Chapter 7: Questions, Answers, and Ill-Born News

Warning: Long, with a lot of groudwork laid for future chapters.

Also might give background to certain characters that I can't find any for, I.E. Faerlina and other cultists.

Prince Arthas Menethil sat wearily in his father's receiving room, where he would meet with diplomats and other important guests on occasion. A single night's rest had done little to aid him, plagued by nightmares of the horror's he, Jaina, and his luckily surviving captains had lived through. He'd rather be resting, in a chair aside Jaina's bed, watching over her while he struggled to come to terms with what had happened. Instead, he stood as patient as he could while a war council was connived. It consisted of his father, Uther, several members of the Silver Hand, and an old fossil (general) as of the moment.

His father sat at the head of the table, Uther on one side, Arthas on the other. To Uther's right was High General Abbendis. Calia stood in the back of the room along with Abbendis's daughter Brigitte, both as silent observers and note-takers. The only other two paladins in attendence aside from himself and Uther were Alexandrous Mograine and Saiden Dathrohan; though many others had been called together and were preparing themselves for battle in the capital city barracks and church. Daelin and Katherine Proudmoore were also in attendance, having seen to their daughter and readily offered their aid the moment his father had asked it of them.

Antonidas had been here half an hour ago, before he had abruptly left after a messenger had arrived from Quel'Thalas. Apparently the Elves were concerned enough to send representatives to attend to the council, to see if their aid was 'truly needed', or if it was a 'lesser mortal problem'; Antonidas was to pick up the representatives. Arthas wanted to snort in derision, the last time the Elves had taken that stance, their home had nearly burned.

As if in response to his thoughts, a moment later a circle of summoning appearing in the room. Antonidas appeared with two elves next to him...

Oh, great, him.

Arthas kept his contempt in check when his eyes laid on Prince Kael'Thas Sunstrider. On one hand, it spoke well that the elves took this seriously enough to send their prince. On the other hand, it hadn't been to long ago, the last time he had visited Jaina in Dalaran, that the two of them had a spat over Jaina's heart. Still... personal vendettas had no place in such a gathering, so he shoved the feelings down and glanced at Kael'Thas's companion.

If his heart wasn't already sworn to Jaina, Arthas might have fallen head over heels for the beauty standing at the Elf Prince's side. Tall as all elves were, she wore what he recalled was a ranger's armor across her body. Blue pauldrons, gauntlets, leg guards, and chest armor (though her stomach area was bare), with brown leather covering her lower half. She had a brown cloak upon her back, and a brown hood drawn up over her blonde hair. Across her back was strapped a mighty and impressive bow. He knew he ought to know who this is, but couldn't quite place her at the moment.

"May I present Prince Kael'Thas Sunstrider, and Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner," said Antonidas.

Ah, that's who it was.

King Terenas nodded his head in greetings, offering a diplomatic welcome. "It pleases me Quel'Thalas has taken our request seriously enough to send their prince and their finest general."

Kael smiled a thin smile. "My father holds his doubts, but I knew the Priest who survived this initial skirmish with the Undead. He is not one for falsehoods. When he told me of what happened, and Kel'Thuzad's involvement, I made it a priority to attend."

At the curious looks he received, he elaborated, "As a member of the Council of Six, I was there when Kel'Thuzad was expelled from Dalaran. I found the would-be necromancer's experiments abhorrent. To hear how it has expanded into something this abominable makes me wish we had voted for execution instead of banishment."

In that, Arthas found himself agreeing with the Elven prince.

"Hindsight is often more of a curse than a blessing," mused Antonidas.

Kael nodded and then motioned to the Ranger-General. "Lady Sylvanas is here as a bodyguard, an observer, and to offer her expertise in battle and tactics should it be needed."

Sylvanas tilted her head in acknowledgement, but offered no words.

"Be seated, and we will begin with my son detailing his experience with the Undead," said King Terenas.

Arthas closed his eyes, thinking on where to begin. His initial encounter and awkwardness with Jaina had no place in this meeting, and was frankly none of their business. "As soon as Lady Proudmoore arrived at the designating meeting location, we began to move into Northern Lordaeran..."

He quickly moved through the first village, the bandits and their camp, and then the farm and his first encounter with the Undead, finishing with something he thought would look favorable for Jaina, "I'll admit, I was more than distraught and confused as to what we had just encountered. Jaina thankfully kept a level head and calm mind, making the connection to Kel'Thuzad almost right away. She told us of her experience with his banishment from Dalaran and his Undead experiments."

There was a furrowing of both Antonidas and Kael's eyes, it was the first who spoke, "Her... experience?"

Arthas was slightly confused by their confusion. "You had her study Kel'Thuzad's experiments with reanimating rats as an example of lines to not be crossed."

The two magi blinked once, exchanged glances, and came back with worry and wariness on their faces.

Antonidas spoke first, carefully choosing each word in a manner that set Arthas ill at ease, "You are sure you did not mishear her Prince Arthas?"

"No? That was what she said pretty much word for word," said Arthas.

The other members of the meeting were growing curious by this line of question, Saiden, someone Arthas knew as never afraid to speak his mind no matter the gathering, asked bluntly, "Is there a point to this Antonidas? I figure this is something delicate that the Magi of Dalaran never told to us about, and that you would prefer to have kept it that way, but given the situation the girl was right to explain it."

Antonidas raised an eyebrow. "The internal affairs of Dalaran are just that, internal. The King was informed, and granted our request for discreetness."

"Something is abominable as reanimating the dead, the vile practice the Horde did with their Death Knights, is something that should have been brought to our immediate attention," said Saiden thinly, glancing at his fellow paladins for support.

Alexandrous nodded. "Agreed."

Uther, wisely in Arthas's opinion, did not waste time fighting an old issue, "As Dathrohan said, what is the problem? I don't feel that this disclosure is it."

Kael spoke softly, "Jaina was never asked to examine Kel'Thuzad's experiments. She incinerated one sample of undead rats as per Antonidas's instruction. She was never granted access to his notes or other experiments we discovered. She never asked, and we never offered."

It took a moment for Arthas to understand just what he was saying. "Are you saying Jaina lied to me?"

"Yes," said Antonidas, discomfort in his voice, "And I have no idea why."

Kael frowned intently. "Prince Arthas, starting over from the beginning up to this point, could you detail what you specifically noticed of Lady Proudmoore? Her words, actions, emotions she showed."

"What exactly are you implying about my daughter, elf?" demanded Daelin.

The elf met his gaze steadily. "I am implying nothing, yet."

Arthas was having none of that. "Jaina is no traitor. You ask of her emotions? She hates the Undead, hates Scourge and their Cult, really has it out for Kel'Thuzad and any Necromancers. I've never seen her so angry or hateful in my life than when she fought them."

Kael's eyes furrowed in thought. "Interesting."

"And also still troubling of Jaina," said Antonidas.

"For what reason?" demanded Arthas.

Sylvanas spoke up, "Because, Prince Arthas, this suggests she had prior knowledge of the Undead, and encounters with these Necromancers. Such hatreds do not simply spring out of nowhere."

"Daelin... they're right," said Katherine softly.

Her husband looked betrayed. "Our daughter is no traitor! To us, to Lordaeran, or to Dalaran!"

"I didn't say she was, I know she's not," said Katherine, "But I'm still shaken about what she said to us when she came home. They need to know, because they're right. She did know what was coming."

Arthas looked at them, extremely uneasy. "She... knew of the Scourge beforehand?"

King Terenas leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "Explain."

"She came to us a little over a week ago, and we noticed... changes in her behavior," said Daelin carefully, "She could not hide it from us. She looked at us, at our daily life, as if it was a priceless treasure that she could lose at any moment. Whenever she looked at me, there was guilt and so much sorrow in her eyes, eyes haunted in a way no one her age should be."

Arthas had an awful sinking feeling in his stomach.

"She told us something awful was coming," said Katherine, "That the Orcs had felt coming, had escaped their prison camps and fled across the sea to escape from it. Her words haunt me, she said that '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'."

There was a sharp intake of breath from the two elves. Kael's eyes were blazing. "How does she know of Kalimdor?!"

"Kalim-what?" asked Arthas, confused.

"It's a continent across the sea," said Kael warily, with anger and distaste, "It is not common knowledge, only known by our royal bloodline and those we trust with the secret. It... I should not speak of it, however, it is where the High Elves originally came from. Where our people were born from, and betrayed by both our old queen, and our old people who still most likely remain there."

