Acherus was smaller than Jaina thought. When she first heard about it during the war in Northrend, Jaina expected a necropolis the size of Naxxramas. Instead, it was just a quarter of the size.

Jaina stood there quietly, observing the deathknights. They were a stark reminder of how despicable Arthas had been. These men and women had been raised into undead and used against their will by Arthas. Not only that, but they had rebelled against him and won their freedom only to be plagued by their own deeds and guilt.

Highlord Mograine approached Jaina after half an hour of waiting. A lich and another deathknight followed behind him. Their leader was the one Jaina pitied the most. Darion Mograine had been only nineteen when he died and was the youngest deathknight. He would never age and remain young and a monster as well.

Despite his youth, Darion Mograine "Lady Proudmoore. I heard about Theramore...I am truly sorry for what happened. What can the Knights of the Ebon Blade do for you?"

"It has come to my attention that you have my daughter. Where is she?" Jaina demanded, not in the mood for idle chatting. She knew the girl was here and was not about to listen to any lies.

Surprisingly, Darion did not try to deny it. He just sighed.

"I was worried you might come to us. Lady Proudmoore, I cannot let you have her."

Jaina quelled her own rage at his response but her voice sharpened drastically. "What do you mean? That's my daughter!"

The Highlord did not react to her hostility, but other deathknights in the vicinity glanced over at the two nervously.

"Forgive me, my lady, but your daughter is technically a war criminal. As a member of the Scourge, I must keep her in my custody until she is pardoned."

That was one of the most outrageous claims Jaina had ever heard. Her daughter was a child. Not even fifteen years old, unless Jaina misremembered the year. Still, Jaina tried her best to keep herself under control.

Jaina cleared her throat. "I am leader of the Kirin Tor. I have the ability to pardon war criminals."

The other deathknight, an arrogant looking elf, snorted in derision. Darion jerked his head back to glare at the deathknight, who quieted but did not attempt to hide her own contempt toward Jaina. Instead of the Highlord, the lich replied with its icy, calculating voice.

"While you can pardon criminals, you are unfortunately too biased for us to release the child to you."

Though she despised the lich for merely existing and did not want to admit that it had a point, Jaina could not argue against this case. It seemed the Ebon Blade's leaders had put great thought in this strange situation. But Jaina knew from sources that Darion Mograine was honorable and a good person despite his dark exterior. She also knew that he was sensitive to anything involving familial situations.

She appealed to Darion's good nature. "Can I at least see her?"

After a moment of thought, the Highlord relented. "Fine."

He escorted her to a room filled with horror. Jaina restrained the urge to cover her nose and mouth as the smell of blood and embalming fluid washed over her. Disection tables lined the room. Hooks hung from the ceiling. Pieces of people hung from them.

That was not what Jaina came for however. She saw her daughter lying on one of the tables and rushed over to her. Instead of being cut open, one of Sapphire's arms had been sewed up as well as immobilized with a splint. Both the dog and the fey dragon Jaina had seen before were curled up next to the girl. When the dog saw Jaina approach, it hopped up and started to bark viciously. The fey darter's head popped up and saw Jaina. It squeaked cheerfully. When the dog would not stop barking, the dragon leapt onto it and nipped it on the snout.

Jaina shakily reached out to the girl, terrified that all of this was some hallucination brought on by the mana bomb. But when she touched the girl's uninjured arm and felt the warmth, Jaina felt tears come to her eyes.

"What is her name?" Jaina demanded.

A deathknight stirred in the corner. Unlike the rest, this one seemed even less alive. His green eyes glowed dangerously under his helm.

"Sapphire Menethil," He growled.

Sapphire. Like her dark blue eyes. White hair partially covered her face. Jaina reached over to brush some of the hair away. The dog bared his teeth but did not do anything to the mage.

"She had an...accident. Which is why we are sending her somewhere safer," Darion Mograine explained.

Jaina turned to glare at him. "Where? Where are you sending her?"

Darion did not react to her accusatory tone and kept himself under control.

"To Hearthglen."

Hearthglen. Darion was sending Sapphire to Tirion Fordring. As much as Jaina admired Tirion, she did not like the idea of having her daughter being sent away from her. The poor child had been through enough.

"Can I come with her?" Jaina suddenly asked, fidgeting nervously.

Darion crossed his arms and tilted his head. "You are the leader of the Kirin Tor. Can you really be spared? I promise I will see to her safety from now on. Highlord Fordring can contact you when she arrives."

Jaina shook her head immediately.

"No, I am going with her. I am not asking again," She snapped defensively.

"As you wish. You can stay here for now," Darion hissed in reply.

Jaina returned to her daughter's side, glancing over at the broody knight in the corner. He did not offer up his name or anything else in terms of conversation, so Jaina decided to prod him into it.

"Does Sapphire know about me?" She asked.

The deathknight stirred and responded in a snarky tone. "No idea...my lady."

Another deathknight came in. This one wore blood red armor and carried bloodied medical instruments. He stopped when he saw Jaina.

