Varian
All was going well until Vala screamed.
Fortunately, we had decided I would hold the mirror, rather than risk it being damaged if something happened during the linking of her magic. The link only held for a few moments after Vala started screaming. Once the connection was fully lost, I carefully placed the mirror to the side and went to Vala's side.
"What's wrong? What happened?" I asked, pulling Vala into an embrace. She had both her hands on her head and she was still making an agonizing sound. She rocked against me, but did not reply, so I held her tighter, praying whatever pain she was in would subside on its own.
After several minutes, Vala began to quiet and her hands moved from her head to my chest, but she held onto me desperately, as if she were afraid to release me. Her breathing began to slow and I risked asking her more questions.
"Feeling better?"
Vala nodded, her forehead resting on my chest. I could feel she was still trembling slightly.
"What happened?"
"Everything was fine until Connie's magic touched mine. It felt like acid was being poured into my skull. I think she felt something too, but she pressed on. The more she pushed, the worse the pain got. I lost my concentration and the link was broken."
"Is it normal for something like that to happen when linking magic between two mages?" I asked, honestly not knowing much about arcane magic, or any magic for that matter.
Vala pulled back so she was't gripping me quite as desperately, but she didn't pull out of my arms completely.
"I have no idea. I've never tried to link magic with anyone. I didn't even know it was possible until Jaina told me that was what we were attempting. I'll need to ask her when we open the link back up."
"We are doing no such thing, at least not today." I interjected.
"But…" Vala began, but I simply held her tighter so she could not reach for the mirror, not that she fought my embrace very hard.
"But nothing. You just spent a good five minutes screaming like someone was torturing you, then spent what felt like an hour waiting for pain to subside enough to even speak to me. You are not trying to reopen the link again today. Maybe tomorrow, after a good night's sleep, if you're feeling up to it. You're running on adrenaline at this point. The connection can wait."
Vala only nodded. She didn't even make any kind of snarky comment about me being a king and trying to order her around. This meant she was in worse shape than she was letting on. Maybe even worse shape than she even knew herself.
I helped Vala to her bed, but she refused to actually lay down. Not wanting to fight with her, I simply helped her lean against the wall, her blanket wrapped around her securly. If she was in shock, she needed to stay warm. I brought her a drink, then sat back down next to her. For all her efforts to say she was fine, she fell asleep as soon as she was fully settled.
It took 6 days for Vala to recover enough to try the connection again, but regardless of the time, Anduin was actually looking in the mirror when it connected.
"Thank the Light. Just one moment." He said, then sent the mirror down face up. I could hear a door open and Anduin talking quietly, but commandingly. "Inform Lady Proudmoore her presence is requested in my sitting room immediately. She'll know why."
Moment's later, Anduin returned.
"We were afraid Vala was injured, or worse, since it's been almost a month and a half since the last connection."
"She wasn't really injured, it just took longer for her to recover enough to try again."
I heard the door open again and Jaina appeared off to Anduin's side.
"Is everyone alright?" She asked.
"We're both fine. I was just telling Anduin it took longer for Vala to recover from whatever happened the last time. She says when Connie attempted the link, it felt like acid was being poured into her brain. The more Connie pushed, the worse it got. Any idea what happened? Is Connie alright?"
"Connie's fine. She described something similar, but she said it was a constant pain. It didn't increase with time on her end." Anduin said.
"We have a theory about why it happened, but I need to talk to Vala." Jaina replied.
I nodded, then turned the mirror so it was pointed at Vala. Vala opened her eyes and tried to focus on the mirror as best she could while holding open the connection. She seemed to need to put more and more effort into keeping the connection open the more times we tried to make it.
"Vala, how long have you been stranded in that dimension?" She asked.
"At least five years, probably more." Vala replied, curiosity filling her voice. "Which equals to more than thirty years on your end."
I thought I heard a sharp intake of air, but I wasn't sure.
"I'm guessing your eyes haven't always glowed green."
"No. I mean, they've always been green, but the glowing thing is new. I'm not sure when it started, since it's not like I've had many opportunities to look at my own reflection until we recovered this mirror. And I've been alone until Varian got here."
I turned the mirror back to myself. "What does it mean?"
"We think the reason the link isn't working is because Vala is using fel magic to supplement her own arcane magic."
"I'm not trying to." Vala said, not opening her eyes.
"We figure the fel magic has latched onto you and has leached into your body somehow from being exposed to it for so long, mingling with your usual magic. Considering how long you've been there, I'm more sure we're correct in our guess. It's preventing the link." Jaina explained.
"Is there any way to remove the fel magic?" I asked.
"Not that we can think of. At least not without the help of someone else, not currently with you."