"Old people...?" asked King Terenas.

"The Kaldorei, the Night Elves," growled out Kael, "Who banished us from out homeland for practicing Arcane Magic."

"Why?" asked Arthas in confusion, "That makes no sense. The Magi of Dalaran..."

Kael waved a hand. "It is an ancient dispute, well before even my time, that has little bearings here Prince Arthas, I ask that you all leave it at that and speak to no one of this knowledge."

There was a brief murmuring of compliance before Kael continued, "That Jaina has an inkling of this, and most likely knows about our former brethren, that she would suggest we seek them out if we fail against the Undead is baffling. Beyond that, 'Death itself comes from the Cold North', she knew the Undead were coming, and if cold north means what I think it means, then the Undead originated from Northrend."

Antonidas pulled on his beard. "It makes sense that Kel'Thuzad would flee to that desolate place to continue his experiments in secret."

"She was warning them though," said Arthas, confused by Jaina's deception, but still desiring to come to her defense, "She warned her family of this, asked them to help Lordaeran if we begged aid."

Kael tilted his head in acknowledgement. "She is most likely not a traitor, but her foreknowledge demands an explanation."

Arthas wracked his head, he could tell they all were. He desperately wanted to find an answer, but could think of nothing that didn't implicate Jaina in a negative way, a way he could imagine others might think of...

Alexandrous cleared his throat, "I think the answer is simple, if but troubling."

Uther turned to him. "Is it?"

"They attempted to recruit her," said the Paladin as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Damn... he had been hoping they wouldn't even consider it. HE didn't want to consider it, consider the possibility of Jaina having been involved the Cult.

So, he coughed, acting incredulous, "Recruit Jaina? They had to be out of their minds. She would never join the Scourge."

"Not knowingly," conceded Alexandrous, "But, if they attempted to lure the young archmage in with the promise of knowledge and power..."

"Jaina was never power hungry in the slightest," stepped in Antonidas firmly, "Curious to a fault and always eager to learn, perhaps, but never power hungry."

"Then she was lured in through her curiosity, and when she finally realized what was going on, or perhaps when they tried to turn her fully to their cause, she ran the first chance she had," suggested Alexandrous.

The room grew silent in thought.

"I was surprised shortly before Jaina was sent out on her mission," said Antonidas thoughtfully, "I had only just noticed a sudden increase in her talents, wisdom, and maturity that I hadn't noticed before. I thought I had simply grown lax in my observations, than she was growing up and coming into her own. But perhaps she had outside tutoring, maybe even by these cultists."

"It... would make sense," said Katherine, "To be haunted by what I imagine she saw, and guilty that she had almost been deceived into partaking in this madness."

"I only question when this happened," murmured Antonidas, "She may be only an apprentice archmage, but she does not have that much free time."

"Night is a time for sneaking out," said Alexandrous with humor, "Light knows I did it enough in my youth."

"Fair enough," said Antonidas, before coming to what Arthas felt was the crux of the problem, "But why not tell us? Any of us? Save for a vague warning to her parents?"

Sylvanas muttered something most likely crude in Elven under her breath before speaking, "Would you have believed her about tales of an army of Undead? About any of this?"

Antonidas gave her a critical look. "Of course I would."

"Is that a statement made in hindsight?" retorted the elf.

"No, it is not," said Antonidas firmly, "I trust Jaina greatly, raised her as my apprentice when she came to Dalaran. She is not one for delusions or fanciful tales or deception prior to whatever this all is. I would have trusted her word, and even if I did not fully believe her, I can guarantee without question that I would have at least launched an investigation into the matter!"

"Does she know that?" asked Arthas quietly.

Antonidas grew silent for a moment, closing his eyes as if pained. "If she doesn't, then I have failed in part as her teacher."

"She is young," said Abbendis, speaking for the first time, "And the young often have the problem of thinking they can handle any problems. She, from what I know, is a powerful archmage despite her youth and inexperience. She most likely feared her words being dismissed and resolved to handle the problem on her own."

Arthas had to resist the urge to flinch at that. How often during the mission had Jaina berated Arthas over that specific fault? Was it hypocrisy? Or her trying to make sure he didn't make her mistakes?

Abbendis continued, "Light knows enough young Knights and Paladins had that outlook in the Second War and lost their lives because of it. It was foolish of her, and had she come to you Antonidas, or the Silver Hand, or even the Crown, any would have taken her seriously, investigated, and perhaps stopped this before it came to this point."

"Now wait just a minute!" said Daelin, "We're not even sure this is what really happened."

"It is the most likely reason," countered Abbendis, "And you know it. How else do you explain her foreknowledge? How she acted?"

"Even IF it's true, then perhaps she made a mistake, but to pin all of this on her is outrageous!" said Katherine.

On that, Arthas heatedly agree, "Let us not forget that no one in this room had any idea prior as to what was going on. Not to mention the traitors who joined the Cult of the Damned and didn't make the choice Jaina did to turn away from it. Sole blame cannot and should not be laid at her feet."

Terenas raised his voice, brokering no disagreement, "Enough! We are not here to assign blame aside to those save the Scourge itself. We have dwelled long enough on this subject. When Lady Proudmoore awakens, she will be questioned and judged on this matter by this council. Until then, it is shelved."

The gathering shrinked like scolded children at that.

"Arthas my son," said the King, "Continue with the debriefing."

Arthas was more than happy to shift the discussion away from accusing Jaina of anything, "Very well..."

He told them of the Blight, the infection of the ground, how it seemed like the land itself was dead or dying. Of their fight through the first village they had found consumed by the Scourge. Their initial encounter with Kel'Thuzad and then the run to Andorhal. Then Andorhal itself and the odd final encounter with the necromancer...

"Wait," interrupted Kael, voice tinted with disbelief, "Kel'Thuzad implied that a demon controls the Scourge?"

"He did not imply, he outright said it," stated Arthas.

There was a growl from the Paladins around the table.

"A demon?" said Saiden, "Light preserve us if this is true. As if the Undead weren't foul enough already."

"There's more, and something that both confuses and alarms me," admitted Arthas, "When I told him that the Horde's demons were dead, he called me naive and told me something. That the demons never belonged to the Horde, that the Horde belonged to the demons, and that the Horde sold themselves to the demons on a lie. It is one thing that struck me as important to the conversation. You know aside from demons apparently wanting to wipe out all life in our world."

There was a snort of derision from Saiden, "Destruction or the perversion of life is all a demon begets. That the Horde allowed themselves to be deceived is no concern of ours."

"What Kel'Thuzad is implying," said Kael quietly, eyes narrowed in intense thought, "Is that both the Horde and the Scourge were instigated by demons, and if so, there is more going on behind the scenes than what we are aware of."

The two elves shared a glance for a few moments, something intense passing between them, but made no further comment.

"We stood against the Orcs once," said Alexandrous firmly, "We will stand against the Scourge now, and if there is some demonic influence attempting to continual attack us, then we will route it out and destroy it."

"We are the Chosen of the Light," said Uther, "We will not fall to the darkness."

Arthas wished he had such steeled faith. After Hearthglen though... his best had simply not been enough, Jaina's best had not been enough. They had been battered and broken, if not for Jaina teleporting them away, they'd be undead slaves at this very moment. The Scourge were not some roadbump for the Knights of the Silver Hand to ride over, this was a true, deadly threat that could wipe out all life in Lordaeron.

Arthas chose to continue without prompting, "After the encounter, we ran for Heartglen with little rest. The battle there was... horrific. Even prior to it, the grain itself from Andorhal had been distributed in the town..."

"My own people died and decayed before my very eyes," said Arthas harshly, "Only to rise up moments later and attack us. Family against family, friend against friend. There are not words to describe the madness of it all. Then the Scourge came, waves upon wave of rotting corpses and monsters came at us."

"Came up with names for a few of them," said Arthas in grim humor, "We called the basic ones Zombies, and the ones who crawled on the ground with long claws, Ghouls. The fat ones with open stomachs that were stitched together from multiple corpses...

"Good heavens," said Katherine, hand to her mouth in horror.

"...we called abominations. They had wagons that launched infected meat or Undead at us like a catapult. Their necromancers would re-raise their forces, or reanimate our fallen defenders right in front of us," said Arthas before his face truly darkened, "Then there was the Lich."

