thas! He's in the newspaper. Or, his family is. There's some scandal about his mother not being good enough for a real wedding ring, obviously, because King Anasterian gave her a fake one. Ha! He even had this whole fake ring thing commissioned."

"Queen Celestia is his step-mother. That monstress didn't birth him. Anyway, what the fel does that have to do with me?" Jaina flipped down a magnifying glass on a golden frame arching over the elaborate finger-vice. She sat up in her chair a little, to see the minute details on the metal. "I'm starting to wonder if the spell is not inside the ring, but ontop of it, in these little grooves… if so, maybe I could kind of wash it off? Or, you know, power-blast it? But I'd need to test it first. Something so deceptively obvious would have some kind of security mechanism built in. Well, not a mechanism, but a reaction, like a chemical reaction, that would fight back. Probably it would shut everything down and scramble itself so that I couldn't try it again. Well, not until I spent another summertime, three whole months, decoding the sequence… Pained? You're supposed to be helping me brainstorm."

The Night Elf woman was standing over Jaina's desk. "…What if you actually, really could test it out first?"

"Test what out first."

"Your theory."

"I'd need a prototype for that. Some kind of copy. Trust me, I've tried to make a dummy version of this stupid ring already, before you moved in. But the materials are just too rare."

"Jaina, like I already said," Pained shook her head, "You weren't listening. There is a copy of this ring already. King Anasterian had it made. It's in Silvermoon. It's there right now."

"Get out!" Jaina, astounded, tried to stand up. Pained winced and grabbed the vice, managing to rip it off the table, clear out of its screws, so that Jaina didn't lose a finger. Anyone nextdoor would have been scared out of their wits by the roaring and ripping, the crashing of instruments that had been attached. Thankfully, school was out for summer at Dalaran University.

Pained, the strong and wildly beautiful Night Elf friend to Jaina Proudmoore, she breathed rapidly as she steadied the thing, so that it was at level with Jaina's hand. Then, Pained smiled at Jaina with relief. The pale woman hardly broke a sweat over such a destructive feat. Scarlet fearl markings slashed down over her eyes and graced her cheeks. Deep ocean-blue hair fell over her shoulder in a long braid. Pained was about a thousand years her senior but the way she always kept up with Jaina's joking around and had her own youthful antics to content with, the Human woman and her Night Elf bodyguard were probably still the same age in their hearts. Jaina had asked for specifics on their ages once, but Pained soured at how Jaina had put it, 'in elf years'. After that, Jaina never felt safe enough to bring it up again. Even Pained had her limits with those she appreciated.

Jaina almost purred, "Why did you and I never get married? You're perfect for me."

"I'm not a handsome Human prince of Lordaeron." Pained waggled long, silvery blue elvish eyebrows. "But I will consider it an improvement in our friendship, my lady. High Priestess Tyrande will be pleased that I'm serving you so well."

"You'll make a nice wife to a lucky girl out there some day, Pained. I know it."

Pained winked seductively. "Now, let's get you out of this thing and into something far more comfortable. I believe you have a vacation to Silvermoon to plan." They worked together, Pained undoing careful screws and Jaina wincing with unending patience, until Jaina slid her finger out with the ring still attached.

"I'll never make it to Silvermoon on my own. Not without alerting Kael'thas. And I don't know how to explain this to my father, for him to pull his usual diplomatic strings. Prince Arthas… Arthas." Jaina stopped there, looking lost. Arthas had not responded to a single one of her letters to him. So, then. Arthas must have found about about her and Kael'thas sleeping together. It was too dreadful for her to ever think about.

Pained always stayed focused. "No matter what, we need to get you to Silvermoon City. So what if you don't have actual, official permission? That's Kael'thas' problem."

"Pained, you may not like this but… I can't see a way to get all the way to Silvermoon, and through the palace, all those guards, without going together, with him. Kael'thas. It's his world, he'd control everything. Kael'thas could throw me in the Sunspire if he found out I didn't do things his way."

"No."

"Please?"

Pained crossed her arms.

"Just come with me to Kael's room and follow my lead. That's all I'm asking. I promise, it'll be fine."

"Jaina, have you considered just what it would take for Kael'thas to bring you with him to Silvermoon, and in light of what's been in the newspaper? With no questions asked? We may like to tease Kael, and he may even like being teased by you, for years on end… but Kael'thas is no pushover. Whatever you are planning, my moonlily, it is going to come at a very high price."

Jaina winced, began pacing and rubbing her hand. "I know…"

"Well. As long as we're both agreed that you're about to destroy yourself. I wouldn't want you to go completely unprepared for your great personal downfall. Shall I bring your scrying orb to record it for all the histories to witness?"

Jaina huffed and went to gather up her things on the table. She angrily stuffed them in her book satchel.

