Morning found both streams of light beaming down on the tile floor of the laboratory and a young Sorceress bent over her work, where she toiled for most of the night. Finding sleep to often elude her, Jaina usually came down to the labs to burn off the midnight oil, always a project to work on or research to get to. Since the refounding of Dalaran, she always had work of some sort to do, taking the place of Antonidas. Renewl sprang across the land just as the seasons changed from frosty winter's grip to the greenery of spring. April also meant rain, and so the sun's appearance that morning brought the young woman to smile quietly and rise from her activities and drift to the balcony that overlooked the recently raised buildings of the greater city.

But, to her dismay, the night had grown chill enough to leave a soft blanket of frost over the cityscape. It would melt before noon, surely, but it signified that the warmth of summer would be elusive yet. Exhaling, at least her breath was not a fine white mist. This would pass and with the passage of time, the warm winds would return to caress and comfort.

She turned again, back into the confines of the laboratory. Her thoughts turned inward, along with her mind's eye, she did not at first realize another had entered and now stood quietly nearby, awaiting her attention. Not until she drew herself out of her revelries and gasped with surprise. "Uther! By the Light, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"

Gruff laughter responded to her chiding, "Aye, girl, but I never thought myself the sneaky type in all this loud armor. Ye checked yer ears lately? Bah, forget all that, I haven't seen ye for nearly six months, give an old man a hug?"

With a laugh, Jaina forgot all her restraints, rushing forward to throw her arms around the burly Paladin and cling to him as she had so many times before, while still a young child. Being much taller now, it was a bit more awkward, but Uther still swept her off her feet and spun her around once before returning her to the ground, "Look at ye. Lovely as ever. I shouldn't stay away so long next time."

"Oh Uther, I've been dreadfully lonely here. So much to do, to see to. It's only recently been getting calm again," she replied with exasperation, sinking down into the nearest chair. Uther remained standing, though the look of consternation on his features instantly brought her to regret bringing up her lonliness. He had an argument ready, she could just see it.

"Well if you'd quit turning down your suitors, ye might not be lonely, girl. I heard about the last one. Did ye even give him a chance?"

"Um, well..." Jaina stumbled immediately. A fine public speaker now among her magic wielding compatriots, she often fumbled over her words when under the scrutinizing gaze of the leader of the Paladins and Lordaeron's Regent. "It's just... I can't really find someone that I want to be with, you know?"

The expression on Uther's weathered features shifted to a weary exasperation, then. He exhaled in a tired sigh and shook his head, "Jaina, it's been two years. Ye--"

"Oh for-- I know, Uther!" she cut him short, biting her tongue afterwards at the parental stare leveled down at her. Uther had raised sons and daughters of his own, even if they were all older than Jaina, and with just a look, could easily stare down an uppity youngester. "I'm sorry but... I just can't."

To her surprise, there were no biting words, no rebuke for her admission. Just a hand reaching out to squeeze her shoulder for a moment and a gentle voice murmuring, "I miss him too, girl. Loved him as if he were one of my own. But he's long gone now and we can't save him or bring him back. I wish you'd just get on with your life. But I guess you'll just have to decide that on your own."

Head lifting, Jaina couldn't help the perplexity in her expression. Uther often forbade anyone from speaking Arthas' name in his company. He spoke vehemently against anyone who dared to defend or speculate on the former prince's motivations. Yet, to her, he revealed the true reasoning behind his anger. His grief, and his terrible remorse. The smile that curved her lips was soft, commiseration for the regret she knew the paladin still harbored. "Thank you."

"Hrmph," he replied, straightening again with his features smoothing into the gruff expression he always wore. "Well, let's get something to eat, hmm? I've been traveling for some time and I dearly want something other than rations. We can talk about this later."

The subject was better dropped, Jaina knew, but she also understood Uther's concern. She had put off marriage, despite her noble heritage, while claiming she had Dalaran to rebuild. Now that the city was mostly completed and she had free time, instead she made other excuses to avoid social events and suitors. The gossips already murmured among one another. And if any of them had any inkling of the sorts of experiments she performed quietly within the safety of her sanctum, their jaws would fall to the floor...