Chapter 10: Rushing Forward

"Arthas lad, wake up!"

Jaina blinked herself away at the sound of Uther's voice and a hefty knock at the door. She looked over at Arthas, still breathing softly in sleep. How she wished to just stay there and watch him, so readily alive, and resting peacefully. She sighed softly and shook him. "Arthas, wake up."

"Another five minutes...," he mumbled.

"Will five minutes do Lord Uther?" called out Jaina cheekily, "It would appear the Prince is to lazy to get out of bed."

There was a pause, a soft sigh from the elder Paladin, before he answered, "No, it will no, our runners have reported back."

"I'm up, I'm up, the two of you won't let a poor man sleep," groaned Arthas, sitting up, "Enter Uther, we're clothed."

Uther walked into the room, eyeing the two of them with faint disapproval briefly before speaking, "Your father requests your presence immediately."

Arthas scooted out of bed and knelt by his armor, and Jaina moved to join him. Not that he needed help putting it on, but... she wanted to, and did so, placing the pauldrons on his shoulder and binding them down as he placed his feet in his boots. When they finished, Arthas brought one of her hands to his lips, leaving a soft kiss that made her blush before rising to his feet and turning to Uther. The men left, and Jaina took a brief moment to magic her hair into a presentable state and mat down the ruffles in her clothes, grabbing her staff, and moving after them.

There was a large gathering in the courtyard of Caer Darrow, with the King, Uther, Arthas, and Kael present. Jaina was about to ask where Antonidas was before the archmage in question appeared with Jaina's parents in tow. There was a line of various men and women waiting to give reports, and with a motion of the King's hands, one by one they did. The news was... a mixture of good and bad...

"Northdale is the last town still standing in Strathlome's immediate vicinity, without immediate aid, both it and the townsfolk will be overrun within the new few days, if not sooner."

"Corrins Crossing fairs little better than Northdale, they have begun barricading the town, but are unsure if they should fight or flee. Their position will be hard to maintain, but if the Scourge takes the town, they will be able to cut off Northdale and Tyr's Hand from aid, not to mention block the path from Quel'Thalas should the elves see fit to aid us."

"Tyr's Hand however stands firm in the midst of this darkness, well fortified, and could withstand isolation and siege should our focus be needed elsewhere."

"Darrowshire has driven off a number of Scourge attacks already and have begun to bunker down. The town is easily isolated and cut off, but the townsfolk refuse to leave."

"Lord Taelen Fordring has marshaled the forces of Mardenhold Keep and has retaken Hearthglen, bolstering it as an outpost on the path to Strathlome. The area is badly infested and overrun with the Undead. He fears he will not be able to hold the land without further aid."

"Most of the farmland north of Caer Darrow has been overrun with Scourge, scouts are reporting that the Undead are... for better lack of terms, trying to set up large cauldrons of all things..."

At that, Jaina interrupted, "Those are Plague Cauldrons, they are incredibly dangerous."

King Teranas turned to her. "Explain."

"Plague Cauldrons are infused with necromantic magic and plague," she began slowly, "Once they are ready, each cauldron will boil and spew the Plague of Undeath into the air, tainting the area around them and spreading, like the blighted ground from the undead buildings, but more virulent. Scourge fighting near them would be empowered, any living person that goes near them..."

She shook her head. "Will constantly be under assault by the plague, keeping near them for to long will kill and reanimate anyone not deeply protected by magic, the holy light, or a will of iron beyond measure."

"Then they need to be destroyed," said Uther firmly, "As a priority, lest Lordaeran be destroyed under our feet while we fight."

King Teranas nodded and then motioned to the runners to continue...

"Trisfal Glades are under siege, dead are roaming in mass, but unorganized numbers. Brill and the Capital City are well reinforced, and the Trisfal Monastery holds a large number of the priesthood and order of the Silver Hand in Lordaeran. However, the farmsteads have constantly been under attack, and the people fear to touch any food potentially infected. We've lost contact with the Deathknell cemetery, and fear the worst; the Scourge could raise a potential army out of there alone. Finally, the Agamand Mills have reported an undead infestation and request aid. If we lose the mills, we may lose one of the last grain processing centers in Lordaeran with Andorhal's destruction."