Pained marched out of the room—it was the way she always walked, actually—to go put on some nicer clothes. Something 'good enough for meeting a tricksy nerdboy prince,' the Night Elf woman said.

As if Kael'thas was ever going to turn down two pretty girls very interested in crossing the threshold into his living quarters. He had been willing, undid all the locks and flung the door open for Jaina quickly. But both women noted he was not as 'charming' as usual. Kael'thas greeted Jaina mostly, but he was patently uncomfortable, and tried not to look Jaina in the eye, either. Pained hovered and had a way of making herself feel invisible, that Kael'thas, a fellow Elf, tacitly accepted and never questioned. To Jaina it felt strange that Pained, as tough and terrible as she could be, and Kael'thas, as furious as he was prone to becoming, had wordlessly come to an accord on rank and duty. Pained had work to do and Kael'thas had no problem letting her get on with it, even if it felt like Pained had become the furniture and stopped being an actual person at times.

Another strange Elf thing, possibly.

Jaina noted a stack of new papers, some long letters on his desk. "What's this?" She pointed to a white book with beautiful red-gold calligraphy on the cover.

"I uh… it's a very nice book. It's been keeping me sane, actually. When things here in the city have been so dark. I'm relieved that Sorn mailed it to me."

She picked it up as soon as she realized, "Aww it's about your mother? Your birth-mother. Queen Anthene'alas. I never knew her name."

Kael'thas carefully took it back from Jaina, gave it a long look himself, then carefully replaced it on his bookshelf.

Jaina finally walked around and made herself stand directly in front of Kael'thas. "Look, Kael'thas, I have something to say."

He leaned against the edge of the couch, folded his arms together. "Good morning, Jaina. I'm doing just fine, and yourself? You are looking beautiful today, Jaina. I'll fill in the polite greeting for you, since you forgot my love. No worries there."

Jaina looked sideways at Pained. Pained was as pale pink as the wallpaper. Was she shadowmelding? How did she freaking do that?

"I uh… well, you may not believe me but." Jaina really faltered then because it could only come across as a bold-face lie. Kael'thas was not a fool, he knew her heart. Or, he supposed that he did. He was so desperate to change her mind about Arthas in the first place, that's what the stupid enchanted ring was for. "After what you put me through, I have every right to see Quel'thalas for myself. Well, not a whole tour of the kingdom, but at least Silvermoon. I deserve to know what all is involved here, what the rumors are accusing of. Something like that. I may as well defend my reputation over there, like I'm doing here in Dalaran. Make a good impression."

He arched a blonde eyebrow at her. "You want to go to the kingdom of the nerd-Elves, as you would put it."

"I hear it's beautiful? This time of year." But she could not keep the anger out of her voice.

"Quel'thalas is very beautiful, yes. All the time." Kael'thas sounded just as techy.

Then, something happened. Kael'thas glanced around, sort of naturally. But he had noticed the Dalaran newspaper that was on his coffee table as well. He looked from that, to Jaina. "Have you… read the news this morning? Ah. I see."

"Oh, pfft—I never read the… not really."

"So then. Maybe you want to go to Silvermoon to see the sights. Very simple. Just as you said."

"…Yes. The sights."

It felt like they were circling each other, or about to fight. Not that they were discussing taking a romantic vacation.

"And after you see the royal treasury, the crown jewels…" He hung on, testing her reaction, "Perhaps even before that, I can show you all the wonderful things about my kingdom. The majestic artworks and theaters, my family's many royal residences, perhaps you and I could…" he clearled his throat to banish the hope climbing in his tone of voice, "bathe in the sea. Do you have a bathing suit, Jaina? Maybe something red, something… very red."

Jaina turned red, herself. Pained looked like she might be sick, despite her skill with shadowmelding into the walls.

Kael'thas smirked and stood up straight, arms still crossed tight. "A proper tour, then. With my fiancé."

"No. As friends. I want to clear the rumors by showing up there and appearing as we actually are, Kael'thas. As friends!"

He huffed a laugh, "No dice."

"Wh-What weird thing are you saying now? Look, you. Arthas can't find out. He's going through enough right now."

Kael'thas waltzed casually through his very red dorm room which was starting to feel like an evil nerd-boy lair, "Oh, but Jaina. You've failed to consider the politics of the thing in your little plan." He raised a handsome, dark gold eyebrow, "I've been overlong in completing my studies here in Dalaran. The people, naturally, presume that I have a very serious reason for staying away like I have. If I'm finally going to return, it can't be because I 'missed the Sunwell' or something foolish like that. I have a reputation as well. And many people, mainly my father and his friends, the Silvermoon aristocracy, already know that I've sworn not to come back without the woman I love. You. Not as just-friends, Jaina. As lovers. Don't make me go back there, towing at your heels like some trained dog and make me look like a liar ontop of everything else. The Prince of Quel'thalas is not a fool, nor a failure."

