Chapter 13.

With the coming of a brand new day, the sun's rays peeked over the horizon to find Jaina. As she washed the tears, from a night of crying, off her face, she greeted the light bathed star alone, just as she had done every day since the accursed war had broke out.

Jaina hadn't seen that face in a long time. To her, looking at an image of herself through the ripples in the stream was like looking to into past. It seemed as if it'd been a lifetime since Jaina had been in the presence of her reflection, yet in her face she saw no age, reminding her how recently she'd lived as gay and carefree as ever. How she wanted to take those days back, to be able to be tucked in by her favorite books, to greet the morning sun from the highest tower in Dalaran, and to once, just once, sneak from her quarters at night to travel to the garden. The Lordareon nights were chilly but in that nocturnal sanctuary she knew she could be comforted by…

Those thoughts were nothing but forsaken memories, which might as well have occurred in ages long past, for they would never be relived. Although she used to look at her reflection and decide which color to splash on her already full lips, she now was merely trying to wash off the tears that seeped from the edges of her eyes.

It seemed odd for her to want to cleanse her face of the marks, for the still glistening stream of tear seemed to sparkle in the image she saw of herself in the brook. The lonely young mage still yearned to be able to appreciate that… being beautiful. It almost seemed unfair that she was forced out of her cage of superficiality and thrown into a maelstrom of clashing steel.

Her face might as well have been cracked, for it was but a guise that was being split open in her solitude. Who ever, or even whatever, she had turned into was not what was staring back at her, because when she smiled, even if it was convincing enough to bring courage to a thousand of her troops, she knew that it was nothing but a fraud. And she didn't need a mirror to see that...

Convening from her contemplation, she noticed tiny ripples forming at the edges of the small creek. Curious she was, for they seemed to not have a source and they ran the entire length of the vein of water. It seemed that the minute agitations had a distinct beat to them, occurring at such intervals as footsteps. With the next ripples the ground started to vibrate. Tiny rocks and pebbles along the shoreline danced with every beat.

The young mage got off her knees and stood up to observe. In the shady distance of the forest a large indistinct figure could be seen traveling near her. Its pace caused the vibrations which made the ground shiver. Whatever or whoever it was, Jaina could tell that it would soon pervade the sanctuary she'd run off to.

How unfair that was! Unfair that she could be denied that solitude that was comforting her, and that it could be taken away so easily. She could run away from it, that being the most cowardly action. Not to say that she was inclined to cowardice, but as of late Jaina had no use for bravery. She'd already shown everyone how pathetic she was, running in anguish at the sight of a soldier who was doomed to a fate worse than death.

Oh how painful those images were to her, still floating at the top of her mind. It wasn't even the horrors of seeing someone so young dying that irked her, it was the faces of her soldiers that scorned her as she fled. Expressions of disgust and disapproval that couldn't be seen through the hair that she had pulled over her eyes, like wool. It was their testimony, never seen but felt, that proved she was a shell of woman, and not worthy of the title of soldier, much less leader. Because of that she turned herself invisible, and pressed herself onto a tree.

Jaina pressed herself so hard against the bark, that she could feel the individual ridges grating against the back of her head. With eyes closed tightly she wished whatever was there to go away. Why wouldn't it? Solitude was all she begged for. Though it sickened her to want to fester in her lonesome, it was the only thing that seemed appealing to her. The other option, to be trapped on the top of the world fighting and endless army with no hope left, was forsaken. After that ordeal she'd lost all will to fight.

The being was close, so close that the footsteps were starting to sound more like hooves. Though her eyelids were sealed tight she could feel her teeth clanging, with the sharp tremor that occurred every time the hard hoof impacted the ground. It was now so close that it felt that it was almost right in front of her. Wait, it was right of her, but now the massive steps ceased. Jaina pulled her cloak tight hoping that the thing couldn't detect her, even if she was invisible. Too petrified to even sneak away, she had to pull out her last option. She opened her eyes to see…

Cairne! The aged Tauren now appeared before her, oblivious to the cloaked mage's presence. He sat there, drinking from a bladder the size of her entire body. Although the chieftain was usually very docile, he now seemed as if he was pursuing something. Even with his head tilted back, to empty its contents into his mouth, his ears perked up to hear any sounds. When he lowered the sack, he surveyed all around him.