The King absorbed the information steadily before turning to the Proudmoore's. "What of Strathlome?"

Daelin stepped forward. "We have cut it off by sea and await your judgement on the city. From what we can see, the Scourge have completely taken control, and have begun fortifying it. If we don't commence bombardment as soon as possible, it will become the strongest Scourge bastion in the land. If we do however, the chances are by the end of all of this, Strathlome will be completely ruined."

The King rubbed his eyes tiredly, mulling it over briefly. "Do it.

"What of Kel'Thuzad?" questioned Jaina, "Do we know if he has been spotted anywhere?"

"Very few will have any clue who he is, Jaina," pointed out Antonidas, "To most, one necromancer will look like another."

Jaina bit her lip. "I understand, but... Kel'Thuzad is the highest ranking member of the Scourge in Lordaeran. Not knowing where he is, well, dangerous."

Antonidas nodded. "Agreed, but unfortunately, there is little we can do until he reveals himself, and we cannot wait for him to do so."

King Teranas cleared his throat. "First and foremost. Uther, I want you to personally lead the assault on these 'Plague Cauldrons'. The lands of Lordaeran already suffer enough under the threat of the Undead, if we win the war only to find our lands inhabitable, it will be pointless. Afterwards, I wish you to reinforce Corrin's Crossing."

"It will be done my king."

"Next, my son, you and Lady Proudmoore will go to Northdale and evacuate it, teleport in and out, take no chances," ordered the King.

"Where shall we take the townsfolk?" asked Jaina.

"Send them to Tyr's Hand, afterwards you are to convince Darrowshire to flee to safer grounds, then, join Uther in Corrin's Crossing," instructed the King.

"As you will, Father," said Arthas.

"Next, Antonidas, I need you to return to Dalaran and marshal the Kirin Tor, I fear Lordaeran will not survive without them," said King Terenas.

Antonidas pulled on his beard briefly. "It will take time to ready ourselves, but where would you like the magi?"

"I would prefer magi placed in every town we have to bolster our defenses," said the King, "I will be reintegrating the bulk of the army and steadily moving for Strathlome, clearing out any pockets of Undead we come across. The majority and most powerful of your magi I want to join the main army making for Stratholme."

Antonidas tilted his head in acknowledgement.

The King turned to Kael'Thalas, "Prince Sunstrider, you've born witness to the Scourge, do you believe your words can sway your father?"

The elven prince nodded. "I do."

"Then the People of Lordaeran ask Quel'Thalas its aid," said the King.

"I will go to my father at once," said Kael'Thas, "I'm also curious to see what was done with the traitor magister."

"A tale to be told over a victory feast when it is all said and done," commented Terenas.

That got a brief smile out of the elf. "Indeed."

The King took a moment to make eye contact with all of them. "You all have your orders, if there are no questions...?"

"What about Taelen Fordring?" questioned Jaina, "Mardenhold Keep..."

The King frowned briefly. "The main army will take time to reach the area, but we will draw attention. Fordring will have to hold on his own until then, we can only be in so many places at once and only have so many commanding officers to send out, young Proudmoore."

Jaina bit her lips again, thinking. There was someone specifically that might help the boy, someone Jaina wasn't willing to let sit on his ass again the majority of the third war for a second time. "It's... not my place to meddle in the affairs of the Silver Hand, nor the politics of Lordaeran, but... what of the Elder Fordring? A former paladin of his strength..."

Uther stiffened, Arthas and the King tensing as well; the Lightbringer narrowed his eyes at Jaina. "Tirion was exiled, Jaina."

"I know," she said softly, "But... does that matter in the face of the possible destruction of Lordaeran, of the entire Eastern Kingdoms? Against the Scourge? We need all the help we can get."

Uther looked away, his jaw strong set. "We are not that desperate, not yet."

"If we get to the point of desperation, if might be to late and...," began Jaina.

"Jaina, enough," said Antonidas firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You are right in that it is not your place."