"I was going to say something horrible but I only know this stupid ring is going to change up what I say. Kael'thas, denying reality is bad for you."

"I will back to Silvermoon, but only with my fiancé."

"Never. That would finish Arthas and me, an announcement like that!"

"If you want to get a good look at my mother's ring." Kael'thas eyed her. "Those are my terms. And I'd better enjoy myself while we're out there, too. Or else," he sashayed the other way, arms still crossed, "what would be the point in even going? Jaina, you'll play the part."

"You're disgusting!" then the ring corrected her, "You're delicious! Dammit!"

"Jaina, we might as well show a united front. I don't know how else you think it'll be put in the papers anyway, when word gets out. That Kael'thas brought his 'buddy' the lovely Jaina Proudmoore to see Silvermoon and went on various dates with her only as 'just friends'? Are you kidding me? They'll have a field day with it—" he had been lost in his own pleasant musings about the strategy and it was a while before he finally got her comment. "Hey! Not in that way. I mean… if we do erm, go to bed together while we're over in Silvermoon, then it should be up to both of us. And don't insult me by assuming that I wouldn't manage to seduce you into anything fun, on my own merit Jaina. I want to marry you, you know. Not put a collar around my neck."

"Or one small enough to go around my finger?"

Kael'thas ignored that part, "Had it ever occurred to you that the best way to get Arthas back on campus or anywhere near you would be a scandal of this size? That he would have a real rival? I'm actually the best bait."

"And just how long have you been saving that one up! I can't believe you actually just said I'd have to date you in order to get Arthas back. What twisted, sick logic…"

"But, then again, my friend Faltheriel and I were doing something really interesting in the lab this summer. We shouldn't let the research team down by me just up and leaving. Maybe I shouldn't get you all-access to the royal treasury after all."

Jaina balled her hands into fists. Her blue eyes sparked with fresh anger. Pained shook her head silently.

Then, it really happened. "How soon can we leave?"

Kael'thas stood there, as if he'd just been hit by one of Jaina's frost spells. Or, he assumed he would be. This was something he held so high and dear in his heart, it took him some time to melt back into his usually self.

"Really?" He squeaked. "Or did the ring just make you say that."

"Yes. I was actually trying to say, 'How soon can we heave him through the wall there, Pained." Then the ring corrected Jaina, made her say it again, "How soon can we have him on the wall there, Pained?"

Kael'thas gave a delighted, fiendish smile. "I do love that ring I enchanted. With my own magic, too. Yum."

Pained un-shadowmelded then, moved forward and had to grip the back of the couch, lean over with just, true and actual physical exhaustion regarding Kael'thas' behavior. For her, it was clearly an agony.

Kael'thas couldn't stop smiling, he let his arms drop. "Good. Very, very good of you Jaina. I-I thought you might come around to seeing it my way. And, also, I guess now that I think of it… with all these wretched goings on, with the horrible Plague in the countryside and that violent prank and all? It might be nice to get out of town. So." He stepped nearer to her, "We shall have ourselves a very, very nice." He lifted her hand and kissed it, "…romantic." Another kiss she had to endure, "Vacation. Hrmm?"

"Separate beds. In fact, separate carriages. Also, Pained is coming. She's going to oversee my virtue." Jaina narrowed eyes at him.

"Mine too, I hope!" Kael'thas finally acknowledged the other Elf in the room, all naughty smiles.

Pained somehow produced a sharp bear-claw shaped glaive out of nowhere. "Test me and die."

Kael'thas' cheeks flushed, and he turned back to Jaina. That hardly phased him when it came to his real conquest. Kael'thas touched Jaina's cheek, then gave her a very loving look. "I will need a little time to get the word out, that the Prince of Quel'thalas is going on a royal visit to announce, and celebrate, his engagement. I will make a beautiful memory for us, Jaina. To remember for always. I promise."

Nobody expected Kael'thas Sunstrider to be so very sincere about it in the end.

Sunthraze, Daphne, Britecleff and Tempest had fallen into a routine of meeting up in busy places, discussing things quietly while a crowd was around, and then saying 'my life for my prince' at the end. Like it wasn't a thing. Like this wasn't subversive in and of itself to still be associating with the farmboy who started riots in the city, who nearly tainted the Sunstrider name and changed the legal system by his mere presence in Sunspire Keep.

Britecleff hadn't needed to say his group of Farstriders were interested in something deeper, something more that the current military setup couldn't provide. Sunthraze was intelligent enough to key in on it when Tempest dropped him the hint after their dinner together some weeks prior. In fact, Sunthraze followed up and asked Tempest to be included.

