Chapter 2: Home
Jaina awoke with a start, the feel of a bed that she hadn't slept on in decades underneath her. Her eyes swung around wildly to take in the room she had been in as an apprentice Archmage to Antonidas. And instantly, at the mere thought of him, she let out a gasp, feeling his wise presence in the connected office-study. As a Master and Apprentice, they had shared the same suite. He was alive... her old teacher was alive...
She wanted to let out a sob and go rush to him, bury him in a hug that would leave him utterly flabbergasted and probably chastising her if she recalled his attitude correctly. He was wise, and while he kept his own council, he did always bend an ear to listen to her.
But not to others...
She frowned briefly. That's right, Medivh had warned Antonidas... warned King Teranus... warned Arthas... and finally when he warned her, he found an ear to listen. Could she convince Antonidas to listen?
Wait.
Did she need to?
If she could stop the Scourge... stop Arthas's fall... stop Kel'Thuzzad's reanimation in the Sunwell... they'd never get a chance to preform the summoning. Hell, if she could somehow find and destroy wherever the Kirin Tor kept the Book of Medivh, they couldn't summing Archmonde period. Though destroying the book would probably get her kicked out of the Kirin Tor, and this Kirin Tor was the old one, her Kirin Tor, not the degrading new one.
No, wait a second, destroying the Book wouldn't solve anything even IF she could.
Kil'Jaeden had been summoned through the Sunwell. So the Legion could still invade. Which was a curious thing, why hadn't they used the Sunwell the first time? Perhaps it had needed to be corrupted first by Kel'Thuzzad's revival, and then given time to regenerate its then tainted power? That made a bit more sense. Still, even without Kel'Thuzzad, there were other ways the Sunwell could be corrupted. But if the Scourge never took Lordaeron, Quel'Thalas would most likely not fall, and Sylvanas would never be twisted into a monster.
With the foreknowledge she had, the spells she knew that she couldn't even conceive of at this time originally, the support of her Prince, the Scourge wouldn't stand a chance...
Except...
She crossed her arms. "Tichondrius..."
The Dreadlord wasn't going to make this easy. He would be trying to influence things to. There was a chance, with both her and that monster's efforts, things were going to derail very quickly. So right here and now, she needed to begin the chance. What to do though? Antonidas wouldn't be approached by Medivh for another day or so, and it was afterwards then she'd be sent out to meet Arthas by the end of the week...
She leaned back in her bed, thinking. She didn't want things to end the way they had between Arthas and Uther originally. Ideally, the Paladin and the Silverhand would support Arthas. However... she ought to have some kind of contingency incase that didn't change, Arthas was stubborn as hell, and with the horrors of the Scourge, she remembered him having a very short temper. Arthas purged Strathlome, and headed north, vastly unprepared. Should she try to get more troops for him?
No, wait what was she thinking?! Arthas couldn't go ANYWHERE near Northrend, near Frostmourne...
"Though...," she murmured thoughtfully, "If I could get at that sword before it was gorged on souls, I might be able to destroy it if I use all my power."
Except wait.
She swore to herself. She was younger now! Did she even have a fraction of the power she would wield decades later? Or even at Hyjal?
Jaina closed her eyes and reached inward, pulling out her arcane might. She held out a hand, glowing with purple energy. It was unfortunately as she feared. She wasn't nearly as strong as she was in the future. Though... she didn't remember having this much back then. Perhaps she simply knew better how to draw out her potential than she did during her apprenticeship. She could feel objects in the room begin to levitate as she delved deeper and deeper. Her hair began to flow, translucent energy gliding down it. She smiled softly, it actually wasn't that bad to feel weaker, ignoring that she needed the power. There was so much less she had to struggle to control, she could safely let her magic coat her without it going haywire...
"Impressive," came a voice that both stole her concentration and her breath away.
She opened her eyes to a sight that drew such a smile from her face. "Master Antonidas."
There in his full elderly glory, was her old teacher standing in the doorway. Elegant Dalaran purple and gold robes gently wrapped around his body. His gnarled staff in his hand. His oh so long (and ticklish!) white beard stretching down to his chest. A purple cap covering his bald head. His eyes, white with age and arcane power. His face, so gentle and wise, unless someone ticked him off. Just the sight of him filled her with happiness, it felt like a piece of her soul had suddenly come back to her.
"I must have lapsed in my concentration," confessed Antonidas with praise, "I was not aware you had progressed so much."