She went silent, but kept her eyes on the Lightbringer. The paladin mulled it over for a time before scoffing, "I know where he lives in exile. If the king wills it, I will see if he can be bothered to aid Lordaeran. He will not be offered to rejoin the Silver Hand however."

So much pride and bitterness... so pointless in the face of an apocalypse, but they didn't understand. Hadn't experience it truly. They just took this as a large threat, a sequel to the second war, not truly the potential end of the world. Especially after they had destroyed Scholomance.

King Terenas scowled. "So be it, inquire on Fordring, he will not be reappointed his lands nor any of his positions, but we will allow his exile to end should he serve Lordaeran well in this crisis."

That kind of attitude wasn't going to drag Tirion back was all she could say on the matter, but she didn't do so aloud. Taelen's safety might be enough, but... she didn't know, she really didn't. They all separated a minute later, Jaina briefly hugging her parents goodbye, before she walked to Arthas. He had a look of faint disapproval on his face, probably over Fordring. She frowned at that before turning and aiming her staff, concentrating on direction. She had never teleported to Northdale before, in the last life, so it wasn't a place she was familiar with. Still, she wasn't inexperienced to teleporting to unknown locations, she merely pictured the general area in her mind and opened a portal.

Arthas took point, going through first, Jaina after...

Only for her to yelp as Arthas shoved her out of the way before she could even take in the area, "MOVE!"

She staggered as a large crunch and the sound of a bones breaking echoed behind her. She turned to see an onslaught of Ghouls coming for them. She cursed and ran forward, sighting Northdale a bit away, tired footmen at the ready already rushing to aid them. Jaina and Arthas moved behind the entrance, briefly joining to fend off the lesser undead.

"Jaina, start teleporting the townsfolk, and be a bit more careful where they come out this time," ordered Arthas, "The messenger was right, the town wont last the day."

Jaina blushed a little and rushed to the center of the town, calling out, "People of Northdale! By order of his majesty King Terenas Menethil, the town is to be evacuated to Corrin's Crossing. Gather what affects you have, quickly, I will be forming a portal to take you there, as it is not safe to walk."

Jaina personally checked and corrected the accuracy of the teleport this time, placing the rushing civilians right into the center of Corrin's Crossing. "Arthas! Gather the guards, the townfolk are just about all through!"

Arthas and footmen came hurtling towards her from the town's entrance, undead fast on their heels. They slipped through, Jaina the last, and she closed the portal behind her. Arthas took a brief look around, eyes searching. "Uther will probably still be some time coming."

Jaina nodded, thinking a bit. "I believe there were plans for four cauldrons, so, he has to purge four of the fields. It will take time."

"Well, lets see if we can't get Darrowshire done before he gets here," commented Arthas before turning to briefly address one of the footmen, "Have whoever the mayor of the town see to sorting out the people of Northdale, and incorporate Northdale's guard to your own."

"Yes M'lord!"

With that, Arthas and Jaina strode from the west edge of town, making for Darrowshire. Arthas spoke the moment they were out of earshot of Corrin's Crossing. "Jaina, what were you thinking with Tirion? My father and the others already have slim trust in you for you to be pushing on something like that!"

Jaina scowled at him. "I'm thinking of the safety and survival of Lordaeron! Tirion was a powerful paladin, one of the first five, right? We could use his help."

Arthas glowered at her.

She rebuffed. "Not to mention, if he's all alone in exile, that's a perfect target for the Scourge to isolate and kill to get a powerful Death Knight. Could you imagine a Death Knight with his potential power? Fighting the Scourge isn't just about destroying them, but denying them resources too."

Hadn't happened in the original timeline, but Arthas didn't need to know that, and it helped her argument.

Arthas grumbled a little. "When did you start thinking tactically?"

"When I was forced to," she muttered, picking up her pace and taking the lead.

Darrowshire, when they arrived, wasn't under attack. They were however bunkering down. Placing barricades, piling the undead corpses from previous battles into burn-piles, and most importantly, not evacuating. That stubbornness would get them killed. Jaina didn't have the details of how this particular village fell, something involving a ghoul lord and a death knight if she can even recall right, but it will fall if the villagers stay. Though... if Corrin's Crossing holds, perhaps they might have a chance. It would be hard to tell.