The bar they liked to spend time in was frequented by young, adventurous sorts who were often in there after their studies or new jobs in the city. Inside Wayfarer's Rest, Silvermoon City felt more than alive. It hummed with joy and laughter. Young Elves were talking constantly about their work, their dreams, what they hoped to do in the professions they were just starting. One day, bright politicos would hail from here. People who hoped to one day be able to get into close contact with Kael'thas Sunstrider himself when he eventually became king. Tell him, face to face, what wonderfuol things they hoped to do for their kingdom. And even better, they had their whole lives to carefully craft their journeys and plan for when that brilliant day finally came. Prince Kael'thas did, too. People everywhere were feeling very eager about the future too, when word got out that Kael'thas was on his way back home.

The whole place was done in red and gold bunting, Silvermoon flags, everything in Kael'thas' favorite colors. It was almost maddening how Kael'thas was everywhere in the city, statues of him, posters, his own quotes and speeches featured in the shops and museums. There was going to be a three-part-play devoted to his young life and works at the theater in the high street. So maddening that Kael'thas was everywhere but not quite yet in the city. It was enough to make the worst fangirls give in and just scream with excitement. Here and there, at the apex of high laughter from groups of friends edging them on, a handful of Kael's biggest fanatics actually did.

"So we've gone from no dates to double-dates, Sunthraze?" Tempest asked Sunthraze this once, while they were seated with their drinks.

It was loud in there, she had almost yelled it. Tempest was also paying for them, and Britecleff and Lady Daphne were due to arrive any minute. "Guess I'll have to make the last few seconds we have together count."

He sighed, "Guess you will. I'm not going to become wealthy overnight, you know. Geez, can you even hear me talking? This place is even wilder tonight!"

The barkeep raised his voice over everyone, after banging a gong everyone. "False alarm! But listen—Kael'thas and Jaina have passed through the ancient gate, they're in Eversong! Everybody, they're here!"

Wild cheers.

"They'll be in the city by sunset, alright. Listen out for the next gong!"

A round of applause already. And Kael'thas hadn't done anything yet.

Sunthraze smirked, "I thought people would be a little worried that Jaina is a Human. But I guess Kael did a good job of whipping up excitement before the papers could reach that conclusion."

Tempest, "Not to be morbid, but he'll outlive the so-called Human Queen Jaina Proudmoore Sunstrider of Quel'thalas. Everyone knows it in the end. She's more like a first wife. Actually, she's a dalliance on the side. And if you think the Convocation of Silvermoon is going to let her rule, for real? She'll be Princess-Reagent or something, with no real power. And Kael'thas will push for it on his end too, if Jaina is really dumb enough to have come this far—"

She had to hush because people were starting to overhear.

"Well! Good for them!" Tempest knocked back the last of her drink hastily, anxious to say any more about her real opinion on the matter of Kael's supposed engagement to Jaina Proudmoore. That was how besotted the city was with Kael'thas in that golden place, at that silvery time.

"Anyway," then Tempest shook her head at Sunthraze, "How many times have I told you that this isn't about you having the money for a proper date?"

He got irritated back, "No, it's about Bouna Boma Barova, when it comes to you."

"Excuse me."

"It's Trollish."

"Oh, your tattoo. How come you can't have a normal tattoo in Thalassian. It is a sexy one, though."

Britecleff came out of nowhere, the crowd helped obscure that he was coming in fast, Daphne holding his hand. He got her seated immediately.

"It fucking worked! Have you heard? It's happening today!"

"Bart, language."

Everyone paused, looking Daphne over. She pulled her gray lady's gloves off and chucked them casually on the table. Casually for her.

"You alright, Daphs?" Tempest and Daphne had struck up a sort of friendship. Sunthraze couldn't tell if they were always good pals, but for Tempest being from the other side of the tracks socially it never went very far, and he was just noticing it? Or, if that first dinner the four of them shared had done it. But really, it was him assessing whether or not Daphne was a snob, and he knew that. He hated to question what looked like a fast affinity between two such different women. Daphne was usually tempered, poised, sweet. Tempest was fiery and ready to have a good time on a park bench, and no qualms telling the man she wanted about it, either. Well, Tempest could be kindhearted as well, and he should have known by now not to judge… anyway, Sunthraze's brain did somersaults whenever those two women were together. Perhaps he was secretly attracted to them both. He gave the front of Daphne's white dress another offhand sort of look that Britecleff wouldn't notice and attack him for. Yes, definitely attracted.

"Sunthraze? You in there?" Tempest knocked on the side of his head.

"Wouldn't I love to be."

"Do you need a slap, Sunthraze?" Britecleff threatened next. He had such a short fuse about anything that might concern his fiancé Daphne, and it didn't take him long at all to suss out what was really going on. Sunthraze glowered that he could have easily been talking about Tempest, though, but Britecleff had seen right through it. The two men put hands on their drinks instead of take it any further.

