Chapter 3
We walked into the camp at sundown, sweaty and smelling of mud and swamp. The morning had yielded enough wood for a mostly sturdy wall around the camp to be constructed, with a torn blanket covering the doorway. The venom glands had been delivered, and antidote was being given out now. The afternoon yielded a fresh cache of supplies, reinforcements to defend the lines, and a…tense, moment between the human and myself.
"Saurok on the east!" was my only warning before they were nearly on top of me.
I couldn't notch an arrow; they were too close. I took the axe up from the ground and swung, unsheathing a dagger and going at whatever the axe missed. Eight to one. I was cornered. Sunwell guide me.
Suddenly, they were blasted down with a blast of brilliant white light, and I was taken to the ground, the breath knocked out of me as someone landed on top of me.
I opened my eyes to lock with brilliantly blue ones that glowed, and a tanned human face that looked embarrassed.
"I-lost footing while trying to get aim and not hurt you-I…" He stopped, panting, his minty breath mixing with mine.
I felt his leg between mine, knee digging in the ground there. His forearms were braced on either side of my head, and his torso was brushing against mine, sending shocks of electricity through my body in a way that should not be happening.
"Move," I whispered, my heart hammering in my throat and my face burning with embarrassment and-horrifyingly-faint arousal.
I was tired, my muscles and bones hummed with fatigue and stiffness, and my shoulders were throbbing. I grabbed a small thing of rations from our old supplies as refugees swarmed the fresh cache. I stumbled over to my mat and picked it up clumsily, dragging it to a small indent in the wall that had been built, making a cubby with walls on three sides. Ideal for defense. I dropped it down along with my bag and quiver and bow, before I myself fell onto it. God I'm tired.
"Is that all you'll eat?"
I sighed, opening my heavy eyes to see the human standing a few feet back from my cubby, holding two things of rations.
"I am not as important as the refugees. They get the first pick. I'll live," I tried to roll over, and groaned as lancing pain went through my shoulders.
"Want to check those? I can try and dull the pain," He moved closer, but the look I gave him spoke volumes.
"I will be fine…enjoy your feast, princeling," I said, adding the insult for good measure, before drawing into my cubby and curling around my food, shaky fingers pulling at the packaging to get at the meat.
I heard the thump of someone sitting down, and I groaned, "What?"
I felt something hit my thigh, and I looked to my left to see one of the packages the human had been holding-it was one of the fresh rations.
"Eat. It'll help you heal and help you sleep," He said, not showing any sign of moving.
I groaned, giving in and taking the package into my lap, biting into mine first, and grimacing at the stale tiger meat.
"Why are you so…. hostile? And don't try and sell me the whole Horde and Alliance thing, I don't believe it." The human said, leaning on one of the corners of my cubby to look at me.
I bit back my thousands of reasons for hatred. He was not worthy of that knowledge.
"Humans…have taken much, from my people." I said, my words clipped and my tone restrained as my heart ached for Thessali.
"We were your allies, once. We helped to defend your home from the Horde." The human said.
"That was long ago, things have changed, princeling," I said, feeling my age-I was alive when that happened, he wasn't.
"Not so many that this hatred is justified."
I bared my teeth in a snarl, turning to look at him with a raw look of fury, growling low in my throat and clenching every muscle, "more than enough has happened!"
He drew back quickly, a wary look in his eyes, and I snapped my teeth at him,
withdrawing further and finishing my meat, digging into the next one-buzzard meat, much fresher.
"I didn't mean to Offend-I only want to know what's happened to cause…this." He said cautiously, inching closer, and I sighed.
"Your fool of a king…he took something. Something very dear. I personally will never forgive him for this, and I will take it something of his in kind." I could behead this princeling, show it off for the world to see, let the King mourn as I have mourned-
"What did he take?"
I jerked back into the present, eyeing the overly curious human, who looked uncertain.
"That would be none of your concern-"
Wind suddenly ripped through the camp, and I shivered convulsively, drawing my pitiful cloak about me and curling inward. God I hate the cold.
"Jadearra?" the human looked so concerned, but I glared all the same, even as my teeth clacked together.