"Lich?" questioned Antonidas.

"It's what Jaina called it. It was a floating skeleton emanating dark magic from it's very being, and unlike the regular Scourge, it was intelligent and could speak," said Arthas grimly, "It was a powerful spellcaster, not originally stronger than Jaina, but it kept being reformed somehow and returned to attack us almost every other wave of undead. Jaina said it was being revived from something called a 'Phylactery'?"

Antonidas pulled on his beard. "I know what such a thing is in theory, an object to bind one's soul to, but I never knew of it to be put into practice. So these undead mages, these Lichs, can be remade each time they are struck down and sent back into battle? A dangerous strength."

Arthas nodded. "Both Jaina and I defeated it multiple times, but... the Undead just kept coming. As our numbers thinned, we had to separate to cover the entrances to the town. The Lich eventually overwhelmed Jaina, it..."

He frowned thoughtfully. "It tried to take her captive. Rather than just kill her before I could close the distance, it's lackeys dragged her to the Lich, and it tried to cast a sleep spell on her."

"Tell me Arthas, the Scourge reanimated mid-battle, did they seem... intelligent as you said the Lich was?" asked Antonidas grimly.

"Not really, from what I could tell," said Arthas.

"Reanimating someone of power most likely requires a more elaborate ritual or spellcasting," mused Antonidas, a shadowed look on his face, "Or they wanted her captured and punished for fleeing them, as..."

He looked uncomfortable, "...as killing her and dragging her corpse from the battlefield to be reanimated elsewhere would have been the more tactical decision."

Arthas, and Jaina's parents, both twitched squeamishly at that.

Arthas took a moment to calm his nerves before finishing. "I managed to intervene and get Jaina to safety before rejoining the fight. Eventually, as we started getting pushed back from the entrances, I realized something was wrong. It shouldn't have taken that long for Jaina's familiar to reach Antonidas, when I 'voiced' my concern, Jaina checked for her familiar, and said she couldn't feel it. She was shocked, and figured it must have been intercepted."

He closed his eyes remembering the final horrific moments of the battle. "They overwhelmed us, slaughtered the civilians like they were cattle. Jaina began casting her teleport spell, and the Lich nearly stopped her, it threw that spell faster than I could react and pierced her with a spear of ice. We're fortunate Jaina managed to finish the spellcasting before she collapsed. Otherwise... well... we'd be shambling corpses in their army right now."

"A gift of the Light that we didn't lose you lad," said Uther, a weary smile on his face.

Arthas couldn't find it in him to return the smile. Light, he was still so tired.

"Were there any observations you made of the Undead?" asked Alexandrous, "Formations? Abilities? Skills?"

Arthas closed his eyes and tilted his head back in reluctant thought. "All of the undead I fought aside from the Lich were mostly mindless slaves who just threw themselves at us with overwhelming numbers, no particular offensive or defensive formations. The Necromancers are simply dark spellcasters who hide behind their troops, to be taken out first if possible. I did not encounter any undead skilled in melee combat. Or of particular skill with a bow."

Sylvanas huffed. "Nor would you. It requires a certain dexterity and nimbleness to wield a bow and use it effectively. Rotting hands, stiff muscles, missing fingers would hempen that."

"That reminds me," said Arthas with distaste, "Severing body parts doesn't really stop the Undead unless it's their head, they'll keep crawling after you. Removing their head doesn't even work if they are skeletons. Those you have to smash to bits."

"Lovely," muttered Saiden.

"An advantage our troops need to be aware of before we set out," pointed out Abbendis, "Lest they be caught offguard and killed because of it."

When the room grew contemplative and silent, Terenas turned to Arthas. "Have you anything else to add my son?"

Arthas rubbed his eyes tiredly, "Not that I can think of this moment."

The King looked over the Prince for a moment before motioning to the door. "Then to bed with you my child."

Arthas flustered. "Father, it's not even noon yet!"

"You're still exhausted lad, any of us can see it," said Uther, "Take the time to rest and recover while you can. Once the offense against the Scourge begins, I doubt any of us will be getting much sleep."

Arthas opened his mouth to argue before his father tilted his head, his hand twitching in a motion for the Prince to look around the table. Arthas didn't need to, his father was right. In a war council was no place to argue about such a trifle thing. Though there was a dark thought whispering that they didn't trust him in the war council, that they thought him to young and inexperience. But, he banished the thought, infighting and doubting his fellows was ill advised when they had a war against the Undead to wage.

"Very well," said Arthas, rising to his feet, and making for the door...

The first thing Jaina became aware of was a hand combing gently through her hair, she tiredly opened her eyes, "Mama...?"

Katherine Proudmoore sat on the side of the bed Jaina laid on, reflexively fingering through her daughter's hair while lost in thought. But at the sound of her daughter's voice, Katherine turned, a deep smile of relief playing across her face. "Oh Jaina, it's good to see you awake. You gave us all a scare."

"Where...?" Jaina asked.

"You are in the guest wing of the Lordaeran Palace," explained Katherine.

It took Jaina's sluggish mind a little bit to process. "You came to their aid..."

"Of course we did sweetie," said Katherine gently, "Did you think we wouldn't after what you told us?"

Jaina merely closed her eyes, sighing in relief before she paused. "A-arthas, is he...?"

"I'm fine Jaina," came her Prince's stiff voice from the other side of the room.

She smiled, relieved to see him okay, her voice hoarse, "I'm glad..."

Arthas frowned briefly, before turning away and muttering, "I'll go get you a glass of water."

Jaina watched him go, confused by his abruptness. "Is he alright?"

"I suppose that depends on you my dear," mused Katherine, "Giving a boy like him a few days to stew on something is ill advised."

"Stew...?" Jaina asked, confused, "On what? The Scourge? We're going to stop them, I swear we will."

Katherine frowned, but didn't answer. "I'll go get you something to eat my child, afterwards... we need to talk, all of us."

Jaina could only stare at her in bafflement. "About what?"

Katherine stood up and made for the door.

Jaina froze up a bit, remembering the last time her mother had so abruptly turned away from her after condemning her for her father's death, "Mama?"

"It'll be alright dear, your father and I will stand beside you, were just... a bit upset you wouldn't trust more in us," said Katherine before leaving.

Jaina was even more lost now, and tried her best to sink into her pillow. "What is going on...?"

Arthas returned a minute later with a glass of water and set it not-to-gently on the stand next to the bed. At that, Jaina grew nervous. She knew Arthas, knew his tells, he was angry, frustrated, at her. She hesitatingly sat up in the bed, grabbed the glass, soothing her throat, before setting it down and looking at her Prince.

"Arthas," she began hesitatingly, "What's wrong?"

Arthas's looked darkened a bit, looking conflicted, before he moved to close the door and then walk back. "You know what, forget waiting for the council to be gathered. Why did you lie to me Jaina?"

She blinked a few times, caught off-guard, and a bit frightened of that dark anger she saw, so reminiscent of the Death Knight Arthas, it more than terrified her. "W-what?"

Arthas closed his eyes, sighed with frustration, and tried to calm himself. "Why did you not come to me Jaina? I would have helped you get out."

"Out of what?" she asked.

He looked at her with disappointment. "Out of the Cult of the Damned."

Jaina stared at him in disbelief. What in the hell was he going on about?

"I know Jaina," he said sternly, "I know you didn't examine Kel'Thuzad's experiments. You never saw his notes, never even asked."

Jaina lost a bit of the color in her face. She had been caught in a lie, but, how did that possibly lead to...

"You also knew what a Lich was, hated the Scourge and Necromancers with a passion for only 'apparently' just encountering them for the first time, and lets not forget the warning you gave to your parents," he said heatedly, pointing a finger at her accusingly, "Death itself comes from the cold north, does that ring a bell, Jaina?"

Jaina shrank inward with each accusation. Oh light, she had screwed up so bad... but wait... they thought she... had been a cultist?

Arthas paused his tirade, took a look at her terrified form, and sighed once more, his anger deflating. "Look Jaina, I don't think-I know you're not a traitor. They do to, but the fact that you told no one looks bad. Abbendis is pissed, wants to lay the blame for the Scourge getting this far at your feet. Antonidas, your parents, and I, are disappointed that you didn't come to forward with the full truth, didn't trust any of us to help you, to take action. Not really sure what my father, the other paladins, or the elves think at the moment."