"Ugh, where is that girl", he muttered to himself in deep concern. "Too much stress has been placed on this old one today."

Hearing him say that made her realize that he possibly was looking for her, and that made her stomach turn in guilt. When she'd first seen Taurens Jaina thought them to be almost frightening and intimidating. The massive half-bovine's appearance was startling and their towering mass humbled her, but she learned they were very compassionate creatures. Though gruff the tribes had a deep love for their homeland. Cairne was the warmest of all. Though she had never truly known him, just being near him made her feel uplifted. Even during the combat she so hatred, seeing him swing his gargantuan poleax gave her increased vigor. Never once had she seen him so frustrated, and here she was cowering from him. She hated herself for that, and the only way to be redeemed was to reveal herself.

Being visible again made her feel exposed, but upon seeing her emerge from the shadows, Cairne showed nothing but alleviation. She was real reluctant to show herself, revealing her deception, but Cairne's expression of relief was like a salve. He addressed her, his voice soothing but still with some hint of being troubled,

" By the earth mother. Jaina! We've been so worried. You must come back to us, the alliance needs you more than ever."

"I'm sorry Cairne, but I just can't.", she replied with her head down. Jaina was still so very shamed.

" I know of your misery, Jaina. Its been heard throughout our ranks", Great, she thought. Everyone knew how weak she was "but many are in great despair, especially your own men."

"Why? They saw what a fool I was. I don't deserve to be their leader."

He spoke now much more slowly and caring,

"Jaina, does that one incident truly remove your responsibilities or is it something more?."

The voice of the Chieftain was so consoling that she didn't want to keep her true feelings under layers anymore. She lifted her head to see him smiling. It was a grin that only Taurens could do. The lower corners of his eyes lifted, while his ears moved upward a little, and it made her want to be honest again.

"You're right, Cairne. It wasn't what happened. I…I can't stand anything about this war. I've killed. I can barely sleep knowing how much blood is on my hands, but I am not disturbed by all of the enemies I've slain, instead my demons come from the demise of my people. They followed me, and for what, death? Dying is one thing, but living with the its mark is like having a brand that never stops burning." Minute tears began forming at the edge of her eyes, but Jaina had spent too much time crying, so she wiped them off and held them back, "I'm sorry that for what I did, but so much of the turmoil was rotting inside me. Every time I saw a corpse, staring glossily to the sky, it ripped apart my insides. Eventually I collapse. That's why I'm not fit to lead anybody. I'm broken."

Cairne did nothing but nod, "You seem to carry a lot of weight on your shoulders."

"It just seems that whenever one of my men must die … it is because of me."

" So do you fight for them, for your men. Do you think of them whenever you vanquish another foe?"

"Not really. They give me strength, but they aren't my reason. When I'm in the thicket of battle, killing for what sometimes seems like no reason. I'm encased by solitude"

"Then why do you carry their woe?"

" I don't know. So many of them look up to me, that I just feel I should."

"What do you think makes for a might warrior? In fact what kind of qualities do you think the mightiest Tauren had?" The wise old Tauren made himself comfortable, placing his poleax on a tree and one hand on his knee

"Strength, skill, endurance, or along that line I would think."

He merely shook her head. "Jaina, the most revered Tauren wasn't very big, fast or strong. Come to think it, he was a very old warrior, much past his time, but he would never part his totem. Every day he fought, even when facing a horizon filled with centaur raiders, he held up the flag of his tribe and yelled a grand huzzah. Even when he had been so weathered that his totem and Poleax felt a hundred times heavier, he continued, sometimes fighting with his bare hands, until one day he got his wish. Right before he died, he was asked why he had never quit, even though he was long past his prime, and he only said one this… ",

Cairne gave a short pause before continuing

"he said that he loved his son. I would know, I asked him. He was the Chieftain before me, and my favorite mentor. You see Jaina he was so strong because he fought for something dear to him, and only to him, for no warrior can bear the woe of tens of thousands of men. They must fight for only one thing, even if it just for themselves. "

"Are you saying that I don't fight for the right reasons?"

"I'm saying you haven't found them yet."

"How can I find them?"