"Who is in command here?" called out Arthas as the pair of them walked into the village.

A man in captains armor approached, red hair faintly visible through bangs peaking through the helmet's visor, nodding curtly to the prince. "I am m'lord, my name is Joseph Redpath, captain of the Darrowshire Militia."

"Well met Captain Redpath," answered Arthas in turn, eyes washing over the village, "What is your status here?"

"We've pushed back several minor attacks from these abominable heathens," explained the Captain before proudly saying, "Not a single one of my men or the townsfolk have fallen since we marshaled the men and manned the defenses."

Impressive, but that wasn't going to last long, Jaina knew it, and Arthas had to know it to, though... Arthas was giving Redpath a contemplative look, glancing over the barricades being put up, the patrols skirting the village and keeping watch, the drills taking place, the civilians in a scramble to help wherever possible. "You do good work here Captain."

Captain Redpath puffed up a bit at the Prince's praise. "Thank you m'lord. Darrowshire is well set, the crown need not worry and can focus its efforts where they are truly needed."

"Unfortunately, Captain Redpath, it's not that simple," said Prince Arthas, "The Undead Scourge is more vast and dangerous than you may think. Your defenses are impressive, but against the bulk and might of their true strength, Darrowshire would fall to them and feed their growing army."

"M'lord, I can assure you...," began Redpath.

"There is no assurance," snapped back Arthas, making both Jaina and Redpath flinch a little, "I barely survived a host of undead swarming over Hearthglen with greater defenses than you have here. They destroyed out forces, and if not for us being teleported out, I'd be an undead slave now. Now is not the time to be choking on pride. Fighting the Scourge is not just about destroying them, but denying them resources..."

Jaina shot him a quick, surprised and pleased look. Taking the words right from her mouth... and 'not the time to be choking on pride'? Was that hypocrisy from him, or was he learning? She dearly hoped it was the latter.

"...and a moderately defended village is not something I will risk giving them," said Arthas firmly, "Your talents could be put to use in Lordaeran's army, and the townsfolk evacuated to the safety of Tyr's Hand."

Captain Redpath clenched his fists tightly and gritted out. "This is our home, Prince Arthas..."

"Daddy?"

Jaina turned her head to see a little redheaded girl, a little patchwork wooden doll clutched to her hand, timidly approach and stand by her father, staring up curiously at the prince. The father glanced down at his daughter. "Pamela, I told you to stay with Marlene."

"But I wanna see the pawadin and the pwetty lady," said the little girl shyly.

Jaina smiled little bit... at least until the name Pamela rang a bell. Oh light, she remembered now. Remembered the story from a dead-drunk adventurer, lamenting their exploration of Darrowshire, finding a dead girl's soul wandering, always searching for her father... Jaina had shared in the miserable drinking after that tale.

"Family is more important than a patch of land, Captain Redpath," said Jaina softly, "Darrowshire can be rebuilt if the undead even bother with an empty village, but lives taken and souls damned by their unholy magic are another matter."

She didn't even hesitate to go for the low blow. "The Scourge have no mercy, whether its man, woman...," she glanced at Pamela, "Or child."

The Captain tensed a bit, looking down at his daughter, and then around the village slowly, many of his men and the townsfolk looking his way as he weighed the decision...

Which apparently Arthas wasn't even going to give him. "If I have to make it a royal decree Captain Redpath, I will. Pack up the village, we will escort your families to Tyr's Hand, then you and the militia are to join us at Corrin's Crossing."

"As you wish, M'lord," said Captain Redpath stiffly, grasping his daughter's hand and leading her towards a house.

"I think I could have worked him over Arthas," whispered Jaina.

"We don't have time for that Jaina," he answered, exasperated, "We are needed elsewhere."

