And as of it, all Anita thought about was playing for the new tall man. So, she played all day, even when the other sisters, nurses, and various servants were busy going back and forth prepping the room for the patients to draw. In total they needed about one-hundred-sixty-six papers. At first they only needed ten less, but ten more demonic patients were needed. The loved ones handing the patients over to the clinic said "they were very loud at night please help them."
The cathedral was renovated a few months before. A door was added to the left side of the building. And this door led to a hallway which led to another one, which led to the other necessities of a clinic. There was however, talk of reinenevating again because the kitchen was very far from the sanctuary, and now Anita was one of the main "healers" of the clinic. The food became cold by the time it reach important areas.
The little girl had no idea how important she was. She was simply being a child, doing random things here and there, while having fun at the same time.
Then she was touched on the shoulder "please Anita, you must eat, take a break for a little while, then you can play again." She nodded and obeyed Michelle's words.
The dining area on the west side of the grounds were very well polished. The marble floor glistened with the facial features of the children walking, helping set up the table. Mother Michelle would say "those that don't set the table, and clean the table, have no right to eat." She said this wise saying but never followed through with the orders. Still, the children obeyed. Or their butts would turn red from Matilda's anger.
They sat, and Michelle said a blessing "may the light shine upon us this evening, may the sick be healed, and may the Jailure be killed." Once the ruffling of forks subsided "Mother Michelle, who's the Jailure?" asked Anita. Matilda wavered her had towards Michelle requesting to answer the hard question. "When people die, they go to a underworld, considering him exactly I am not sure. Most people are judged in the afterlife for their crimes in Azeroth. But, as of recently none have been getting judged, and all have been condemned to torment regardless of if they saved thousands of lives." "But…" Anita twirled her fork "shouldn't all people be condemned and some saved?" Michelle was dumbstruck "who told you to think like that?! Every person has a right to a better afterlife, throwing them all to the Jailure is evil." Wise Matilda cut her off "now now, that is not what she meant. Yes Anita, not everyone is perfect and everyone does do something wrong at some point…" Nathan slouched in his chair hoping to hide but Matilda noticed "that does not mean all should be judged harshly…" disgustingly she added at the end "except maybe for green-skins. They get judged rightly." Anita shrugged, Michelle nodded in agreement "none of this would have happened if it wasn't for that blasted WITCH!" Father Steven placed a new bowl of thickly aromatic gravy with mashed potatoes "the horrible witch received a just punishment. Genn is still troubled with what he did to her." Nathan curious and rightfully so "what did he do? I thought she was already dead?" Steven looked the boy in the eye and said nothing.
The bountiful children cleaned the plates while singing "spare the rats, and clean the bowls, all may be mean to keep us clean." On and on they went. But Michelle pulled Anita aside and whispered "a new gown was just given for you. Let's put it on shall we?" She jumped from the stool and both went to the chambers.
The gown was beautiful but different. It was dark black with hints of purple if one looked deep into the fabric. The trim was golden showing extremely costly details. A coif with a covering also came. "I don't know who has given these trinkets, but I have never seen something so expensive." And what was more alarming was it fit the girl perfectly. The coif did not cover her entire vision, she still could look down for her playing keys.
"Was any letter given?" Michille shook her head "no, sorry, there was none." Terrible lie, but Anita could not tell.
The sanctuary looked polished and cleaned for no apparent reason. Anita wondered why clean something that is already spotless. The pews however, were replaced with whiter ones, and the spacing was increased. Two rows were removed in the back to create space so the patients had some privacy while sitting and listening. She sat on the handcrafted bench next to the musical instrument of perfection, and waited.
Not surprisingly Yellen entered first. He also placed an offering in a large goblet on the left of the entrance. But, not far behind was a woman with a blue scarf. She lowered her hood and instantly Anita noticed the woman's white crystal hair and a glistening medallion snugged above her cleavage.
Anita gasped seeing her hero. "She's here! and before everyone else." Matilda had said the same thing on the other side of the sanctuary. But, Matilda could barely walk, especially now with the weight gain with the increased luxurious food. Anita was much faster, beating The Mother by leagues.
Jaina saw her and smiled. "You must be the pianist, that is what the new name is. I can't thank you enough for how much you mean to this hospital." As with all children, this wonderful compliment completely brushed past Anita's mind and she focused on the phenomenon at hand. "YOU'RE really here! Thank you so much for coming. I didn't expect...it" She finished the statement in a horribly depressing tone. Jaina, always amazing at monotone, "I am glad I have come. I heard you have already met the wise one Velen." She motioned at him, but he seemed to be trying to read everything about the little one. A pause and he answered "yes, we have already met."