Daphne touched Britecleff's arm, "Well, Bart. Go on and say what you were going to."

"Kael'thas is actually closer than the authorities are letting people believe. They don't want anyone to predict his whereabouts. He'll be here, in the city, at any minute."

"Shit! I can't believe this is actually happening, and that I've done it!"

"Have you, Sunthraze?"

"Uh, can you swing between love and hate for me a little less, Britecleff?"

Britecleff shook his head at Sunthraze, slowly. Somehow, the evident trouble he was in with Britecleff this time felt more serious.

"What did I do this time?"

And then, Britecleff was suddenly ignoring Sunthraze.

"Woo! The ring thing worked. I'll drink to that." Tempest raised her glass of cheap beer.

Britecleff leaned in so Tempest could hear him better. "So, any word back from Pyorin? I also heard from Sylvanas that Queen Celestia tried to stop this whole visit. Anasterian, you know, she Celestia still does have some leverage over him. They were worried about legal implications for a while, and Jaina getting into the royal treasury at all. But I'm Pyorin must have been the one to iron that out on his side."

Pyorin had managed to sit down with them and plan just once a few days prior, at a café close to the Garrison. However, regular meetings with someone so close to the queen would have been too suspicious. The Sunstriders would certainly look into it. So Tempest was Pyorin's go-between. She always reported in for him.

Tempest finished her sip and spoke quickly, "Oh, totally. Celestia's furious that it'll draw more attention to her fake ring. But Anasterian, in the end, is just too excited to see Kael'thas, in the flesh, finally. And now it's all like this engagement is official."

"Which it is." Sunthraze insisted.

No one said anything.

Well, Tempest would be the one to break the awkward silence, "You are weirdly defensive of Kael, Sunthraze."

Sunthraze huffed and raised one eyebrow. "I mean it. He's progressing. Kael'thas is improving. Once she's here, Kael'thas will have a plan. Jaina wants… well, what any woman wants, right? He's a powerful man, he'll dazzle her with the best the kingdom has to offer. He must not seem like it at the university, back in Dalaran, right? But in context, she'll finally understand him. How could Jaina say no? Right Britecleff. You agreed with me earlier, you practically said it."

People around them began to react. Some things weren't fully public knowledge yet, especially about how Kael'thas truly had been faring—not well at all—in Dalaran. And they were talking so freely about it.

Britecleff waved his hand, for them to keep their voices down. "True, this is good news, as I said. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. The goal was to get Kael'thas' butt back here. Anything else is icing on the cake."

Tempest almost spat her drink, "Icing on what, now? Weird image."

Sunthraze slipped his hand into hers under the table, held it. "Not for you."

Britecleff thumped the table with his knuckle. "Tempest? Next time you're together, tell Pyorin we're proud of him."

"But you're not going to say you're proud of me today, Britecleff? This was all my doing."

"Maybe if you stop fucking me around, Sunthraze—"

"Alright, I'd finally like to know what's going on here."

Tempest shouted over both of them. "I'm sure Pyorin would like some leave, instead. You know, a treat for the both of us?"

Sunthraze rolled his eyes, discreetly took his hand back.

"I'd give you that leave instead, Sunthraze, if you were one of us. You can still join up, any time."

"Not when you clearly hate me and won't tell me what's going on. Anyway, my whole life is leave, why should I change that? I don't have to ask anyone permission to go anywhere or do anything."

"Ah, but there's only one way to kick ass in the name of Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and get away with it." Tempest finished her drink and got up to go get another from the bar.

Britecleff hissed at Sunthraze while Tempest was gone. "You idiot—is she still paying for you? You know that Tempest has started asking for raises because she has to pay for you, Sunthraze. I'd been wondering." Britecleff glared and got up from the table.

"Hold on, it's not really like that. I did explain to her. Is that really why you're suddenly mad at me-?"

Britecleff gripped the back of Sunthraze's chair, leaned down and got in his face. "I wish you'd just go confront Pyorin already. And, yes, it IS like that. You think I don't know? I've heard every damned excuse in the book, from punks who are plain afraid to just grow up. Be a man, Sunthraze. And that also goes for a few other things. Like that letter? It went missing and you never told me about it. You ready to tell me what was in that letter now?"

Sunthraze folded both hands on the table, adjusted weight in his seat and stared straight ahead.

Britecleff muttered, "If you ever tell me something stupid like your dog ate that letter—"

"As is it happens, my dog Gravy did eat it."

"You're a fool. You don't know how high up this goes, who you're really messing with. And she has friends, you know? Who overhear things? You've put me in the worst position, I practically walked into a lion's den because of you. I am always covering for you it seems, covering up so much…" Britecleff stopped himself from oversharing, it seemed, then left to go help Tempest at the bar.