Jaina relaxed her power, levitating the various objects in the room back down, and blushed furiously as if she were the young Archmage her body showed her to be. "Y-you are to kind Master."
"I was curious what you seemed to be in such deep concentration about," mused Antonidas, "But I seem to have found my answer."
Jaina hesitated briefly, her mind searching for something. "Well... actually Master, I... I was hoping to make a request."
Antonidas raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I wanted to prepare myself to showcase my progress later on so I...," she began, "So I could request a brief leave of absence from my studies."
"While I am not against it, even if you hadn't shown your growing prowess," he stated, "Whatever for child?"
"I want to go home for a day or so," she said, "I... I haven't seen my family for some time."
Antonidas nodded slowly, pulling on his beard. "Oh, is that all? My dear with such grave words and a impressive showcase, I thought you were going to request a month off."
She grinned, recognizing his teasing. "No, just a day or so to drop in and say hi."
And to convince her family to not sit in Kul Turas and do nothing the entire Third War. Well, to be fair, she had commandeered a lot of the fleet for evacuating what was left of Lordaeron's populace without even gracing her father with an explanation the first time around. And look how that turned out. Her father hadn't seen Thrall's goodness for himself, and locked into his old ways, sealed his fate.
That wouldn't happen this time.
"Is something the matter Jaina?" asked Antonidas, "I haven't seen you lose yourself so deeply and quickly in thought before in some time. Why if I recall, it was when you were studying how to summon a Water Elemental."
Jaina blinked a few times, and sheepishly scratched her head. "Sorry, just thinking of what to do with my family."
"If you want a few weeks Jaina, it's nothing much to ask for," said Antonidas, "Once you become a full-fledged Archmage, your time is going to be far more limited."
Wasn't that true. "I thank you for the offer, but, I feel that I should be here in a few days from now."
That, of course, was a foolish thing to say in hindsight. Antonidas pulled on his beard. "Why is that?"
"I... I don't know," murmured Jaina, "There's something in the air Master, I feel like something's coming. It's why I want to visit my family. I might not get the chance to again for some time."
That put Antonidas deep in thought. "Hmm... so you feel it too..."
Wait, what? Antonidas had some kind of inkling something was coming, and he brushed aside the prophet like that? Then again... he was spouting death and doom... She'd give her Master the benefit of the doubt.
"Very well, dress and be off with you then child," said Antonidas, turning and striding from the room.
Jaina blinked a few times before glancing down at herself and staring. Oh, she hadn't worn pajamas in ages. It was always wise to wear her robes and be ready to spring up from sleep and move on a moments notice. Never knew if her base or town were going to get raided or blown up while she was sleeping. Still, she shifted her body, feeling the nice fabric on her skin, it was a nice sensation.
She walked into her old bathroom, showered quickly, then found her old apprentice robes in a closet...
Her eyes went wide and her breath suckered in to see Halion leaning in the back of it, old and forgotten. Antonidas had granted her an improved staff about a year ago if she remembered correctly. She glanced across the room to see that new staff leaning against the wall next to her bed. She slowly shook her head, Halion was her staff now, even if it was a shadow of it's former self. She would make it great again.
She gripped her staff tightly, opened a portal, and stepped through to her homeland. Instantly the cawing of seagulls hit her ears. The waft of sea-air brushing by her nose and through her hair. The sounds of ship in the harbor jostling with the waves. She looked over the harbor of her people, a place she had been banished from for her involvement with her father's death. It felt good to be home.
"Lady Proudmoore!" came a call from one of the port guards, "What a surprise to see you home again, we weren't aware you were coming."
Jaina glanced at the man, knew she ought to remember him, she had once been able to name so many of the people here, but couldn't, so she gave a simple answer without a greeting. "I asked for a day to come back and see my family and my people. It's good to be home. Is father in?"
The guard waved a hand. "The Lord Admiral is going to be inspecting the fleet this upcoming week and then off to meet the other noble houses, going to keep him busy for awhile so he took the last three days off to be with his family."
"I know just where to find him then," said Jaina mischievously, earning a small laugh from the guards.
She strode past, following the echoes in her mind leading down twists and turns and streets towards her family's personal retreat. She smiled as she neared the unassuming cottage, before she suddenly froze, her fist inches from knocking at the door, at the sound of her father's voice, his rich deep laughter echoing out the window. In the span of an instant, horrific guilt blew through her, feeling like she had just been ripped open. Her hand shakily dropped, and she stepped away from the door.