"Is there any way to block it?" Vala asked. I turned the mirror back at her and she opened her eyes. "Like, push it to the side, so my arcane magic and Connie's can link up without killing either of us?"
The other side of the mirror was quiet for several heartbeats. I could just hear Jaina hum the way she always did when she was thinking hard. "Maybe, but I'll need time to work on the magic."
"It's probably better that way. She's being very brave, but I think Vala needs a few more days of rest before we try anything too strenuous." Vala opened her eyes and glared at me. "And don't look at me like that. This mirror communication is exhausting you more and more each time we use it. Don't think I haven't noticed."
"She's having a harder time keeping the connection?" Jaina asked, sounding concerned.
Vala looked at me and reluctantly nodded.
"She says yes." I translated.
"Then we need to make the attempt to rescue you both the next time we connect. The time difference is just not allowing her enough time to recover between attempts and it could be permanently damaging her mind and her magic. I'll work on the magic and we'll get Malfurion and Kalecgos ready to go through the portal to collect you."
"Malfurion and Kalecgos?" I asked.
"Anduin wanted to go himself, but I told him I'd stop all attempts to rescue you if he tried to insist. I told him you'd agree with me."
I chuckled. Good old Jaina. "You're right. I'd rather rot here for the rest of my life than allow even a chance of Anduin being hurt or trapped, too."
"That being said, Kalec volunteered immediately, since he's been helping with the magic on this end and when we told the night elves about our situation, Malfurion also volunteered."
I thought about it for a moment then nodded. "Both of them are strong enough to kill demons and also stop any of them from getting through the portal to Stormwind. They can also both fly, which could come in handy."
"Exactly. And, if for some reason we lose the connection or the portal while they are both still there, we're sending Kalec through with a second mirror, already linked to one of mine, just in case." Jaina agreed. "Now, in four days, which is a month for us, I'll need you to make a connection again. In an open area if possible, where you can be seen. I know this opens up possible dangers of being attacked by demons, but you need to risk it. We need to get you home, before you end up spending another year there or before Vala succumbs to some mental injury from all of this and loses the ability to connect at all. I will figure something out." Jaina sounded more determined than I'd ever heard from her and she was a very determined woman most of the time anyway.
I looked to Vala and she nodded again. "Agreed."
"Infact, " Jaina added. "I think we should attempt the connection on this side of the mirror this time around. So far, we've had to allow for Vala's recuperation time, so having her make and hold the connection made sense before, but since we now have the time difference nailed down, I think we can figure things right to allow about four days on your side. Connie is more than strong enough to make the connection, just as Vala has. Once they connect, the power might swap back to Vala automatically, but the burden will hopefully be at least a little less."
"Considering the preparations we need to make to keep Stormwind safe, that makes sense. What do you think, Father?" Anduin asked.
I looked again to Vala and she, again, nodded. "And that will work?"
"Yes." Jaina replied. "Since we'll be trying this plan in four days anyway, it should not matter who starts the connection. Allowing Connie to take the lead on this one might even help with Vala's waning strength. She's going to need all she has to push the fel magic back long enough to establish a link with Connie. Chances are, she's going to need to be the one to push the fel back. Connie won't be able to help her."
"It will also allow us the time to get outside our shelter, once the connection is made. It will be safer for us, as well as you." I added.
"Good, then it's settled." Jaina replied.
The mirror turned to Anduin. "We'll get you home, Father. Just hang in there."
I laughed. "I'm the parent, ya know. I'm the one who's supposed to be reassuring you."
Anduin shrugged. "I guess I've been a king for long enough now that I see everyone's life as my responsibility."
"I am so proud of you, Son. Even if this doesn't work and I never get home, know that I've always been proud of you. I haven't said those words to you nearly enough in your life."
"I know, Father. Even if you didn't say the words, I've always known."
The mirror turned back to Jaina. "You should probably break the connection now. Have Vala rest and use as little magic as she can over the next four days."
"Understood. We'll see you in a month." I said, then looked to Vala and she broke the connection.
Jaina
As I returned to my chambers to begin working on a solution to Vala's fel magic problem and the portal itself, I couldn't help but worry about Varian's new mage friend. My heart went out to her.
She'd been stranded in a demon dimension for thirty years. Only five for her, but it was still a long time to be in such conditions. And alone. She'd said she'd been alone until Varian arrived, which means for the better part of five years, she'd survived in a demon dimension with nothing but her magic and her wits. Her emotional stability had to be held on by a thread at this point.
I was more determined than ever to get, not just Varian, but Vala home. No matter how she got to the dimension, her bravery and determination more than earned her a ride home.
To Be Continued...