Sunthraze was then alone at the table with Daphne.

"Uh, are you alright? Lady Daphne? Sorry if I… I didn't mean to argue with your man right now or anything but Britecleff's being a dick."

She laid a hand on her soft gray gloves, fingering the light embroidery for some time. She kept eyeing him, studying him. "Welcome to resistance. If you needed it said."

Loud enough to hear, just low enough beneath the hum of a conversation. So Daphne was skilled at chatting inside of a practically bee hive. But was the swarm a good or bad thing.

Sunthraze felt himself start to sweat. This was all very risky, whatever he believed. "…I knew."

"Just making sure." Daphne kept stroking her folded over glove, watching him. "No one is in any danger, you know. Nobody important. But it goes way up. Sylvanas could never be here with us in person, you understand."

Sunthraze thought for a moment. "You're reading my mind. Everyone new who joins. Because you're a priestess with a Mind Vision spell. Isn't that right?"

"You don't mind, do you? I already decided that you check out. You're no trouble. And it's nice to have you on board."

"Hold on, is that also how Britecleff knew—"

"I don't like to tell on everyone, right away. But I tap him if something interesting is going through someone's mind. He doesn't like dirty looks. I'd prefer you keep your sort of… soiled thoughts to a minimum as well."

"You're damned clever, as well as beautiful. I'm afraid I could never help myself." Sunthraze leaned over his drink, smiled very pleasantly at her.

She smiled back, but stayed on target. "Somehow, the resistance is everywhere. I hear things whenever I go to my society do's…" She sighed out, clearly having come from something like that recently, "Britecleff has the army, and his special little project. The one you walked in on."

"The one I walked in on?"

"The thing you got arrested for?" She said, as if speaking helpfully to a child, "That was the other layer to that, I thought you knew. I assumed someone smart like you would have realized. I'm sorry if I'm breaking bad news."

Sunthraze covered his glass and gripped it. "Hold on—the… so he's training…"

"Oh, Paladins are everywhere, yes. Everywhere but here." And she spoke plainly about breaking laws regarding this school of magic, the Light, right in the heart of Silvermoon City. Daphne looked as if she knew how to. "I suppose that's how things just are." And that, she said clipped, with contempt, she clearly meant the opposite.

"So, they were trying to shut me up about what I saw. That makes sense. That makes far more sense, actually."

"I'm sorry if it's not comforting. But it could be."

"Are they, um close? To figuring it out?"

"Well, why not. This might lighten your mood. It's the other reason why Tempest and Pyorin crave alone time together. Those two need to keep training. I gather from her that Pyorin is closest but he can't see it. He has help from this fancy healer over in the Sunspire, a man that used to work with Prince Arthas personally, and has seen Human Paladins, the real thing, in action. But, being Pyorin…"

"He's too stupid to figure it out."

"The three of them, Pyorin, Fennore and Tempest, they need some solid quality time locked in a room together. But it's too suspicious. I'm the one stuck figuring something out. I'm supposed to know… aristocratic protocols, that sort of thing. How to get people who support Kael'thas and want to accelerate him taking the throne, and how to get people who… don't. All of them, into the same room."

"Wait, how do yo bring forward something like that? A chance of power. Kael'thas can only succeed his father if—"

"Not like that. We don't do that. But it does need to happen. If you don't think Anasterian is… the way he is. Then you're blind. I mean, damn. The king is wearing fangs suddenly."

Sunthraze laughed.

"Fangs, Sunthraze." Daphne looked very angry about it, "There's a gigantic scandle broiling beneath Anasterian in the courts. It's bad, truly bad. And, the papers can't even be honest about what's going on in the kingdom. What kind of a world are we Quel'dorei really living in, Sunthraze? Everyone coming into this side of the city through the Shepherd's Gate." She had a calming breath, "People get to this point where they assume they can get away with anything, hurting anyone. That they are too big to fail. But that's when societal rot sets in. You don't pull a kingdom apart by removing the actual, physical stones. It happens from within. It goes rotten. Not one of us wants that."

No one in the place was even paying attention to them, no one. Sunthraze hated to check. But Daphne was very good at getting things said, discreetly in a crowd. If she was always doing this, then she was as effective as a knife, for the resistance.

Sunthraze admitted, "I hope you all never do anything stupid. I barely remember King Anasterian from my childhood, but one thing did stick with me. He scares the shit out of me."

"It's what we're trying to prevent. Anyway, we have your help too, now."

Sunthraze was beyond words, hearing Daphne put it like that. "So, even… Sylvanas? You're sure she's in it?"

"The real Sylvanas is as feisty as any Orcish warchief. Don't ever doubt that."