" Heh heh. You're so young Jaina. These things aren't meant to be found, they just come in time. Now do you think you can return, you won't even have to fight?"

"You know what Cairne. I think I can."

"Spoken like a true leader."

With that she let the chieftain show her the way back. She hadn't realized just how far she had wandered away from the base until she retraced her steps. She and the Chieftain spent the majority of their trek back in silence. He was a very quiet one and Jaina was in deep thought of what he'd told her. She believed, realizing that her reasons for battle were quite hollow. Could she be a warrior, and furthermore did she even want to? She remembered that whenever she'd spoke to one of her men, even the lowliest, they always had a story. Be it revenge, peace, or even to taste their mom's blueberry pie, they had something, but She was a pampered student. With her past so far away she was alone, just as alone as she was on the battlefield. It seemed now that the only thing Jaina could confide in was in her back pocket.

And it was very warm…

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SMACK!

Tyrande hit the prisoner with as much force she could muster, and more. She wanted him to feel the pain of every one of her sister's he and the scourge had murdered. Before her hung, in chains, the tattered body of the forsaken human they'd captured as a POW. The man had been stripped of his armor and was suspended in shackles. His skin, free of all color, and limpness made him look as a corpse, and, although deep bruises appeared on his skin, he showed no sign of pain.

Tyrande almost seemed displeased at his lack of response. She curled the ends of her lips in frustration, and leaned closer to his ear.

While trying to hide her grief, she spoke sternly, but little pockets of anger erupted in her voice.

" Up until now you haven't seen me mad, but if you don't talk I'll make you feel real pain again."

In response he barely moved, instead he merely slid his sly tongue to respond.

" Come closer and maybe I'll speak."

Cautiously she moved her head right beside his.

Again he whispered, much softer now,

"Closer still."

She inched her self so close him that she could feel his cold breath run down her long Elven ears. Almost pressing her lips against his ragged ears, she gave him an ultimatum

"This is your last chance. Tell me what I want to hear".

He gave her a wicked smile," Okay then…. You're all going to die!" With that said, he turned his head and spat into her ear.

Tyrande was aghast at what he had done! In disgust she reared away from him, and tried to wipe away the saliva traveling around her neck. She unleashed her hatred for him and became feral. Starring at him with widened pupils, like a tiger about to make its kill, she snapped her arm back, and clenched a fist so hard her nails dug into her hand.

"Tyrande no!"

Before she could strike him, Furion intervened and grabbed her wrists. He and Thrall, who had been watching the priestess interrogate her Undead prisoner, stepped in front to prevent her from attacking him further.

Wrenching her hand free of her lover, she looked more irked than before. At the same time Tyrande seemed confused. She attempted to speak words of scorn, but to her love? The nasty tasting scolds got caught at in her throat, and she merely paused, unable to say anything. For a time an awkward silence came between them, and they just stared at each other trying to discern what to do.

That peace soon was encroached on by an insidious cackle. Though it came from their decrepit prisoner, it pierced the entire room.

"hehehehe. Even now you bicker. Ha! No wonder you fought so foolhardily. It won't be long before--"

"Before what?", To everyone's surprise Jaina, followed by Cairne, entered the small Night Elf Cell where they kept the imprisoned death knight. Despite her previous incident she stood tall and spoke with presence that before was unbeknownst to the Archmage, as she advanced on the prisoner. "Before we vanquish you, and reclaim our lands? Before the scourge is purged?."

Jaina now stood in front of the chained Death Knight while the others stepped aside. They were pleased that she had returned okay, but the leaders did not want to get in her way. She was being aggressive, and that was something she'd never done before.

The Death knight too seemed startled at her arrival, but not in the same way they were. For the first time he pulled his head up and shook his hair out of his face to reveal a blank expression, but it only lasted a second. With his face in full view, he seemed more sinister than ever.

Their eyes locked in a cold stare, almost a duel of silence. Each one of them not daring to bare a single hint of moving the expression chiseled on their faces. The charade lasted an uncountable number of minutes, until it was broken by the Death Knights defiant cackle.

" He he. You actually think your tough." He licked his lips as he laughed malevolently at her.

Jaina noticed that the muscles in his right arm were tightening. A small chink was heard from of the links in his chain, and in a display of strength he pulled so hard that the link warped to the point of sheering off. His right arm became free!