Matilda finally arrived from the other side of Azeroth. "Bless you for coming," she said. "I Cannot believe both of you grace us with your presence." Ridiculously fake compliment but both guests appreciated them. "When do the patients arrive?" Yellen asked. The Mother forgot why everyone was here in the first place "oh, any minute, the other youngsters and maidens should be bringing them here. We couldn't decide to have the meal before or after the reception. In the end, we fed them before Anita was going to play. This will make them very sleepy, the music tends to 'heal' them better if they sleep." Yellen, focusing on the task at hand "do you happen to know why they become sleepy?" "Yellen, can't we have proper greetings? I am sure they are tired from…" She paused trying to find the words to complete the sentence. "Being mentally exhausted." Matilda nodded in agreement.
"I love your scarf! It is so pretty." Anita's eyes were bigger than her words. "Oh, so kind, yes I have come a fancy with these." "Please, sit up front." The young one demanded. "Oh, how can I refuse the 'pianist'." The new Queen responded jokingly. Jaina glanced at Yellen wondering where he wanted to sit. "I would like to sit in the back, Lady Proudmoore, if ye would not mind." Matilda spoke "sit wherever you please. Keep in mind, the patients ask an awful lot of questions." "They do, usually random chores. Why do they always think about daily chores to do? One man keeps asking me to get his mail, but I don't know where his mail is." Jaina's complexion changed "maybe he can't remember where he placed it. Can... 'you' show me this musical instrument?" The girl realized she hadn't introduced herself "oh, I'm Anita, and yes! I will love to show you. Come!"
She said 'come' yet ran faster than the word and she wasn't in a dress like Jaina nor wearing boots. As Anita was a few paces ahead, she described all the new additions and how the place used to be dusty. One painting caught Jaina by surprise "I haven't seen that one before. The rest I remember." Anita squinted "oh, that one is some inquisitor. It is a new one. Don't know who brought it."
At last Anita spread her arms out towards the magical instrument. Jaina was shocked. "I saw it from a distance but…" She crouched to look at the golden edges "it is amazing...how did it arrive if I may ask, looks awfully heavy?" Anita also tilted her head wondering what Jaina was focusing on "it was a gift from someone, don't know who. Beats the old one...that one was terrible. The keys were heavy, and it didn't have those two things on the bottom." She pointed at the soft and damper pedals. Then, she explained what they did. Then showed.
Immediately Jaina could notice the effects of her playing. Barely audible she muttered "that's not normal." The young one did not hear her comment over the music.
The patients had arrived.
"There are so many," Jaina quoted. "Yes, we have been getting more as of late, particularly women. Most of them were just men. But now mothers who weren't even part of the war. They seem to be the most affected, more so than their hubbies." Jaina cautiously eyed the large crowd most were dressed in uniform clothing "so it spreads." "What spreads Lady Jaina?" "Oh nothing, nothing, perhaps their husbands scream at night." Not realizing her statement Jaina tried to amend it but, "they do scream now and then. We usually ask Father Stevan and the other monks to help calm down the loud ones. Having them sit really helps. And we have tried drawing." Surprised at the effectiveness "oh, drawing? That would make sense. Help get their images down on paper."
Both watched the train seat on each row almost rhythmically. The people loved the colorful girl and continually waved at her. Jaina seemed beyond more happy than Anita did. Even a large spec of admiration entered her blue eyes. Anita's emerald ones did not notice, she instead watched a tall ruff looking man enter the sanctuary last.
The man huddled his way in and sat in the very corner. All heads were facing forward staring at The Performer, so none noticed except for Anita. The girl first glanced at Jaina who was sitting in a graceful position, and had a large smile that would make any man quiver. Then, the girl shifted on her seat and began The Art.
As the sounds became a melody and the breathing became one, so many began to draw on blank sheets in front of them. Others simply fell asleep. The pues were cushioned, allowing sleep to be more welcomed.
How can music be described? I reader, remember hearing a harp for the first time. I was at a church service, and a lady came, slender with delicate hands as most women are. She played on a very large harp, the one that is unaffordable. The woman played. I was just a boy then. Words cannot describe hearing a certain instrument for the first time. Coupled with an amazing player: The result is well: a dream not wanting to end. I do play the piano: used too... Any instrument is magical. The chills are debilitating. Especially if you are listening to someone you love. The results are lightning.