She sighed a little, but moved to stand near the entryway of the village, keeping an eye out for Scourge. Arthas moved between men and patrols, inquiring not-so-subtly about Captain Redpath's command and personality. Arthas always did have a sharp eye; Joseph would most likely make for a good captain in the army. It was everything short of actual conscription, but Arthas would order that if need be. There was to much at stake not to...

An hour later, families were steadily moving in a caravan like trail out of the village, the Militia escorting them in protective pockets.

"Arthas!"

Both he and Jaina turned their heads to see Uther, a band of knights... and Tirion Fordring, approaching behind them. Jaina had a massive wave of uneasy deja-vu to see the old Paladin once again. Especially after their last encounter. The hermit, and boy was it strange to see him dressed like one, didn't even pay any attention to Jaina, eyes briefly assessing the Prince, and then moving to join the guards escorting the caravan. He was clearly tense and unhappy, but he moved with purpose.

"I see you managed to get Darrowshire to evacuate," said Uther, moving to walk beside Arthas.

"And I see you managed to dig up an old fossil," said Arthas in dismissive tone.

Uther just shook his head. "I wish I hadn't. He's still just as stubborn as they day he was exiled, hasn't changed his mind about that Orc or what he did at all. Still, invoking his son did get him up and moving, if only for him. Fordring will stay until Corrins Crossing, then he will be leaving for Hearthglen."

Arthas growled a little before glancing at Jaina. "Well, as Lady Proudmoore told me, better he make himself useful elsewhere than be isolated and picked off by the Scourge to become a Death Knight."

Jaina gave Arthas a brief smile in return.

Uther grunted. "Hmph. Well, regardless, we shall hold Corrin's Crossing until the King's Army arrives."

"So long as we don't have a repeat of Hearthglen," muttered Arthas.

Uther bumped shoulders with the Prince. "It won't be lad."

Jaina didn't comment during the exchange. As much as she wanted Tirion to make himself useful, that was it. She wasn't a friend to the man; he had stayed a hermit while the Third War had went on, he'd find no ally in her unless he made himself actually useful. Though... if it came down to fleeing to Kalimdor... he might serve a use in dealing with the Horde. If she recalled right, his orcish friend Eitrigg had been an advisor to Thrall. Now there was an idea with merit.

Their path to Corrin's Crossing was left unchallenged, and nestled between both that town and Tyr's Hand, the civilians made it to the latter unmolested. It was rather uneventful, which perked Jaina's unease. The Scourge never hesitated to go after civilians, even if the attack was blatantly unwise and suicidal. As the hours of uncontested control of the crossing passed, Jaina's wariness grew more and more. This was a key town in Lordaeran for its position...

She moved to stand by Arthas, murmuring quietly as they stared out northward from the town. "Somethings wrong."

"Could simply be the quiet before the storm," said Arthas; the tightness of his voice betrayed his unease.

So he had the same feeling then. He had been on that same mission with her after all, the Scourge crawling out of the woodworks everywhere.

"If there's a storm, it's not here," said Jaina, "We're missing something. We have scouts to send out, right?"

Arthas nodded before leaving to send a few men out, briefly conversing with Uther. The elder paladin moved to stand by Jaina, a thoughtful frown on his face. "Did you overhear any plans while you were in the cult of what they would do if they were heavily contested?"

Jaina shook her head. "No. I think the Scourge planned for this to go off without a hitch."

They expected Arthas to have fallen right into their clutches. And, oddly enough, losing at Hearthglen had appeared to save him from that fate. Well, that and getting him back to the comfort of his family and friends, a chance to escape that madness and recover.

"Arrogant," mused Uther, shaking his head.

"None of their plans that I know of would have allowed for Lordaeran's survival, fighting and driving back the Scourge," admitted Jaina, a hint of unease for her, this was new territory, "Nothing I know would be feasible for them to attempt with Lordaeran mostly intact and fighting back."

"Feasible might not be the term you are looking for Jaina," said Uther solemnly, "They may be desperate."

What plans did they have this early on that they would be desperate enough to try...

Half an hour later, Jaina's world fell out from below her feet as a scout rushed back into town. "M'lords! Strathlome is emptying! Hordes upon hordes of the undead are heading northward into Quel'Thalas!"