Before she could do anything he enveloped her in his free arm, forcing his mass upon her as they went down. In a flash she was pinned, breathing in the awful stench of his Undead breath.

" But you're more vulnerable than you think." She only saw his evil smile as he pressed himself hard onto her.

In immediate response to the commotion they heard inside the cell, two burly Orc Guards rushed him. Their massive dual hands grabbed a chunk of his flesh and slammed him against the hard stone wall. He laughed at this treatment, as if he got some sort of sadomasochistic pleasure from it.

"Enough", Spat Tyrande. She stepped forward to point an accusing finger at the man the Orc Guards were subduing, " This interrogation is over. You've been given more mercy than you deserve, and tomorrow the Wardens decide what to do with you."

It was quite obvious she was holding back the urge to kill him right there, and Furion placed his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her. He still looked at the others as he spoke.

" Yes this miscreant has caused enough trouble. For now let us attend to our own matters" When he uttered his last sentence his voice became concerned and he looked slightly at Tyrande.

Despite this everyone understood his statement, and they left in a terse manner. Crudely nailing the remains of his chain to the stone wall of the cell, it didn't take long for the Orcs to restrain the prisoner. It didn't matter that he was poorly confined, the Wardens that made regular Patrols through the POW cells would do far worse things to him, than they would, if he tried to escape.

One of them was even kind enough to help Jaina to her feet, and she gave him a polite thank you. The mage was a little shaken by what he did to her, but after going through last night she was a lot stronger person. That pitiful forsaken knight was just trying to scare her, but his desperate attempts were futile. Nothing could faze her now, nothing…

Or so she thought.

Right before her hand grasped the barred cell door she heard a click. Echoing inside the now empty cell and down the corridor, it seemed all too familiar. In fact it sounded more like a clasp being unhinged. She turned around, every step hoping that that sound wasn't what she thought it was

Seeing her precious object, gleaming in the tiny sliver of light let in through the small window of the prison, Jaina had her fears affirmed. The Death Knight was holding the silver case she cared so much for, and he had it opened! If it wasn't enough for him to steal something from her, but he had to defile it as well. It was only meant to be seen by her and…

Again he smiled wickedly as he played with it.

"You know you never told me your name…Jaina!", whilst saying that he turned the silver packet around to finally show her what was inside.

It was a delicate glass rectangle that had an ornate image of Jaina and her old love engraved on it. Just the sight of it made her reminisce of the times she'd just sworn never to relive. The piece wasn't even that expensive, costing only a couple gold pieces when they bought it off a street artisan. Every time she gazed at the beautifully crafted lines and stained in color she could escape her turmoil, and be free. Inside that case was the one thing she'd always swore to keep close, and now that vile disgrace of a man had it.

Losing all reason she charged at him reaching to snatch it away, but before she got close she saw him squeeze until a small crack formed on the top, causing her to stop in her tracks.

"I see you want this. ", He said deceitfully.

" What do you want from me?" Jaina said through clenched teeth."

"You assume to much Jaina. You think a fallen man has aspirations. You don't see that it is you that has desire." He gripped harder, and Jaina winced as the crack traveled further down the surface of her memory. "You want him, don't you? Well if you want him take him. Run to him. I can hear him calling for you… and so can you."

Confused and angered Jaina let out a stifled shout, " What do you mean? How could a person like you know anything about me? About who you think you're talking about?"

" Foolish girl. You shouldn't be asking me those questions…oops" At the sound of his least word he intentionally dropped the glass piece, knowing it would break on impact, but Jaina couldn't let that happen.

In desperation she dove, catching her crystalline memory in her fingertips, and brought it to her Bosom. Smothering herself over it, as if holding a lame child, Jaina looked as if she was cowering to him, but that didn't matter to her. As long as she had it she thought she was safe, impugn to the harshness of reality. The young mage felt so protected while holding it to her that she didn't bother to count how much time she'd spent still in the cell, nor did it matter to her…

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When she finally got the nerve to leave, Jaina didn't bother heading towards daylight. No, she had a task that was not to be seen by anybody. Kneeling at the feet of that Death Knight, clutching her silver prize so close to her heart, she had came to a realization. Even though she looked to be prostrating to him, Jaina was merely coming to a true comprehension of herself.