When the mind is destroyed. Music is an excellent remedy to madness. Emotion can be poured into music resulting in well, more emotional sounds. It is one of the few hobbies in the world when being sad helps the quality of the playing. Now...where were we with this girl?
The patients' minds hummed with music. Even their thoughts waved within the sheets. What was unique with Anita's playing was the randomness of the keystrokes.. When anger was expected, calm was answered, when speed was wanted, slow rhythms were heard. Then, the long echo of the final corred was struck. The sea went on for hours, but all dreams finally end. She stood and did an adorable bow.
There was however no clapping. Michille and a few other servants gathered some of the now drawn out pictures. After about ten or so drawings they began to notice the pictures were strange. Yellen, being tall enough to peak, noticed the weirdness as well, even the patient man looked alarmed. "I knew there was a possibility for them to draw something odd but this...makes no sense" stated Michelle to Matilda who also was quickly grabbing the parchments terrified by how similar they were.
"What is the matter? Did I do something wrong?" Anita quivered. Jaina looked confused as well. The patients looked guilty as if they did something wrong. Michelle tried to comfort them but Matilda came over and whispered "we can't do this again, WHAT ARE THESE DRAWINGS?!" The last part was said too loudly.
Anita stepped down and walked towards the first pue. On the right end a man was making a fuss about not wanting to get up and go towards his room to sleep. He had left one parchmen as a maiden escorted him out.
Anita picked up the horribly drawn, what looked to be a stick with two red eyes. "What is wrong with drawing a snake?" she thought. A slender hand touched her shoulder. Alarmed, she accidently repulsed. "Oh, didn't mean to scare you Anita. You played wonderfully. I am so proud a girl like you is doing so much good for Stormwind. We are in desperate need of women like you." The wonderful comment passed Anita's mind. She instead put her knees on the pue and peaked over looking at the other papers scattered about. Jaina also noticed the other parchments. "Why do they all look the same? When people are sad do they always draw lizards or snakes?" "No, I don't think they do." Jaina answered not knowing how to exactly explain. "Are you an orphan here Anita?" She slumped, casting her emerald eyes onto the floor. "Yes, why would a parent not want a part of them? I would do anything to meet them one day." The war in Jaina's mind continued not knowing how to respond. "Well, Anita, I have come to realize any person can be our parents, it is just a matter if they love us and care for us." The girl thought about the statement. "Do you love us Jaina?" A child's direct question are some of the hardest of them all. Because, they are unfiltered by reason, and the unseasoned truth pierces straight into the soul.
"Yes, Anita, I love everyone here. I hate to see them suffering. I will stop the sadness, I must." Jaina stared at the entrance, seeing the others leaving, except for a large cloaked man sitting slumped in the corner.
"That poor man," Jaina mumbled. Anita tugged slightly on the mage's dress "who is that? He looks so sad." The man had his hands clasped onto his face. He lifted his head and peaked between his fingers, revealing his yellow eyes. "You know, my hearing is very good: Jaina. That was some wonderful playing."
"Greymane, don't scare the poor girl, oh I didn't mean it like that…" Jaina played with her silver hair out of embarrassment. Greymane approached and did the famous Gilneas bow. He smiled. Somehow his teeth were still white and clean. Unlike his hair, it looked unkept and greasy. "You don't look scared at all beautiful musician." Anita rocked her hips with pride "I ain't scared of nothing." "Ha! Talented and adventurous. Takes place after the previous ruler."
"Varian, wasn't very talented nor delicate with his hands." Greymane chuckled "no, no Jaina, he was not at all. It is a wonder why his son was so different."
"Anduin was much like his mother."
"I don't remember Prince Andy very much, what happened to his mommy and daddy?"
Greymane waved his large hand through his hair. "They are with their ancestors now. They gave their life for this wonderful kingdom."
Jaina crouched infront of Anita and reached behind her long and slender neck unfastening her famous necklace. "I want you to have this. It is a symbol from the land I come from." She placed the Proudmore insignia on Anita's small hands. "I was never a mother and I am past my prime. Perhaps you will be a mother one day." Jaina placed her two cold hands, which resembled the wear and tear of harnessing thousands of cold spells, on the girl's shoulders. She kissed her forehead. "Do not give any of these 'different' drawings attention. Focus on the poor and helpless. And you will gain more followers than a queen."
"I am sure I will be back. It was splendid to hear. Take care little princess." Greymane's cloak rippled as he walked away: an unintentional dramatic effect.
Michelle was waiting at the entrance and thanked them farewell.