"Wait, so there's something else I was wondering. There's this weird rumor going around about her and Arthas. The farrier in my village, he has a cousin who works at the Windrunner Spire. She's friends with a lady's maid to the family or close to it. I dunno if this girl actually overhears Sylvanas' private conversations or what. But I thought it so odd, because no one's heard anything real about Arthas in ages—"

"Imagine! You're so far removed where you are, and even you're in on the latest courtly gossip. Well, I heard—" But then, Daphne didn't have a chance to answer. She briefly passed a finger over her lips, then folded her hands together on the table.

Britecleff returned with Tempest who flounced down in her seat. Britecleff held the tray and took over putting their latest round of drinks on the table.

Britecleff gave a sideways glance, "Tempest had a great idea, after I paid for your drink—again—Sunthraze. We're going to get you in there to meet Kael'thas. In person. Then we can talk to him."

"In person… I've met him before."

"Well, you're about to meet him again! Right? Great! Good." Britecleff loudly dragged his seat in close to the table. He clapped and rubbed his hands together. "Food is coming also. Sprinpaw appetizers with extra sauce."

Sunthraze could not hide how this all agitated him. "This soon? Are you sure he'll speak with me? For real? Kael'thas and I were just exchanging letters. The stupid little… penpal thing we had going."

"No worries, alright. We'll sort out everything. Me, Pyorin, Sylvie—"

"Sylvie!"

A large plate of steaming grilled springpaw meat came, and Britecleff eyed Sunthraze and the others. They waited until the waiter did his thing, asking if they had enough napkins—which you never could have enough of with springpaw meat and sauce. They waited until they were in the clear again.

Britecleff leaned in, "Sylvanas, of course. But now that I think of it, you can't beat up Pyorin yet. Pyorin will have to be your in. You two knuckleheads." He paused, then swept at his brow, got back to his drink, "And obviously, my very own personal Farstrider outfit isn't going to have a brawl in front of their royal majesties. Think you can pull yourself together by then?"

"When, exactly?"

"You'll have time—"

"Bart. I've been meaning to ask, though it feels so awkward. What about that shooting party Pyorin wanted to do, between you and Anasterian?"

"Ugh, I do not want to even think about that. Me with a rifle, around King Anasterian. I can't win, I shouldn't lose either since I'm about the best shot in the Farstriders? It has disaster written all over it. Anyway, I'd really prefer to lay low."

Daphne gave Sunthraze this look, like she was already sorry for having to do this to him. "Kael'thas will finally be here in the city. They will want to entertain him. If you accept Anasterian's invitation to a shooting party that he's been halfway planning, at long last, then everyone will come. To see the best shot in the kingdom? Possibly in all the Eastern Kingdoms?"

Britecleff shrugged halfway, but he winked that it was true.

"Bart, that's absolutely everyone on their way, from all four corners. It's more exciting than anything else going on in the city, honestly. And then of course, the big names will be competing too. Not only will the people love it, but bets with be placed. An entire industry will grow up around something so high profile overnight. You could count in Sylvanas as Ranger-General, then Jaina and Kael'thas of course, along with King Anasterian—Arthas could even show up, if he's offended enough about this whole thing… At a real sporting event like that, high and low will mix. Everything will be possible. And then, Sunthraze can talk to Kael'thas to see what is really going on. Also, Tempest, Pyorin and Fennore will have a moment alone together. Just as we're doing here. The throng, cheering its head off, will be our cover. There will be nowhere to hide and yet nothing to hide. A king might talk to a man who is simply a good shot, so why wouldn't a prince talk to a pauper?" She lightly gestured Sunthraze's way, "I don't see any other way you can do this at such short notice, Bart. I really cannot see another way. I'd need months to gauge something else opportune. Anything else coming from me will look so contrived, and therefore suspicious, to the Court."

Britecleff raised his eyebrows. Sunthraze raised his as well.

Temepst looked extremely worried. "Will there ever be a big enough smoke screen to keep Kael's parents, the king and queen, out of our way if we want to have a heart-to-heart with him? I don't know about this."

Britecleff made a fist on the table. "Make it even bigger then. Get Arthas to come. Tempest, send word through Pyorin. Pyorin should be able to get Faltheriel to say something sufficiently incendiary to Arthas, since those two still talk."

Sunthraze flew off, "Arthas! Damn, Britecleff!"

"Shh!"

"But do you want Kael'thas to fail with Jaina?"

"Arthas may very well steal the spotlight if he's properly motivated. If it gets Kael'thas to go off and sulk in a corner that you conveniently find him in, then yes. I'm willing to risk the future Queen Jaina Proudmoore Sunstrider, if that was ever going to happen."

Tempest drank deeply from her glass, "If only the royals knew how deftly we common folk were controlling their pretty, pretty lives."