For once, Jaina felt really, really small. They had the wrong conclusion about her, but... what he said...

"Y-you... would have believed me about the Scourge?" she asked, voice timid in a way it hadn't been in decades, "Without any proof?"

Arthas looked sad now, rather than angry; disappointed, whether in her or himself she couldn't tell at the moment. "Of course I would have Jaina, and I'm sorry I made you think and feel otherwise."

And then Jaina felt purely awful, could only force herself to look away. Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid! She had felt alone, been alone, for so long now. Had she truly forgotten how much trust and faith people used to have in her, even before her efforts at Mount Hyjal? If she had been more forward, more direct, more blunt, could she have stopped the Scourge from even getting this far? Had so many people lost their lives, and would continue to lose their lives, because of her?

"I'm sorry," was all she could whisper, tears in her eyes, "I'm so sorry..."

Arthas sat next to her on the bed and pulled her into an embrace, "Shhh Jaina, it's okay, it's okay."

The door creaked open, Katherine walked in, took one look at them, and sighed. "I believe Arthas, that waiting for the Council, meant wait for the council."

Arthas merely huffed in response.

"I take it she confessed then?" said Katherine.

You confess then to standing aside while your father was murdered?

Jaina could only bury her face into Arthas's should as the memory hit her, letting her tears free.

She felt Arthas nod, but he said nothing else.

"Very well, I'll inform the council," said Katherine wearily, walking over to set a tray of food down on the stand next to the bed, "You both will be expected in an hour. Eat and freshen up Jaina, no need to stand before the King with bedhair."

Jaina chocked back a small weak laugh at that.

With that, her mother left. Jaina didn't move from Arthas's embrace for some time, letting herself slowly and quietly cry out her misery and frustration, before she pulled away.

"Put some food in your belly Jaina," said Arthas, teasingly poking her stomach, "You're already thin enough as it is without starving yourself."

Jaina huffed and smacked his shoulder. "I'm not a twing, and I have some lump of muscle between me and my food."

Arthas grinned and moved off the bed, grabbing the tray of food and setting it before her. "For you my lady?"

Jaina smiled at the playfulness, before she slowly let it fade. "This meeting isn't going to pleasant."

"No, I imagine it's not," said Arthas, "Just... be as truthful as you can be, and don't be afraid. I'll stand by you, so will your parents, and Antonidas."

Jaina kept her head bowed, saying nothing, and eating slowly. Her mind kicked into overdrive. They thought she was a fleeing cultist, the only real conclusion they could come to without considering something ridiculous as time travel. In her time it wasn't really an absurd notion, what with all the messes within the Caverns of Time and with Hellscream. In this time though? It was an inconceivable concept. So... she had to play the part in order to mitigate damage, and hopefully make things end better than before.

Actually...

This might make things a lot easier.

She could freely disclose a lot of information, making it seem like she had overheard or learned of it while inside the Cult of the Damned. A part of her didn't like this, didn't like anymore lying and deception, but she knew it was necessary. She especially found the notion that she would have ever been a part of the Cult extremely distasteful. But...

She had been a part of many different interrogations involving captured cultists. They'd spin all kinds of tails trying to get themselves off the hook. Some she had detected were truthful, in that they hadn't known what they were really getting into until it was to late. That they had been forced to drink that elixir that bound them to the Lich King without having to become undead, couldn't for the life of her remember if they had a name for it, only that the Heroes of Azeroth had discovered it in Icecrown. The excuses really hadn't saved any of them, not with how much damage the Scourge had done. But... she could find a way to spin this to her advantage.

Light...

When had she allowed herself to become manipulative?

She hated it...

She finished her food and made for the washroom, finding that someone had left her a spare set of archmage robes, probably Antonidas, she began to strip before pausing, "No peeking Arthas!"

"I'm offended Jaina," Arthas called from the other room before taking a teasing tone, "Besides, nothing I haven't seen before."

Jaina blushed furiously before getting into a bath and quickly washing down. As much as she wanted to just relax, try to take the edge off her nerves before a confrontation, she had already used up to much time. She was out in five minutes tops, folding up her old clothes on the counter before dressing in the new ones. She stepped out a moment later.

She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Alright, lets... get this over with."

Arthas squeezed her shoulder gently before nodding to the door. It felt like a death march, to walk down these halls. Far worse than the march to her trial and exile in Dalaran before coming back in time. Arthas led her to the King's receiving room. She stared at it's occupants, taking them in one by one. King Terenas, aged, but living. Uther the Lightbringer, his wise and gentle caring gaze washing over her. The legendary (or soon to be once his blade was forged) Alexandrous Mograine, the original Ashbringer. Saiden Dathrohan (without the subtle taint of a dreadlord possessing his corpse). Abbendis senior, without the air of madness about him and fanaticism in his eyes. Antonidas, looked at her with an air of sadness. Her parents stood oddly to the side of the room, not at the table. Oh..., they were allowed in because they were her parents and the rulers of Kul Tiras, but, excluded from the position of questioning because of their relation and bias to her... probably told to keep quiet too.

Then her own eyes went wide to see two elves in the proceeding, both having formerly been twisted and damned in her time. Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, and Prince Kael'Thas Sunstrider. To seem them pure, untainted by undeath or demonic magic was...

Hard to describe.

No wait...

It was kind of like with Arthas, just not as deep. Hope, and yet fear. Both had been good once (and still were now), but were capable of absolutely monstrous atrocities if driven into damnation. Hopefully, Quel'Thalas would not fall, and both could remain as they were.

Finally, Princess Calia Menethil, and another young woman Jaina didn't recognize, stood at the position of record keepers for the gathering.

Terenas cleared his throat and addressed Arthas, "While I am displeased that you did not listen, I will ignore it this time in favor of the acceleration in these proceedings, as there is no need longer a need to waste time prompting a confession out of her. But my son, you must learn well before you take the throne to not be ruled by your passions."

Arthas pursed hips lips. "Of course father."

Which wasn't really an admittance that he would curb it, Oh Arthas... always a stubborn man.

The King's eyes flickered to Jaina, a hardness to them. "Jaina Proudmoore. We have much to discuss."

"Yes your majesty," she said quietly, "We do."

"You will disclose all you know of the Cult of the Damned," a statement, not a question.

"I will," she answered.

The King nodded slowly, a slight relaxing of his shoulders, perhaps he had thought she would refuse to speak?

"While we do not wish to doubt you, and trust that you mean well, we will be detecting for lies within this session, it is in your best interest to be truthful," said Kael, just the tiniest hints of warning in his voice.

Oh boy... if they were using the spell she thought they were using, she was going to have to word things carefully. "Okay."

Antonidas pulled on his beard. "You don't seem as reluctant as I thought you would be."

Jaina bowed her head slightly, avoiding eyecontact. "I... Arthas... already told me, that he would have believed me if I had come forward before, even without proof... that you all would have as well... I..."

Antonidas sighed. "Dear child, that I gave you any reason to doubt in me troubles my heart. We will have a discussion, you and I, later on how best to fix this."

She was a bit surprised. "You'd still want me as an apprentice?"

"Of course," was his swift reply.

A soft smile came across Jaina's face.

Uther stood from the table and came forward, standing a few feet from her. "Lady Proudmoore, how were you approached by the Cult of the Damned?"

Okay... so was Uther was the questioner? A kind gentle face to lower one's guard to. She wasn't blind to that. Still, she could work with that question. Answer truthfully, just not for herself. "The Cult, from what I've observed and overheard, differs in it's approach, depending on the individual. Many, who are simply dissatisfied with their life, or have a heightened fear of death, are lured in with the prospect of immortality, though they won't understand or be told what kind until much later, when it's generally to late. To those that hunger for power and knowledge, they are offered both, lured and tempted into service. It doesn't take much for them to be fully converted to the Scourge's cause. Then, there are those like myself lured in by more subtle means."

She frowned briefly, recalling one of the interrogations she had participated in; forcing herself to look irritated and chagrined. "A pair of supposed Dalaran students, passing by their target in the Dalaran Library, whispering of discovering or practicing new magic, the perfect, tempting bait to lure in the curious."

"The Cult infiltrated Dalaran?" asked Antonidas, alarmed.