Up until now she'd only fled from her problems, running from her own feelings until they erupted in her face, like they did last night, but she couldn't continue doing that. As much as she wished she could be rid of them she could not. No, she was human, and no matter she tried to shove it down inside, it would always come bubbling back.

Her heart spoke, nay it cried out from within. Since the beginning of the war it had always hailed, but she'd never listened, instead chaining it down until its shouts withered away into whispers. But now, as feeble as its bawls had become, it still spoke the truth. What was secretly on the back of her mind during every battle she fought, but could never be told, even to her self.

She could feel it, feel him. Even in the most remote niche, of that Dank Night Elf prison, he was so close. Now, surrounded by walls, unable to feel the light gleam on her skin, she felt as though she could reach out and have him be there, but her hands grasped only moist warm air.

"Well I won't be so far away from you for long.", she whispered in preparation for what she was about to do.

It was a spell she'd never done or learned, one of her own incantations. She concentrated, trying hard to free her mind from all of the physical constraints surrounding it. Closing her eyes she saw not matter, but the spectral energies that began to engulfed her. Uttering not a word she channeled them, becoming a well for the ethereal forces that spread throughout the farthest reaches of the universes. Her finger tips began to twitch when tiny spikes of energy flew of them, feeling like pinpricks. Slowly, using all of her will, she focused all of the power gathered within her, between her cupped hands, but the more she concentrated the forces, the more violent they became.
` Trying to control the unruly ball, fighting in her hands, was like trying to wrestle a baby dragon. The longer she held on to it, the more erratic it became, but she'd almost had enough. She continued to summon more energy, until lightning bolts spurted out from it. The streaks of white energy made short gushes, and caused tiny pebble to break off the walls when they hit them. Now she had gathered enough. Any more and the ball might become too volatile. Fighting, using all of her effort to contain it, Jaina uttered the spell.

It sounded a simple transportation spell. The arcane words were similar to those she'd used many times, except for small differences only detectable by a trained ear. Of course in the word of magic, minute changes can have huge affects, for this was no transportation spell. Upon completion of the enchantment, the rune disc appeared before her. Luminescent ancient symbols, of a language never known to mortal man, swirled around in a mystic halo.

With the ritual almost complete, Jaina had only one thing left to do. She thrust the orb into the rune disc.

The entire phenomenon glowed so bright she had to turn away, and take cover. The dark cavern suddenly became swamped in light. Vibrations, so big that large pieces of ceiling began to crumble out. Surely, even in that deep part of the prison someone would notice, but it wouldn't matter to her. In a short amount of time, the discharge of energy passed.

Shaken, Jaina forced herself to get up and look at what she'd done. She'd proven her mastery of the arts of sorcery, for before her floated a perfect portal. A round ring of energy surrounded a vortex. Though it seemed docile, not consuming any of the area around it, it still ripped apart the very fabric of space-time. Through it could been seen unimaginable chaos. Swirling lights and waves of pure energy danced within the bright circle. It seemed so torrential within the circle, but Jaina trusted her abilities. She'd invented spells before, none of this magnitude, but all of her studies had never failed her. Furthermore she trusted what would be on the other side.

Holding her silver memory close to her heart, Jaina stepped through the portal.

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Emerging from the other side felt like waking from a deep slumber, yet she collapsed, . Even though Jaina had been catapulted across the pandemonium effortlessly, the journey was very taxing. Her whole body shook, and she practically had to chock down air. Writhing on the palace floor, eyes closed, Jaina could do nothing but ruminate of the dream she entered, and the dissonance she'd fled from.

But as she lifted her eyelids, the world around her seemed like a wonderful tainted dream….

It was the Lordareon throne room, and she was right in the center of it. Around her soared humbling gothic arches, and ornately engraved balconies, where dignitaries used to debate. All of the glory and splendor of The former Kingdom was imprinted on her by the finely engraved art on columns that seemed to soar above her, yet all was not well.

It was crumbling, much of the inner structure bore cracks, that seemed to betray its picturesque likeness. Tiny spots of light crept in through the ceiling, interrupting the rhythm given by the candles that used to surround ceiling. While some semblance of the pride of Lordareon remained, much had been pervaded by death.