Was she really going to try to ask for his help, after she had stood aside and let him die?
She choked a bit, before furiously wiping at her eyes. She... she didn't have time for guilt. She'd fix things this time around, she swore she would. She raised a hand and firmly knocked on the door.
There was a pause as all the sound inside quieted down. The Lord Admiral was not to be disturbed in his days off save for an emergency. So to them, it was either something dire, or an assassin. She could imagine her father holding his old pistol behind his back as he approached the door. Sure enough, when he opened it, Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore had one hand hidden behind his back, ever the prepared soldier and sailor. Even on his days off, he always wore his blue mariner shirt and pants. His graying short graying and large mustache kept groomed properly for his station. His face was serious, showcasing the wrinkles that came with his age, before he sighted her a broke into a warm smile.
"Ah Jaina! Why didn't you send word you were coming?" said her father, stretching his arms out after nestling his pistol into his belt.
She flung herself at him and embraced him in the tightest hug she could. "It's good to see you papa, so good to see you."
The man chuckled and stepped back. "Come in child, we were just starting breakfast."
There was an audible huff from inside. "Is that my daughter? Finally gracing us with her presence and taking time off her studies?"
Jaina turned her head, and sighted her mother. Katherine Proudmoore sat at the other end of the table from her father's seat, the two heads of the household. She bore her maroon silk top and her tan buttoned pants tightened together by a belt. Her coat, not quite the Lord Admiral one she had last time she had seen her, hung behind her chair. Mother was always ready to be on the move. Her graying hair was tied neatly behind her head, and her face, masked with a oh-so fake scowl, glared at her. Jaina knew when she was and wasn't faking ill intent.
For a brief moment, an image of her mother cursing her name for letting her husband die filled her vision, before she banished it. and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry mama, I've been busy. But I've progressed such much lately Master Antonidas agreed to give me a day off."
Katherine flapped a hand, her scowl shifting into a smile. "Oh it's alright dear, we always have a seat ready for you."
"It's good to hear you are applying yourself well my child," said Father, retaking his seat.
Jaina moved for the empty chair before pausing and staring at her younger brother Tandred. "Just starting are we? Brother here has half his face covered in mush."
The young man, dressed similarly to his father, and brown hair and growing mustache neatly trimmed just as well, coughed. "Good to see you too Jaina."
She reached over and ruffled his hair playfully, pulling her hand back just before he could bat it away. She glanced at the table, mouth watering at the sight of delicacies she hadn't tasted in years, already delivered by the family's favored servant.
The questions began as she began to slowly load her place, recalling past customs and proper culinary skills that her brother oh so failed to show. "So, how is that old bat Antonidas."
Jaina raised an eyebrow at her father. "He's fine..."
She paused briefly, considering it as a good lead in to let them know something was amiss, she smoothly gave out a half-truth, "Mostly. He's a bit pensive as of late. Told me he felt that 'something was in the air'. Couldn't get anything more out of him. Probably let me go as to get me to stop pestering him and give him time to think."
In the span of an instant, her father's face changed into that of the Lord Admiral, a hint of a frown showing, his eyes narrowing in calculating thought, before he banished the look. "Hmm. Hopefully it's nothing, but Antonidas's foresight and scrying has served us well in the past."
Not well enough in the third War, not against the Scourge and the Legion. But even he couldn't have guessed what was coming. "Hopefully. I'd like to finally reach the rank of a full Archmage in peace."
"Only in times of strife are we truly tested," countered Daelin.
Didn't she know it...
Mother huffed. "I'd rather our children get through life without a risk this time around."
There was a moment of collective wincing at the not-so-subtle reference to Derek Proudmoore's death. Jaina hadn't had the chance to know her older brother for as long as she would have liked, but, she could always recall him sharing with her what would become her favorite sour goat cheese snack. Though, Dalaran Sharps and sliced apples were a good second.
"All I ever wanted to do was study," said Jaina honestly, softly, and truthfully, "But if something does come along, I'll do my family and kingdom proud."
She would, this time around.
Her father gave her an approving nod, though she did notice the hint of a thoughtful frown on his face. Her father knew her well, he had probably noticed something off in the few minutes they had been together. Breakfast continued with soft banter, questions about her studies, and Jaina pestering them for how things were going here in Kul Tiras. When they finished, as it was proper, she helped clean up and then moved to join her mother. Almost instantly, once she was out of hearing range of the 'boys', her mother dug in about anyone she was seeing.
"What about that elf you mentioned awhile back?" asked Mother.