"They've infiltrated everywhere Master," said Jaina with a truthful bleakness, "They're in every town, every agency, every church or group. If not as saboteurs, then as eyes and ears, or as sleeper agents to one day be used. They've spent years preparing for this."

There was a troubled and grim air around the room.

"Does that extend to Quel'Thalas?" inquired Kael, quietly, dangerously. Jaina could feel the truth spell in the air, tensing in anticipation.

Oh, she was going to enjoy setting this particular bastard up to die. "I... remember overhearing an elven name. Dar'khan Drathir."

Kael hissed, literally hissed, in anger, rising to his feet, hands slammed on the table. "The Magister?!"

Sylvanas had such rage in her eyes, rising from her spot and approaching Antonidas. "Send me back to Quel'Thalas now, this must be dealt with immediately. A traitor at such a rank within Quel'Thalas can do unspeakable damage to our people."

The Archmage seemed a little ruffled by the disruption of the proceedings, but nodded. "Very well."

For an Archmage of his power, it took him but a few minutes time to teleport out with her and back in.

"I dread to even ask," said Uther tiredly, "Is there anyone in Lordaeran, or Kul Tiras, of high rank that belongs to the Cult?"

"The House of Barov," said Jaina.

"What?!" exploded King Terenas in an uncharacteristic display of anger.

He turned to Kael and demanded, "This cannot be."

"The Truth Spell rings true your Majesty," said Kael.

The King sat back in his seat, tiredly rubbing his eyes before moving his hand away, eyes blazing in righteous fury. "I considered Alexi Barov a trusted friend. That he would do this... the Barovs will be the first to answer for this treachery, this deep betrayal."

"You will need to be careful your Majesty, Scholomance is not to be taken lightly," warned Jaina.

"Scholomance...?" asked Antonidas.

"There is an entire school of magic and necromancy built underneath Caer Darrow in it's ancient crypts," explained Jaina, "At first, it seems alright, just another school of magic. But, in the depths of the crypts, is where the true horrors take place. Those they are still tempting and luring in remain in the upper levels, or are... or rather were, kept in Andorhal until they were converted to their cause."

"There is an entire school of necromancy, IN Lordaeran, NOT Northrend," stated Arthas from behind, teeming with rage, "And no one had a clue?"

"No," said Jaina softly.

"Light, just had bad is this going to be Jaina?" he asked, anxious in a way she had rarely seen.

"You have no idea Arthas, you truly have no idea," she said, turning her head to look at him, "I haven't even begun to really divulge all that I've seen and heard yet. It gets so much worse. I've yet to touch on the demons."

"You've seen one of these demons Kel'Thuzad mentioned? They are real?" barked Saiden, "Girl, why did it take you so long to flee them?"

"I have seen them, seen a dreadlord," said Jaina truthfully before going vague, giving excuses that Cultists had fed their questioners in another life, "As for why one doesn't leave? It's often to late. Your surrounded by cultists, and forced to partake in dark bloody rituals, sacrifices, lest you become one in your reluctance; your guilt keeps you there, thinking you're damned. If thats not enough..."

Her eyes flickered to her parents. "They threaten to kill your family."

Daelin closed his eyes, pained. "Jaina, I would have rather died then have you be forced into this Cult."

She smiled grimly before continuing, "And if that isn't enough, they'll make your drink their elixir. I don't know fully how it works, but I've seen it's effects. It will strip you of your free will, making you a living slave to the Cults will. It's... best to comply rather than be forced to drink that."

There was horror on her parent's faces.

"I suppose then I will get this out of the way and ask, did you drink this 'elixir'?" questioned Kael, magic buzzing in the air, searching for truth out of her words.

"No," she answered, "I did not."

Kael nodded, satisfied.

Uther however, was not, and had a grim look to his face. "You said you were forced to partake in dark rituals... sacrifices... Jaina, did you commit murder in the name of the Cult?"

She felt eyes on her, all eyes on her. She closed her eyes and answered in general, but not for the specific question, "I've killed, yes."

She thought of the Paladin's she had killed in Naxxramas, to aid Tichondrious in getting to the Book of Mediev, and her voice shook with a guilt she hadn't felt at the time, but strangely did now, "Innocents have died at my hand."

"Jaina," breathed Arthas, shocked and horrified.

She could feel him step away from her, and it hurt. All she could do was bow her head, not wanting to see the condemnation aired at her from the others.

"This... complicates things," mused Kael, "Her hands are not as clean as I would have hoped."

"Did you honestly really think they would be?" asked Jaina quietly, "The Cult of the Damned is aptly named. They make their members damn themselves as soon as they can, and keep trying to make them all dig themselves deeper and deeper until they can't see any way out."

"Then what made you finally get out?" asked Saiden, "What made you end this double life you were living? To finally turn on the Cult?"

This, was an easy answer, and a dangerous one, the real truth as to why she came back in time. "For the Love of a Prince."

"It's a bit much to think you can love the Prince while murdering his people," said Abbendis, his voice cool and icy.

"You have no idea what they planned for Arthas!" she said, her voice rising in anger, "No idea what they wanted to do to him, to make him do! How much damage they could do to Lordaeran with him as their dead soulless slave!"

King Terenas pursed his lips, agitated. "Explain."

"They wanted him as their first Death Knight," she whispered.

There was a sharp intake of breath behind her from the Prince.

Uther coughed. "Death Knight?! Like the Orcs?"

"Yes, and no," said Jaina, "I don't know the full process. But, they don't transplant a soul into the Death Knight. Most of the time, I believe they would intend to strip the soul from their chosen knight, making them an unfeeling, soulless killing machine for them to direct. For Arthas in particular... they intended to use him to..."

She looked at Teranas, "To kill you, and then make him destroy his Kingdom with his own hands. They would have had him march in here, and no one would have even thought to stop him, he's the prince after all. He has every reason to come here, to see his father, and no one would have second guessed something so normal. They would have made him come to his home, your arms opened in welcome and greeting, and had him run you through, then slaughter everyone in the resulting confusion."

Teranas held such fury on his face, his tongue tied in unspeakable rage.

Arthas's voice was shaky. He took a few steps past Jaina, and found himself a seat at the table, unable to stand. "Light... she's right, if they had reanimated me as their slave, I could have come in here unchallenged, taken any threats offguard, and killed everyone. No one would have suspected a thing until it was to late."

It was rare, to see Uther angry; Strathlome in the original timeline was one of the few, if perhaps the only time, she had seen it in person. She saw it now though. "Every word out of your mouth Jaina proves these heathens more despicable and damnable then before. Their plans are insidious."

"It's why I kept harping at you Arthas," said Jaina softly, "To not take on more than you can handle. To not be driven into a rage, to try to stop the Scourge alone, and become isolated, easy prey for the damned."

"It's kind of hypocritical Jaina," said Arthas, not looking at her.

"I was so afraid for you Arthas," pleaded Jaina, "For you, even... even of you, what they would turn you into. I wasn't trying to be a hypocrite, I was trying to save you."

Arthas sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. "Like your Master said, I wish you had just come to me with this before that mission. You let me walk into a disaster unprepared Jaina."

"I'm sorry," was all she could whisper.

There was silence for a few minutes, until Teranas had worked through and controlled his fury. "Are there any other traitors you know of?"

Jaina closed her eyes in thought, trying to recall some of the more higher ranking Scourge. "In Kul Tiras, I never learned of any. But... for Lordaeran, well... there's so many people... or planned people that I'm not sure if the Cult has reached yet."

"A list of people to watch works just as effectively as prevention as does stamping out those who would betray and not seek redemption," said Alexandrous, giving her a pointed look.

What had been that woman's trade again? "I'm not sure any of you know her, but Botanist Faerlina..."

"The Flower Lady of Brill?" said Arthas in surprise, "Her?"

Jaina was surprised. "You know her?"

"I erm... might have bought some of the flowers I brought to you in Dalaran from her a few times," said Arthas, slightly embarrassed, mostly baffled, "What would the Scourge want with her?"

"They corrupt everything Arthas," said Jaina quietly, "A simple flower lady, a botanist, could be turned into a master poison maker."

She turned to Antonidas, "She also has great arcane potential, I'm not sure how Dalaran missed recruiting and training her."

The old Archmage pulled on his beard in thought. "People can reject our offer if they so choose. Though, I can't recall if we'd ever noticed or approached this 'Faerlina'."