Jaina's eyes went so wide with naked fright. "No..."

Arthas turned to her. "Jaina? What is it?"

"They can't possibly think to... not with Lordaeran's army able to come in from behind," she whispered.

Uther narrowed his eyes. "Is there something you failed to tell us Lady Proudmoore? That reactions speaks of a plot not minor in scope."

"The Sunwell," said Jaina, her voice trembling, "They're going after the Sunwell. But they can't truly think to pull it off. I warned the High Elves about Dar'khan Drathir, Kael'Thalas was just sent carrying a warning about the Undead and request for aid, Lordaeran is..."

"Days away from being ready to assist, possibly weeks," said Uther harshly, "His majesty needs time to gather our split forces, crush what undead are ravaging our own lands, he wont arrive in Corrin's Crossing for some time. Now may be the last time the Scourge have a chance to do so. Jaina, why do they want the Sunwell?"

"T-they need it to properly r-reanimated Kel'Thuzad as a lich," she stammered, "A necromancer of his power requires a much higher source of magic to reanimate him..."

She shook her head. "No, that's not correct, not a lich, an Arch-Lich."

She glanced fearfully towards Arthas. "Think Araj the Summoner, but at least ten times stronger at minimum."

"Ten?!" hissed Arthas.

"He'd probably be able to defeat Antonidas by himself," admitted Jaina.

Even at her peak, if Jaina and Kel'Thuzad had clashed, assuming he had a chance to continue growing in power as she had, it would have been a battle she wasn't sure she would have walked away from. She would have made sure he died yes, but there would have been a high chance she would have killed herself in the process. Not to mention the issue of his phylactery. As it stood, if Kel'Thuzad reached lichdom now... Jaina wouldn't stand a prayer.

"Even with that power... that seems excessive to try to go through Quel'Thalas for just that," said Uther, a heavy frown on his face.

She shook her head rapidly, terrified. "We have to go, we have to help the High Elves."

"Jaina...," began Arthas.

She whirled on him, panic bleeding out of her. "You don't understand! So much of what the Scourge intends depends on Kel'Thuzzad achieving that power!"

Archimonde... even if they killed every last Scourge in Lordaeran, if Kel'Thuzad became a lich, got the book, and summoned the Demon Lord, it was over for the kingdom.

Uther narrowed his eyes. "Jaina Proudmoore, you were given a chance to come clean with all you knew. What have you been holding back?"

Jaina swallowed back her panic, trying to calm herself, and utterly failing. "N-nothing I thought would be p-possible for the Scourge to achieve."

Uther pointed a finger at her face. "That is not for you to decide Proudmoore. You've tread on thin ice..."

"Scream at me all you want after the Scourge is stopped!" she yelled at him, "Throw me in a dungeon for the rest of my life, execute me, I DON'T CARE! We have to stop Kel'Thuzad now!"

"Enough!" said Arthas, moving to clamp a hand on Jaina's shoulder "We have no time for bickering. Jaina, calm yourself, now. Get us a teleport into Quel'Thalas and we will see if they truly need our aid."

Jaina closed her eyes, taking deep, ragged breaths. She was trying, trying so hard, but things were moving rapidly for what they had before. The Third War was never about the Scourge, but the Burning Legion. Arthas as a death knight was a long term plan, something that hadn't borne fruit until months from now with him sailing to, and then returning from, Northrend. Even further with the Scourge as a Lich King. But he wasn't necessary for the Legion's arrival. As of the moment, the Scourge were a tool to the demons, and if they were summoned...

"Jaina," whispered Arthas, a not-so-subtle hint of worry and concern in his voice, "Calm and collected."

She shook her head and aimed a hand forward, calling for a portal...

Only for it to fizzle and die. "What?"

"Uh... are you focused enough to cast it?" asked Arthas.

She narrowed her eyes, beat down her panic, trying again, but once more it fizzled. "It's not..."

She closed her eyes and felt with her sense on the third try, eyes flying open after. "I'm being blocked out. Quel'Thalas is being blocked! But that would require..."