" Why has it been so long…Jaina", spoke a voice that could do nothing but grab her ears. A voice that was all too familiar, yet strangely cold…

And so she turned, relishing every second as if turning a page from one of her favorite romances. With her revolution, she could only anticipate who would lay before her, and in that small time her imagination ran wild. She imagined her prince, now a King searching for his lost beloved. His robe would be covered in the rose petals of his welcoming subjects, and as he approached, a velvet tapestry, beautifully embroidered, would lead them to each other. Every thing about who she would embrace would be perfect, and she knew it. It would be such that when she would bury herself in his arms, the two would petrify, frozen forever so that not even time itself could deny what they had.

And with the last seconds drifting off into nonentity she looked into the figure waiting for her and watch as her thoughts took shape.

At first he was nothing but a silhouette, and a form of pure darkness but contrasted by the light that fled into the room with him. Approaching further, with the shade pulling its veil to reveal her Prince, Jaina saw the man she longed for, but not the man she remembered.

His hair had not its former vibrancy, but instead hung dead in silvery tufts that shadowed his face. She could see no long deep blue cape waving in the breeze as he approached, for only a tattered cloth was affixed to his unfamiliar armor. Even his walk was empty of all the pride of a server of the light. Though he came to her in a fully erect posture, his pace was slow and methodic as the tolling of an Iron bell.

It didn't matter to her though, for Jaina thought her eyes could bear nothing but guile, as she came close to him. Reason fell victim to her bottled up desires, which begged emancipation. Unimpeded she pressed her cheek against the smooth breastplate, it being unfamiliar but still enough to soothe the afflictions she'd gain when she was torn away from her quiet school life. In much anticipation she tilted her head back, and wriggled her nose as a cold rush of frosted air tickled her, but she still could barely see his face. The candles in the throne room were long burnt out and it was very dim, so she smothered her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around him.

With tear flowing down her cheeks again she whispered to him,"

"Arthas, I've fought too many battles, killed too many beings, and witnessed the deaths of too many honest good people alone, and the only thing that could keep me steadfast during that endless maelstrom of suffering was the thought I would someday see you again."

Standing completely statuesque his response rolled down the nape of her neck.

"Yet, my Jaina, you've come all too soon.", his left hand crept along the rim of her lower back, and followed her spine, "You see you love me, do you not?"

"I'll always love you."

"Well for that, I am sorry."

"Arthas? Are you…"

Jaina swallowed the question she was going to ask him, and instead satisfied her curiosity by lifting his concealing her from his face, and exposed the visage that he had been keeping in shadow.

What Jaina found beneath the gray hair was not the face of her former lover. Or at least it used to be.

It resembled him. He resembled him, but never before had she him wear that face. It was far from the compassionate expressions Arthas put on for his people, his calling, and for her. No, she looked into the visage of someone wicked, a person that now tightly stretched the edges of his mouth to reveal a wicked smile.

At that moment came to her something she wished she were too oblivious to know. He had ceased to be Arthas, instead someone sinister had replaced him, but she still couldn't believe it. As much she knew it to be true, she would not accept the truth. Yet she did know one thing. She could not love him, and because of that she had to run away.

But she went nowhere, for the hand that she thought was caressing her, was now enclosed around Jaina's neck, and tightening. Her feet began to feel air, and she had to hold onto his thick arm to keep from choking. Trying to kick her self free, all to no avail, Jaina stared into his eyes. They had no remorse, no empathy, and no fear, instead they seemed to beckon out her soul so they could devour it, and they were pasted above that evil smile.

"Arthas you're hurting m…" his hand was so constricting she could not bring forth enough air to speak words.

" Do you know why you should really be afraid Jaina?"

At that moment she noticed, with fading consciousness, a third player appear on stage. But it was not an actor, no it was a prop, for in his right hand glowed a sword. This weapon, though, was unlike any other she'd seen or even felt. It was almost as perverse as he'd become, and it even seemed to be more damning. He clutched it, as his new love, and pointed it at her bellybutton. Its luminescence did not diffuse out light. Instead it consumed it.

"Because I'm not going to kill you."

With that, that accursed blade grabbed her, forcing a surge of dark engery into her body.

And Jaina never thought it possible to feel so much pain…

End Chap 13?