Jaina nodded in acquisition, before her thoughts turned to would be Death Knights, she couldn't help her eyes flickering to Alexandrous.

The man in question looked affronted. "I am not cultist, nor would I have any disposition to become one."

"I didn't say you were or did," said Jaina, "But it goes without question, the Cult, the Scourge, plans to target and turn any and every paladin they can into powerful Death Knights."

Though, some had evaded this fate. Arthas, strangely, hadn't turned Uther or some of the Paladins he had personally killed into Death Knights in the origional timeline. Best to not be picky however and warn them all.

Alexandrous rubbed his nose, irritation across his face. "I see. I'll make sure our brothers and sisters are warned of being potentially targeted."

"It's not just Paladins, any powerful Knight or Warrior can be turned and gifted dark powers," she warned, "Baron Rivendare of Strathlome I'm fairly certain they've approached and turned him to their cause already."

"Rivendare," said Saidan in disbelief, glancing at Kael, who nodded.

Jaina snorted in derision, "How many times have you and will you all looked to him and his truth spell already? I question just how readily you would have believed me, and we're just getting started."

There was a moment of chagrin, but Antonidas cut it off, giving a placating gesture, "It's not that we doubt you about the Scourge, but you are accusing highly ranking people of treason, we have to be certain."

Jaina crossed her arms and said nothing for a moment, before glancing at the table, "May I have a chair? This is going to take a long while, and I'd rather not stand the entire time."

Arthas stood and pulled a chair out, she couldn't help but notice she was kept from the table however, sitting a distance from it. She didn't comment on it though. She continued to think about some of the Scourge they had encountered in Northrend, but she didn't know many family names for them, or even their true names in the case of Lady Deathwhisper. So many people she simply didn't know where they had originated from, when they had joined the Cult, or if it had even been willingly.

"Do any of you know someone named Razuvious?" she asked, "They have him training warriors, and eventually plan to have him train Death Knights."

Alexandrous scowled. "If you are referring to who I think you are, he was an old captain in the Alliance of Lordaeran army against the Orcs. Nasty fellow with a poor disposition. However..."

The Paladin frowned. "His technique with a blade is one of the deadliest I've ever seen. While I'm certain Uther or myself could beat him in a fight with our Holy power, by weapon alone we'd lose."

Jaina's eyes widened slightly at the willing admission. She had never had the opportunity to really meet or interact with the original Ashbringer, he was more humble than she'd imagined.

Alexandrous flexed a gloved hand. "Not that I can wield well anymore anyway."

He shook his head. "Who else has fallen into the Cult?"

She rattled off every member she could remember. Bronjahm, Basaleph, Alumeth, Diodor, Ras Frostwhisper, Grimkor, Maleki, Malicia, Noth, Heigan, on and on the list went. Few were known, most were merely put into a list to investigate later. Then, she remembered something, from the original attempt to kill Kel'Thuzad. The reason they had failed...

"I... don't know if they've approached him or not at this point," said Jaina slowly, "There was talk of trying to convert a Priest of the Church by the name of Inigo Montoy."

Uther frowned. "I've met him a few times. He is faithful to the light, why would they target him specifically?"

"Faithful perhaps, but is he satisfied with his life?" she asked before pausing, recalling to her chagrin, some of the more despicable Heroes of Azeroth fishing out coins from the Dalaran Fountain and reading them off for their companions to hear, jeering at the wishes.

Sshe remembered his coin suddenly, 'I wish I had my father back', "Did he lose someone recently?"

Uther tilted his head back in thought. "Perhaps... I ran into him a few weeks ago, and he did seem rather downcast now that you mention it."

"They could use that to get at him," she warned, "Promising him a better life, or even to 'bring someone back from the grave for him'."

Uther nodded slowly. "There are many temptations in life. I'll meet with him when I get the chance, try to see his state of mind and pull him back on the proper path if he begins to sway."

"I think the final cultist I haven't touched on yet is Gandling," said Jaina.

Abbendis gave a loud sigh. "And here I was hoping I wouldn't have someone I considered a friend turn out to be a traitor and a heathen."

"He's a bit worse than most cultists I'm afraid," said Jaina, "He's the headmaster of Scholomance."

Abbendis pinched his nose and muttered, "Of course he is."

"He teaches many of the classes there, testing students to see where they best fit to serve the Scourge," said Jaina.

Abbendis, still in a foul mood, shot her a dirty look. "And what way did he determine you best fit to serve, hmm? How well did you fare in necromancy girl, how many did you reanimate as undead slaves?"

For a moment, Jaina just stared at him, speechless, then her vision turned red, she shot to her feet, and she exploded. "I NEVER PRACTICED NECROMANCY! I NEVER DID THAT TO ANYONE!!"

There were cackles of energy around her, beckoned by her rage.

"Jaina!" reprimanded Antonidas, "You will control yourself."

Jaina shook for a few moments, glaring bloody murder at Abbendis, before she closed her eyes and struggled for a moment to control her fury. She slowly sat down, opened her eyes, staying silent but staring icily at Abbendis. He merely met her gaze with equal contempt.

"Truth," said Kael, his voice curious, "Though that seems odd to me. Why would they not train you to be a necromancer?"

"There are many ways to serve the Scourge," she said bitterly, "Mage, necromancer, warlock, warrior, whatever. They don't particularly care so long as you obey them."

Saiden rubbed his chin for a moment, nodding. "I suppose it is a point in your favor that you did not partake in that particular abominable practice."

"A point indeed," said Arthas.

Jaina switched her gaze from Abbendis to Arthas, seeing the pure relief on his face. Oh Light... by going along with this charade, she had made him think she had fully participated in all the Cults activities. Just how much faith had he lost in her by her choosing to go along with this?

She forced herself to look away and simply stare at the table.

"This list is far larger than I would have dared fear," murmured King Terenas, "It will need to be investigated thoroughly within the next few days."

The King's eyes flickered to Jaina. "How much more is there for you to tell?"

She smiled thinly. "Have you ever heard of a flying city?"

The King stared at her. "You cannot be serious."

"More like a flying fortress," she said, "The Dread Citadel Naxxramas. It's a floating, flying bastion of the Scourge, one of the biggest Necropolises ever made if I understand correctly."

Arthas turned to Antonidas in alarm. "Is such a thing truly possible?"

"Actually," murmured the elder Archmage, "I believe it is. There was talk, a few years ago, of trying to turn Dalaran into such a thing. Some of my fellow council members to bored with their lives turning to outrageous spellwork to amuse themselves. I was shown more than one spellcraft that was rather sound in theory. The suggestion was however shot down."

"So let me get this straight," said Arthas, "They could load an army into this 'Naxxramas', and fly it past any defenses we set up, and then drop it on us?"

Jaina wasn't sure the Scourge had every really done that... no wait, they had, but that was with the Ebon Hold. "Yes."

"Merciful light," said Arthas, running down his face, chin, and neck anxiously.

"I've only been there once," she said, an honest truth, "And the things I saw in there... are beyond your wildest horrors."

She licked her lips. "I... well... if you ever meet Patchwerk, you need to run. Really, really fast."

"Patchwerk...?" said Antonidas, "A rather odd name. Is this person a powerful cultist?"

Jaina laughed, and not in a good way. "A cultist? No, its a gigantic Abomination, has a cleaver larger than any person in this room. It's more than twice the size of a standard Abomination, far faster and far stronger as well."

Not that it had lasted long against Tirion with the Ashbringer and Khadgar.

Arthas made a chocking noise. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Truth," muttered Kael before eyeing Jaina, "What other monstrosities are the Scourge creating?"

"I... don't think it's completed yet, but within Naxxramas exists a creature called a 'Flesh Titan', they named it Thaddius," said Jaina.

"A flesh titan," spat Saiden, "Merciful light, this simply doesn't end."

"It's like an abomination, but more humanoid, with machines in it," she explained, "I... think they planned to give it electrical powers."

Truthfully, Jaina didn't know when the Scourge had started working on Thaddius, or if Patchwerk was even made yet either. "There were a few more monstrous things in there. One was a giant spider, I believe they called her Maexxna. The other is some kind of giant plagued hound, they called it Gluth. It... eats people, even cultists."

"Serves them right," muttered Arthas under his breath.

"There's some kind of fungal monster called Loatheb," she said, "Then, there's the Crypt Lord, Anub'Rekhan."