Her faced drained of color. "Naxxramas. They brought Naxxramas to Quel'Thalas. The necropolis is the only thing they have that could create a field large enough to cover the capital area. They'd have flown it right over the elf-gates and dropped an army right on the capital."

The Scourge had never been pressured enough, not even during the Battle for Dalaran where Archimonde was summoned, to bring out the Dread Citadel. It had been kept in reserve until Arthas had went to Northrend to become the Lich King. It made awful, terrible, sense for them to bring it out now.

Arthas swore. "If that's true, what are our chances of arriving in time to..."

"It doesn't matter what our chances are," said Jaina, "We have to go..."

"That's not your call to make Proudmoore," said Uther, his tone a clear warning, "And frankly, its not yours either Arthas, with your judgement clouded in regards to her."

"Uther!" said Arthas, plain as day hurt on his face.

Uther ignored him in favor of glowering at Jaina. "At this point, Jaina Proudmoore, I'm not sure how much we can trust what you say, with you picking and choosing what to reveal where and when you so deign to. How can we trust your intentions?"

It was happening again...

Even after the interrogation and truth spell...

She was being doubted when it mattered the most...

Those who were supposed to be her allies looking upon her with nothing but mistrust...

Would she rejected again? Turned away by the Alliance? Dalaran? Kul Tiras and her family?

Would Arthas turn away from her one day even if he lived through this all?

Alone again... always alone...

She closed her eyes for a moment... feeling that crippling weight and isolation once more... and threw it all away.

She had lived this before, lived with the suspicions of her peers for the last few years, if not the decade. What did she care if it happened again?

So be it.

Jaina opened her eyes as her face darkened, her spine straightened with steel, her voice turning cold and harsh, an echo of what it would become decades from now. "Even if I'm condemned for it after, I will do what I must, with or without your support, Lord Uther."

Arthas's hand fell off her shoulder, taking a step back, surprise and shock in his voice, "Jaina...?"

"And what if I stopped you from leaving?" questioned Uther intently.

"I've walked my path alone for years with no one to count on," she answered, her voice low yet pained, gripping her staff tightly, Halion glowing softly with her power. "So I have little qualms about doing so again. I won't let anything get between me and doing what must be done."

So long as Arthas lived, as long as the Legion was stopped... it didn't matter what happened to her...

Uther moved, but he was an old big bulky paladin in armor, and Jaina was a young twig of an archmage. She spun out of his attempt to grab her, and blasted him back with her magic, earning a surprised cry from those nearby and a shocked exclamation from Arthas. She called for a portal to take her as close to Quel'Thalas as she could outside of the blocking, and dove through without looking back...

Author's Notes:

RedpathFamily!Lives.

Jaina is kinda freaking at the moment, *slight* paranoia included.

.

Review Response:

REQUIEMCROSS: Well... I have about 3-4k words of the first chapter of the alternate route written, but not much else. Still working on way to many stories at once. :D

Necronicus: Most likely.

MajorHangover: Thanks. And... I haven't written or planned the ending for this yet. I have about until Jaina gets found out as a time traveler loosely figured out, but nothing after that.

Meilstoer: IWillGoDownWithThisShip. ArthasxJaina for lyfe!

H20 Ferrum Dominus: Action now, moar fluff later.

AzureTemplar3535: Thx. I read to its current chapter, its okay, but... IDK if Archimonde could have actually been beaten by the Ashbringer or not.

Australian Dealer: She will show hints of being not quite what she seems (already has to a degree), but the 'big reveal' isnt for awhile.

Kelmoria: There are some things Jaina doesn't know to hide, and can't actually hide, that have become a part of who she is. I'm 100% making up the Malfuion giving tips to Jaina though, it works for the story.

Gendie01: Jaina has... trust issues, to say the least, after her last few years of life.

HammerTide: Wasn't aware actually, when did that happen? Probably not going to even mention it/consider it didn't happen for this story.

MEleeSmasher: Naw, no mistress Sylvanas. As for Chromie... well... I'm still not set if its going to be her, or Nozdormu himself.