"Ah. Lady Proudmoore. News reaches you fast," He said in a more friendly tone than any of the others had.

He came over to her and her daughter and gave the girl a cursory look. He pointed to the stitching and the splint.

"Had to knock her out to fix up that broken bone. She has a nasty habit of getting into trouble. Oh, I am Lord Thorval by the way. I assume Salanar over there hasn't introduced himself yet. It's not personal. Sally is an asshole."

Salanar gave Lord Thorval a sharp look.

Jaina put a hand on her daughter protectively. As friendly as Lord Thorval acted, he was still undead.

"When will she wake?"

The deathknight shrugged. "Probably in an hour or two. I didn't measure the dose. I'm not used to dealing with...willing patients."

Jaina intended on being there when Sapphire woke. She did not ask before taking a seat on an empty table. Lord Thorval did not seem to care if she stayed or went and returned to his own business. Salanar stood there for a long time, just staring at Jaina. But eventually he got up and walked past both mother and daughter. He left the room entirely.


Whatever Thorval gave her, it did the trick. As she woke, Sapphire felt no pain and remembered no dreams. A stiff splint pressed against her broken arm. Sapphire groaned as she woke. Tiny claws scrabbled over her both and a wet nose nuzzled her. Sapphire smiled. Someone had put Rot and Tanomoan next to her.

She opened her eyes and indeed was greeted by a tiny furry face. Rot woofed quietly in order to not startle her. He then enthusiastically started to lick her face. Sapphire tried to stretch as much as she could with her arm splinted and slowly sat up.

A stranger sat at the table next to her. A woman, very tall and slim, looked at her with concern. Like Sapphire, the woman's hair gleamed white except for a large streak of gold. She wore strange robes of violet and pale white.

"Uh...Hi," Sapphire said, quickly looking around for Salanar. He was no where to be found, but at least Lord Thorval stood in the corner reading a book.

The woman got to her feet. Sapphire watched her warily approach.

"My name is Jaina. Jaina Proudmoore. Do you know who I am?"

Sapphire tried to think of that name and where she might have heard it. Nothing came to mind so she merely shook her head. Why was this woman here?

The woman let a out a deeply held breath.

"I am a mage. Currently the leader of the Kirin Tor but I started out as nothing but a student. Before I ever started learning in Dalaran however, I met a young prince named Arthas. Do you know who that is?"

Sapphire stiffened at her father's name. Even Rot woofed slightly at the name. Jaina Proudmoore gave her a serious look.

"He is your father of course you know this...but did he ever tell you about your mother?"

Again, Sapphire could do nothing but shake her head. No one, not even Marwyn, had ever said anything about a mother. Sapphire just assumed she did not have a mother. Magic could reanimate flesh and blood. Why could it not make a new person? But Sapphire learned otherwise that it was not that easy. If not some creation by necromancy, Sapphire also assumed her mother was dead or just some random cultist. Someone with magic ability-

Sapphire's eyes widened as she realized what this woman was trying to tell her. Sapphire now looked up at Jaina and saw the similarities. Though Sapphire's eyes were darker, both were blue. Once Sapphire's hair shone gold like this woman's own hair attested to. That nose and those ears...Sapphire saw it.

"Are...are you my mother?" Sapphire asked.

Jaina Proudmoore nodded, then let out a small smile. "I thought you were dead."

Now the mage came forward and wrapped her arms around Sapphire. She did not know how to react to the hug or the new information. She felt Jaina's hand stroke her hair in a comforting fashion, but Sapphire did not feel very comforted. Jaina then pulled away.

"This is probably a lot to take in."

Sapphire tightened her fists. So many lies. Her father spread such misery and suffering for her. For what end? Why would he have to keep this from her? Like Sapphire would have ever tried to seek out her own mother. Tears formed in her eyes but Sapphire refused to let them fall. She did not want to be upset. There was another emotion she was feeling.

She felt anger. Arthas would come for her, she supposed. Not to rescue her but instead to just recover his own weapon. He could come for her all he wanted. If she saw him again, she would rip out his throat.

As she thought all these thoughts, she heard Jaina clear her throat and her attention returned to her mother.

"Highlord Mograine is sending you to Hearthglen. There is a person who could see if you are a threat as your...father was."

Sapphire sat up straighter and opened her mouth but her mother interrupted her with a wave.

"This is nothing but a formality. If you wish, I am more than happy to accompany you."

Sapphire gazed into her mother's eyes, trying to see if she was misleading her. If a father could lie, why not a mother? Gorak Tul was family and he lied as well. Was there anyone Sapphire could trust anymore? She could not see any signs of deceit.

"Do you mind?" Sapphire asked sincerely.

Her mother seemed to light up at her response. "No of course not! Perhaps soon you can follow me to Dalaran? I think you will enjoy it."

Dalaran. The city of mages. Sapphire saw it floating in the sky of Northrend. A floating city full of wonderful things. The idea of actually going there...

Sapphire finally gave her mother a smile. "That would be nice."