Britecleff snapped his fingers, thinking of something else, "And! I won't say why I'm sure now that stuff about Sylvanas and Arthas pillow-talking late nights on the scrying orb are true, over at the Windrunner Spire… not that they need a scrying orb at this point."

Daphne gasped, lit up with this new information. "What?! Really! When did this get started, when did they-"

"Let's just say that irritating Arthas at this precise moment, will likely blow it sky high. So yes, it's a cinch. Daphs, I'm definitely in."

"Good work, Daphs!" Tempest squealed for her newfound friend and reached across the table to give her a bawdy high-five. For a noble lady, Daphne navigated that pretty well.

Sunthraze sat there, eyes wide. "But… Kael'thas and Jaina. They're so close."

Tempest rolled her eyes, "You're taking this undie, undu'diel thing way to far, anyway. You don't have to do that anymore now, silly. You're out of jail."

Sunthraze covered his face, "Well, one of us is."

Then, loud noise resounded throughout the place. It was the gong the bartender said he'd ring at sunset. But it clanged, now, in all their long ears. And then, worse, people out on the street started screaming. The wild cries blasted through the open windows. Soon, it sounded like a thunderous roar, like a storm was bearing down on them overhead. But the sun was out still, bright as anything.

Tempest shot to her feet. However she was dogging Kael'thas and Jaina before, she was full of excitement now. "Shit! They're here!"

"Is this really happening?" Daphne took up her gloves with a shaky hand, fiddled with trying to get them back on in time if she was going to greet royalty. As if that mattered now. "He's coming, Bart?"

"It's Kael'thas! Kaelt'has is here!" Britecleff even lost it. Scheming over Kael or not.

The four of them ran.

The street outside was a mess. Silvermoon watchers reversed their red shields, longways, to quickly make a sort of fence and hem the crowd back. Everyone packed in, shoulder to shoulder like a mess of furiously thirsting mana wyrms, fiending to get at some giant arcane crystal or something like it.

But the effect Kael'thas Sunstrider himself had on the crowd was near that to level. People who were just smiling over drinks before, were now being pushed, bent over the red shield barricade, red-faced and screaming their heads off. The Kael'thas fans were loudest, you always had those young wild things in pink tabards when a prince, anywhere, was involved. But they got everyone else screeching their lungs out too.

"They said he was coming as sunset. This can't be him!" Daphne declared irrationally.

It was her own beau, Britecleff who gave them better intel, that the sunset timeline was a rumor for security's sake. Britecleff snagged precious Daphne into a hug and reminded her of the truth, now.

And then, that blinding truth was right before their eyes.

Kael'thas' carriage was being pulled by twenty golden hawkstriders. If those hadn't existed before now—and Sunthraze the rancher reassured them that they hadn't—magic and determination had christened the enchanted beasts solely for the event. The glowing carriage had second level, a deck of some kind. It looked more like a parade float, it was so red, so very red and so golden. Kael's favorite colors. He was on top, waving enthusiastically to the crowd. Jaina, in a blue gown and white fur-trimmed cape, was smiling brightly, genuinely, they thought, right beside him. She held his arm and laughed and chatted in Kael's ear when she saw everyone. Beautiful, blushing girl, so amazed. Kael'thas got away with a kiss, then he kept waving proudly, kept focused on making his great impression on her. The people tossed flower petals in their path, and after, in their wake. It was like a glowing summer dream, to see Kael'thas looking so good and with a real smile, at long last. As hale, as whole as anything, and then, finally home in Silvermoon.

It was romantic, it was wild, it was fast. Then, done. People kept hollering and screaming for Kael'thas even while the carriage departed far down the street, and then it turned to get to the main road, and ultimately, to the Sunspire.

One could only imagine their grand reception at the palace. The crowd at Wayfarer's could just faintly hear trumpets and drums roaring up a welcome from that far away. People fought to keep going with the carriage, to follow Kael'thas anywhere.

"WOOOOO!" Tempest somehow got into the middle of the road after the carriage passed, flipped up her shirt to flash the royal couple. People roared laughter.

Britecleff grabbed Sunthraze. "You alright? You look ready to faint."

"I do?"

"Yeah. Hold on now, don't run after the carriage. All those people are idiots, you'll get trampled." Britecleff was laughing at him. "Keep your head, okay? You want some water, Sunthraze? Tempest, go get your real boyfriend some water. Tempest? Tempest! What the HELL are you doing?"

Sunthraze was dazed. "He just looked so… so… Perfect. So, that's our prince. He was a kid the last time, I… I…"

Daphne leaned over Britecleff's shoulder, grinning. "All grown up, now. A real-life Sunstrider at the height of his magical and academic prowess. A golden, future king. A breath of awe in his name and all that. Yeah, that's Kael'thas."

And then Sunthraze fainted.