"What is a 'Crypt Lord'?" asked Alexandrous.

"It's kind of like a giant beetle," she said, "A giant armored beetle with really sharp talons."

"That doesn't sound that bad compared to some of the other things," commented Arthas.

Jaina gave him a stern look. "Please don't underestimate anything the Scourge creates or reanimates Arthas. Crypt Lords are deadly. They are intelligent, extremely resilient, like walking battering rams."

Jaina opened her mouth to finish with Sapphiron before pausing. Wait... a minute... when did they Scourge kill and reanimate the dragon? Hadn't Arthas been the one to kill and reanimate him?

"Some other monster they keep in there we need to know about?" asked Saiden in exasperation.

"Umm... they want to get a dragon," she said.

Kael made a face. "A dragon?"

"They want to kill and reanimate a dragon and put it in the citadel," she said, "There are many cultists who dream of becoming strong enough to reanimate one as a Frost Wyrm."

"Pray they do not succeed then," said Kael tightly, "The last thing any of us need are Undead Dragons to fight against."

"I think... that's it about Naxxramas," said Jaina, "I don't, unfortunately, know where it is right now."

King Terenas's face was stony now, eyes glazed over, as if the mounting horrors simply didn't surprise him any more. "We have how they attract their members, a list of these members, some of their goals, and Naxxramas. Is there anything else pertaining to the Cult or the Scourge we need to know?"

"Umm...," she said, fidgeting, "Well.. for schemes and plans they would employ. All it takes is a single vial of the plague put into a town well or water supply and it's over. The same for a bakery. Such places all across Lordaeran need to be guarded with people you can trust, preferably a Priest or a Paladin who can sense for the vile energy the Plague of Undeath gives off."

"With the offensive that is to come," said Alexandrous quietly, "Would we have the numbers to do this? We would be stretched absurdly thin."

Uther rubbed his chin, conflicted. "We will have to see where we stand once the Silver Hand finishes gathering. But she is right, we can't abandon the populace to this."

"Aside from that, the Scourge really just plan to use overwhelming numbers, and incognito cultists, to do a lot of the work for them," said Jaina, "A single well placed cultist masquerading as a guard or a civilian or whatever can do so much damage. What those two strategies fail to deal with, they have their more powerful servants to use and send in."

"Hmph, so eliminate the need for skill," spat Abbendis, "Just throw bodies at any problem. Pah."

"There is... one final matter with the Cult and the Scourge that needs to be addressed before I talk about the demons..." said Jaina.

"Light, I forgot about the demons with all of this," muttered Arthas.

"...and that is the Lich King," she said, ignoring the interruption, "The Lord of the Dead."

The focus on her suddenly was no longer reluctant and chagrined to hear more horror out of her mouth, but intense; Alexandrous leaned forward. "Their leader?"

Jaina nodded. "The Lich King resides in the heart of Northrend on what the Scourge call the Frozen Throne."

She phrases her continuation carefully. "I haven't met this Lich King, and I'm glad I haven't. I'm told that he has immense mental and magic powers, that he can control any Scourge anywhere in the world at will and direct them."

It was funny in a way, that changing 'the Lich King' to 'this Lich King' made her initial statement truthful. She had, after all, never met Ner'Zhul.

"What this means then, is if he doesn't come to us, and I see no reason why he would when he has an army of undead slaves to throw around, that we will eventually need to journey to Northrend to put an end to this," said Alexandrous.

"That, is something for a much later date," cut off King Teranas, "Lordaeran must be secured well before we think of any offensive away from our lands."

Uther nodded. "Agreed, now, Jaina, tell us of these demons, this... dreadlord I think you called it earlier?"

"A dreadlord, or Nathrezim as they call themselves, are a great winged humanoid demon," said Jaina, "They are muscular, have horns coming out of their head, wings on their back, very sharp talons, and are expert spellcasters."

"I never met Mal'Ganis," said Jaina, "But I've heard of him. The more recent dreadlord, one I've had the misfortune of speaking to, was one called Tichondrious."

"You didn't just see one at a distance, you spoke to one?" asked Arthas in disbelief.

Jaina nodded and grew bitter. "They are treacherous creatures, never believe a single word out of their mouths. Even if there is an ounce of truth in what they say, they is something deliberately hidden, any offer they make, a horrible hidden price."

"There is... nothing quite like being in the presence of something so malevolent," whispered Jaina, shivering a bit, "If there is anything to be define as truly evil, it is a dreadlord. They, as I understand it, currently direct the Scourge. Though, as Kel'Thuzad hinted, the Scourge chaffs under them."

"Infighting?" questioned Saiden.

"Not at the moment," said Jaina, "I don't think the Scourge would risk it yet, especially..."

She trailed off, wondering how to proceed. Should she try to hint about the Legion? Would anyone in this room even know about them? Kael should know if he knew his elven history, which an elf of his station should know. Antonidas maybe, if he had any involvement with the Council of Trisfal prior to its disbandment after Medeiv's mess in the second war. Actually, yeah, he had to know, as the defacto ruler of Dalaran he would know. So she could tell them without any real disbelief. However, she couldn't just say she 'overheard' anything, that would ring false to the Truth spell. How could she word this to warn them of the Legion? Wait... Tichondrious...

"Especially since Tichondrious said something about a 'Legion' having a second chance by coming here," said Jaina, before adding in a naive sounding comment, "I think there's a lot of demons keeping a close eye on the Scourge."

Jaina both felt and saw Kael lose all color in his face. The sharp intake of breath from Antonidas as he gripped the table as if for dear life.

"Something you would care to explain you two?" asked Saiden, giving them an unimpressed look, "I have the feeling her words meant something more to you than it did to us."

"If this demon's words are true," said Kael in a harsh voice, "This is worse than any of us could possibly imagine. For all the horror's we've heard of the Scourge, they serve as a front for someone much worse."

Oh yeah, he knew alright.

Kael and Antonidas exchanged a silent glance, a silent communication, before Antonidas spoke in perhaps the most serious and severe tone Jaina had ever heard from him. "What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room. This is a secret of our worlds history, a dark secret. I ask that Calia and Brigitte temporarily leave until called back in."

Oh, that's who the other woman was, Abbendis's equally crazy brat. Though, not quite crazy yet. Calia left without a word, though Brigitte made a face at her father who shoed her out.

Antonidas spoke in solemn tones. "The 'Legion', or Burning Legion as they are called, is a vast host, a demonic army of the size this world has only seen once ten thousand years ago. They invaded and attempted to destroy our world, only to be repelled, at a great cost. According to the elves, our world was once one large landmass, but the cataclysm of the Legion's defeat rent our world asunder. There have been many smaller incursions, between now and then, of which Dalaran and the High elves have dealt with, but this is the first..."

He paused. "No, the Horde, if what Kel'Thuzad implied is true, was the Legions first invasion, if but through another front, since that time. We suspected this, but never had concrete proof."

"So you are saying," said Uther, "That the Scourge is a front for some demonic army?"

"Yes," said Kael, "One that seeks to consume us all."

The silence was palpable and heavy, no one saying anything, before Kael turned to Jaina. "How exactly did you know of Kalimdor?"

Jaina turned her head to Antonidas, eyebrow raised. "You've met the prophet. He is the one who first told me of Kalimdor."

Antonidas snorted in derision. "That madman? You believed his words?"

She scoffed in equal derision. "The dead rise and fight against us, and a army of demons wants to invade our world. Yes, I believe him."

Antonidas paused at her remark. "Well, when you put it like that."

Kael's eyebrows furrowed. "What is this about a Prophet? A madman?"

"Not to long again," began King Terenas, eyebrows furrowed in thought, "A shapshifter flew into my audience chamber while in court, spouting words of doom, he... did mention Kalimdor by name now that I think on it. That name meant nothing to me at the time."

He regarded Jaina. "What do you know of this... shapshifter?"

"I've only talked to him... two times I think, prior to his attempt to talk to Antonidas before I set out with Arthas," said Jaina, "He's not very... specific or coherent, rambles a bit, is very secretive. But, he means well. He believes that by going west across the sea, to join with those who live there, can we stand against what is coming."

Kael's eyebrows furrowed. "You... forgive me, I'm feeling a bit lost at the moment Lady Proudmoore. You've encountered this 'madman' before. When? During your time in the Cult?"