Jaina froze briefly at the mention of Kael'thas Sunstrider, at the thought of him submitting to the Legion. "He... isn't who I thought he would be. He has a good heart, but if push came to shove, I'm not sure if his morals would stand strong."
Arthas may have done terrible things as well, but he wasn't really himself anymore at that point, everyone having turned their back on him, his soul stolen by that accursed blade...
Katherine frowned briefly, studying her. "He didn't do anything improper, did he? I'll have words with our ambassador from Quel'Thalas if he dared."
Jaina slowly shook his head. "Not to me, no. But he isn't someone I think I'd give my heart to."
"Hmph," said Katherine, returning her focus to the dishes, "Only one you did was that fool boy who crushed your heart and threw it away after getting into your bed."
Jaina gave an outraged squeak. "Mother!"
She turned her head and stared Jaina down. "Am I wrong? You were in tears Jaina when you came home after that festival. If I had my way, prince Arthas would have had his ass whopped for breaking my daughter's heart."
Jaina licked her lips and looked away, trying to remember what she was talking about, something... about children?. "He's young mother, and it was to soon, he wasn't ready."
"Are you giving him an excuse?" said Katherine in disbelief.
Jaina shook her head. "No, he did hurt me, but he didn't mean to. Besides..."
"Forgiveness is part of any relationship," she said softly.
Katherine huffed and shook her head in resignation. "Oh bother, you're still pinning after that boy."
"It's not pinning!" Jaina huffed back.
Katherine turned her head, raised an eyebrow, and gave her a bemused look as if to say 'are you really trying to argue with me about this?'.
Jaina rolled her eyes and helped her finish the dishes. When they finished, they moved to the back porch of the cottage, watching her father and brother stretch themselves and warm up for a spar. Oh how she had missed this, being together with her family in a relaxing day off. She hadn't... she hadn't had anything like this in years. Eating crumpets and sharps in New Dalaran with the other Archmages she barely knew wasn't comparable to an afternoon in Theramore, let alone this. It almost brought her to tears to see it.
They day passed far to quickly for her tastes. Between weaving with her mother, stern advice from her father to both her and her brother, and 'adventuring' in the woods with her brother like that had when they were younger, but it all came to a close all to soon. It was a breath of fresh air, and a memory she would hold and treasure in the darkness that was to come. However, as she strode to her room to retire for the night, her father pulled her aside and beckoned her to his study. Mother was there, leaning against the wall, studying her intently.
Jaina glanced back and forth between her and father, a little confused. "Is something wrong?"
"Jaina, you didn't come home to spend time with us," said Daelin slowly, carefully, "You've enjoyed it, but I saw you my child, I know you. You were watching things that are daily occurrences as if they were priceless treasures. And I wasn't born yesterday, that not-so-subtle hint you dropped at breakfast had been weighing on my mind all day."
Jaina gulped dryly and licked her lips. They were her parents, of course they would notice something off. She had hoped to wait till the morning to compose herself and think of a way to warn them.
Katherine pushed off the wall and walked forward, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "My daughter, what is it?"
"Mama, papa," she began, "There's something coming. Something awful, something dark."
Her father's stance changed to that of the Lord Admiral, a deep scowl on his face. "I had heard the Orcs were escaping the prison camps. What else have they done? What are they planning?"
Always the orcs with him, she shook her head. "Papa, you haven't heard? The Orcs ran. They fled across the sea, they felt what was coming, and they ran."
Daelin's eyebrows furrowed, but he didn't respond.
"You have to be ready father, Kul Tiras has to be ready for whats coming," she whispered, and for a moment, she let her guard down, let her eyes show her years of hardship and pain, enough to make her father grow very still, and spoke with a mixture of dread and finality, "Death itself comes from the Cold North, and behind it looms a burning shadow. If it's not stopped, it will consume us all. Pay attention to what rumors you hear about Northern Lordaeron, and if the King Teranas or Prince Arthas ask your aid, give it. If all else fails, across the seas, to Kalimdor, is our last chance."
"Jaina," whispered her father, "What is going on?"
She couldn't answer, she had given her warning. She slowly shook her head, turned and walked out the door.
Before she left down the hall, she faintly heard her mother hiss. "Did you see that? It was as if for an instant she aged a decade. No eyes of a child of mine should look like that. Something's wrong Daelin, something's terribly wrong."
Jaina smiled sadly, hopeful her warning would be heard, before she retired to her room for the night...