Anduin

I looked down at the unconscious mage.

She was definitely not much older than me, with long bright red hair and fair skin. She was pale from the toll being taken on her body, but I doubted she was much darker skinned when she was healthy. She was also very beautiful, though I was smart enough not to comment on this fact. I'd only been in a relationship with Connie for a short time, but I knew a statement like that wouldn't be taken well by my future bride.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing my connection with the Light on the unconscious form. It took a few moments, but I did indeed sense a Light presence. It was very small and weak, focused around her heart, but it was definitely there. It felt like the Light had encased her heart in a final effort to protect it from the invading fel magic. I focused on the presence and it seemed to flare, bolstering itself using my magic.

I smiled to myself. That was how I was going to save her. I began to slowly push my Light into Vala, enhancing her own connection. With my help, she would use her own Light power to save herself. I had to be careful, though. If I moved too fast, the fel magic might be able to take hold on something I missed. If I moved too slowly, her body would give out before I was able to purge all the fel magic out. I breathed slowly, allowing the Light to guide my pace.

After several minutes, Vala began to convulse. The healers, the archbishop and my father rushed up to hold her steady as I continued my efforts. Slowly, inch by inch, the fel magic released its grasp on the young woman, but I could tell Vala's heart was growing weaker.

"Come on, come on." I mumbled to myself, focusing harder.

As the last of the fel magic left Vala's body, harmlessly dissipating around us, she stopped convulsing, but only because her heart had stopped.

"She's dead." The Archbishop said.

"Oh no you don't." I said, placing a hand over her heart. "I resurrected a battlefield full of dead and dying soldiers, I refuse to let you die."

I focused all of my power on Vala's heart, forcing it to start beating again. After a handful of my own heartbeats, her heart restarted and she gasped.

I leaned back with a sigh as Vala's eyes opened and she looked around. Almost faster than I thought possible for someone who had just died, she scurried off the bed, putting her back to the far wall. I could see the terror in her eyes. She had no idea where she was or what was going on.

Father worked his way around everyone and approached her slowly, his hands in the air, as if he were approaching a scared animal.

"Vala, it's alright. You're safe." Varian said softly, kneeling down and inching closer to the terrified woman. "It's me, Vala. You're in Stormwind. You're safe."

"Stormwind?..." She replied quietly, blinking quickly, as if to clear her eyes from her nightmare. Her eyes continued to dart between everyone in the room. "Safe?...It worked?"

Father nodded. "It worked."

I could hear her start to sob loudly, then lunge at Varian, burying her face into his chest and wrapping her arms around him. He held her close, rocking her gently.

I felt a nudge on my arm and turned to see Jaina nodding towards the door. I nodded back and followed everyone out of the room, giving my father and the newly revived woman a moment alone. Vala didn't need an audience for this moment.


Varian

I held Vala tightly. I didn't turn around as the room emptied and the door closed. Thankfully, the group of onlookers realized Vala needed a few moments alone. For a long time, I just sat next to her, holding her as she openly wept in my arms.

I looked down at her as her sobs dissipated and her breathing evening out.

"Better?"

She nodded into my chest, not looking up.

"Come on, you've been through alot. Let's get you back into bed. You need to rest."

Vala didn't reply, but she didn't fight me as I helped her back into the bed.

"Think you can sleep?" I asked, pulling a blanket over her. She was calmer, but I could tell she was still terrified.

"What if I wake up and I'm back in that cave, alone?"

I could tell she was almost near tears again and she was visibly trembling. Her exhausted mind was genuinely terrified she'd wake up alone in the demon dimension.

"I promise, you won't wake up back in that cave. You're safe here with me. When you wake up, you'll still be in Stormwind and I'll still be here."

She nodded, then closed her eyes. It didn't take long for her grip on my hand to soften as she fell asleep. The door behind me opened back up and one of the healers stuck her head in.

"She'll be alright, I think. Can you bring another bed into the room for me?"

The healer said nothing, just nodded and was soon replaced by Anduin.

"Going to stay here tonight?" He asked.

I nodded. "I promised to be here when she wakes up. Besides, I'm closer to collapsing from exhaustion than I'd like. I should probably get some sleep too and stay in the medical wing, just to be safe. I think I'm still on my feet by sheer force of will alone."

Anduin walked up to me. I hugged my son and he hugged me back.

"I'll let you get some rest. We'll talk again tomorrow." Anduin said, pulling away. "You've been dead for the better part of two years. I can wait another day to tell you everything."

He turned to leave, but turned back as he stood in the doorway. "Welcome home, Father."


To Be Continued...