"No," she said, growing vague, "I met him long before I first sinned."

"And you belived him...?" asked Kael.

"The first few times I saw him, spouting doom and gloom well before there was any concrete signs or proof, no," she said, wondering if she should tell them he was Medeiv... perhaps not yet, "But by the time I saw for my own eyes what the Scourge can wrought? Yes. I heeded his words..."

"How exactly?" said Abbendis, suspicious, "Would you heed his words as a loyal dog of the Cult he was apparently warning people about?"

Her mother looked like she wanted to throttle Abbendis, but Jaina beat her to any action, shooting him a terse look. "I have NEVER been loyal to the Cult of the Damned. For all the sins you can lay on my feet, that is not one of them. I've wanted to destroy them from the moment I first encountered them."

She grew hushed. "I just never could, not on my own."

The table as a whole looked to Kael, who nodded, just a tint of relief in his face. "Truth."

Antonidas seemed to wash off any last doubts. "Jaina, again, you should have come to us, any of us, rather than let it sully you like this. No fear of the Scourge or threat to your family or doubt of our believing in you should have held you back."

She closed her eyes and sighed softly. "I know that now."

"I think, unless you have anything else to reveal to us, we can wrap this up," said Uther, "There are many actions that need to be taken with the information you have given us."

"Not... that I can really think of at the moment, but...," she said, opening her eyes, "Kel'Thuzad had told us to seek Mal'Ganis out in Strathlome. If that's where the demon was, its... probably fallen to the Scourge, it's entire populace turned."

And wouldn't the Arthas of her time before he became a Death Knight have been smug about being proven right about purging the city?

There was an aweful silence in the room for a minute before Saiden sighed. "Most likely, yes, we will have an entire city turned against us on top of the outlying villages. All those souls lost... something we will take into consideration."

Uther nodded slowly before tilting his head to study Jaina for a time. Despite her own true age and experience, having stared down immensly powerful demons and champions alight, being the sole subject of Uther's gaze made her feel small, inadequete. Staring down Archimonde was a kinder thing, she knew what to expect from that monster. Uther? She figured the King had appointed him as both the Judge and Jury here. He would decide her fate. He was a kind man, but he was not afraid to met out retribution to those who deserved it.

She had killed an entire timeline by falling for Tichondrious's scheme (she still wasn't certain she wouldn't have taken the offer anyway had she known in advance). She had probably murdered more people than anyone else in existence in doing so, unless she counted Medivh in his multiple uses of that same spell. She deserved retriubtion for that, not this fake Cultist accusation they had come up with on their own. It was better this way for her goals, even if she had lost so much faith from everyone present. Still... the guilt was there, and it made her look down, breaking the connected gaze, in shame, feeling unworthy.

Uther, apparently took that as his que to speak, "Jaina Proudmoore. There is no simple or easy way to say this. You committed a serious crime in participating with the Cult of the Damned. Coercion or not, it does not condone nor excuse the death of innocents. As much as it pains me to say, there is always another choice; you could have given your own life up before taking another's, rather than let it stain your soul. You let fear and indecision rule you, and others paid the price for it."

She could have given up on Arthas, and refused Tichondrious, preserving the timeline where they had won against the Legion.

But she wasn't the person she had been so many years ago.

Just a bitter old woman.

"Still, when push came to shove, and you had to choose the Scourge or Lordaeran, you chose to conquer your fear and walk the right path. You fought against the Cult, the Scourge, with the intent to save lives and stop them. In coming here before us, and telling us everything, rather than fleeing, you show a willingness to right this wrong. You are not evil, any of us here can see that, simply young and misguided, forced to make terrible choices in a terrible situation. The Order of the Silver Hand belives in redemption, so I ask you Jaina Proudmoore, do you seek it?" spoke Uther on solemn tones.

"Yes," she said quietly, looking up to meet his eyes.

She wanted to make this timeline better, so much better than the old one. She had come for Arthas, and Arthas alone initially. But now she wanted more. Wanted to make up for the lives she ended, for taking away their victory. She had to strive for an even grander one, one perhaps with less loss than before, and a more stable peace.

She was not blind after all.

If the Horde and Alliance weren't going to have gone to war again in mere months after she had made her decision to go back in time, she would have eaten her left foot.

"If no one has any objections," said Uther, pausing briefly to glance around the room, eyebrow briefly raised at Abbendis who simply shot him an annoyed look, he turned back to Jaina, "Then we are willing to give you that chance. We will not forget what you did, as forgiveness is not the same as forgetting, but if you aid us in stopping the Scourge, and you will have our forgiveness."

"I will do everything in my power to stop the Scourge, stop the Legion," she said.

Uther smiled. "I'm glad to hear it lass..."

They all turned theirs heads suddenly as a furious knock came at the door and Calia's voice shouted through, "Father! Emmisaries from Ironforge and Stormwind have arrived and beg an audiance!"

King Teranas stood from his chair, eyebrows furrowed. "Enter my daughter."

The girl threw open the door and took a few steps in, naked fear in her eyes. "Both emissaries speak of an Undead Scourge plaguing their lands and ask for our help!"

The shocked hush that came over the room didn't affect Jaina. Tichondrious's laughter echoed in her mind, a dark and twisting howl that shattered through her. All she could do was stare at the Crown Princess of Lordaeran in pure and utter horror. By the Light... what had she done? Why had she even considered taking this deal with the dreadlord? There was no way she could outscheme a demon.

For she wasn't blind.

It took her only moments to figure out why Tichondrious was starting up additional Scourge invasions (how had he managed to do this for two additional kingdoms in little over one week's time?!). He wasn't doing it to destroy the kingdoms, no, it was more specific than that...

He was targetting the Heroes of Azeroth.

Those who would be hardly trained, not starting their journies for a few years to come, and ill prepared for the sudden onslaught.

While Jaina had been trying to secure her past, Tichondrious had been securing the Legion's future by eliminating or reanimating those who had played such a crucial part in their defeat...

Who had stepped up to stabalize their respective nations and kingdoms, who had risen up to challenge the Scourge, the Old Gods, the Legion, and so much more. Without them... how bleak was the future going to be? Was there even still a chance without the majority of them alive? Was he also targetting the Horde at this moment? The Night Elves?

What had she done?

What had she done?

Author's Notes: I thought about splitting this into two chapters, the initial meeting and Jaina's interrogation, but decided to just keep it together.

So yeah, congradulations WoW players, Tichondrious is in the process of killing us all off while were still noobs! (Well, rather I am. OCs are not a thing in this, or I'll keep them to an absolute bare minimum).

Review Responses:

Dimas: Oh yeah, Strathlome is gone at this point. And yes, someone else will get Frostmourne. Not sure who yet, maybe Baron Rivendare? Orbazz if he becomes a DK? Varian Wyrnn if Stormwind falls to the Scourge? Bolvar again lol? IDK. I'm open to suggestions as long as its not a Player Character.

Prince of Petersburg: Wall of text OP. As for the other kingdoms, they have their hands full at the moment. Lordaeran - Kul Tiras - Quel'Thalas - Dalaran is it for the Scourging of Lordaeran. Sylvanas will make a reappearance at some point, but the elves have to clean up Quel'Thalas first.

Turtlefish: More chances for Elves to appear when the conflict enters Quel'Thalas, and you can be sure it will. Lich Kel'Thuzad is after all the best Kel'Thuzad. :D.

Kelmoria: A bit more of the Elf population might survive than in cannon, but, there is still going to be absolute insane genocidal losses. And yeah, Arthas's debrief lead into a whole mess, Jaina kinda just went with the flow the entire time.

HammerTide: Oops.

Eragon95159: No.

Chronostorm: It's Kel'Thuzad, our Kel'Thuzad.

Omega97: Oh yeah, things just got real bad.

Meilstoer: Nathanos... is technically Lordaeran, even if he is a Human Ranger Lord. He might show up as a minor side character with Sylvanas at some point however. The other elves will get there chance. And yeah, Dar'Khan is getting per-emptivly wasted.

Colin9696: Arthas isn't going to be WTFOP. The thing with the lich was just a massive adrenaline rush of seeing his love being dragged before the Lich, drawing everything he had out to save her.

Shini Kurogane: See Dimas's review response.

MEleeSmasher: See this chapter as an response to future event use ^_^.