"I'm f-fine!" I snarled, even as my body stiffened, protesting. Where is that damn-
Bandit bolted into the cubby suddenly, leaping over the human and curling around me protectively, licking at my face and whimpering. I felt my muscles slowly release, warmth bringing me back from stone.
"What the hell was that?" The human asked, and I sighed tiredly.
"None of your concern now leave me." I said, more of an order than a dismissal, and he finally went away.
So. Goddamn. Cold.
I shivered convulsively as I pushed forward, through the wastes. Where the fuck-?
"Getting a bit stiff?" The monster cackled evilly, and I growled, my arms were lost entirely, I couldn't throw my blade.
"I will have your skull for a helm!" I snarled, my teeth clattering and my feet lodging into the ground.
"That is, if you're ever thawed. That Theron curse really must be troubling at the Roof of the World." The thing cackled evilly, flicking its wings back and forth.
Fury turned cold in my chest, and my heart pounded in a panic as I realized he was right-I was turning grey.
"Maybe my king would enjoy a new statue-A Theron family portrait that is overly realistic-!"
My eyes sealed over, and I was blind, and all I could hear was laughter.
I jerked awake, shaking like a leaf and breathing hard, feeling my face frantically and drawing my cloak tight about me, where's Bandit? God it's cold-
Thump.
A heavy, warm cloak hit me, and I didn't even think about it as I quickly pulled it on over my basking in the immediately warmth. Then the scent hit me.
Minty, Human.
I looked up, and saw the human standing there, looking down at me, Bandit beside him, "Your wolf woke me up, was pulling at my cloak. I walk over here to see you…what? Turning to stone?" He accused, and I looked down at my fingers to realize that the shadows were actual traces of grey receding.
"It is…a family curse, if you will. A burden of your father's crime against my family." I said, feeling lancing agony go through me as my organs came back to me, and I curled into the warmth as Bandit curled up beside me.
"Elaborate," The human sat down at the foot of my mat, and I wrinkled my nose, still surrounded by his annoyingly delicious scent.
"No."
"I've got all night,"
"Not telling."
"I can take my cloak back and threaten you."
I glared at him, annoyed that he looked kind of handsome with that smugly playful look on his face.
"Fine, if you're going to coerce me, settle in Princeling, I'm going to tell you a bedtime story about your so called High King and what he did to my family," I said, and I felt him scoot in a little closer.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, feeling my feelings dredge up to the surface already.
"It was…a few years ago, the beginning of the joint campaign against the Lich King. My sister-Thessali Theron was Ranger General, and she was leading us along with an Orc unit, led by Garrosh Hellscream, -" My mouth tasted bitter when I said his name, "-to attack the Scourge that were gathered there. We were…. we were winning when an Alliance unit-led by your father- came in. We thought they were there to help but they-they slaughtered us along with the scourge. They really didn't discriminate. Your father he-he charged at my sister, recognizing her for the political stature, and I went to intercept when-when Hellscream ripped me from the ground and decided that I was more valuable than her, and-he threw me into the chapel, all the way to the back. The last thing I saw that day was…was the great broadsword Shalamayne beheading my sister." I finished, and I knew I was crying, but I hated talking about this.
The human was dead silent, so I decided to push through, "The Theron family has a blood curse-if one relative has the opportunity to save another, but doesn't…they are viewed as stone hearted, and thus the cold shall turn them to stone, to match their cold, dead hearts." I said, self-loathing and hatred bubbling through me. "The curse came into affect the first winter after she was taken. I was outside, and a cold blasted through and-the next thing I remember is my parents hovering over me, looking like death itself and crying. Because I couldn't save the Theron heir, I was afflicted…that, young princeling, is what your father took from my family." I finished, sagging against the wall as fatigue and tired warmth dragged at my soul, my eyes half open and heavy lidded.
"Is that…is that the memory that Despair dragged up to you?" the human asked, and I nodded slowly, head lolling a little. So…tired…
"Hey, hey. Don't fall-" I felt him scoot in closer, keeping me from falling over, and I didn't react, I should've reacted, what is wrong with me?
Bandit was growling, nudging my hands, which were turning grey. Oh. I'm dying, I admitted what I have done and now I can rest. Okay…
"Whoa, Jadearra come on, don't do that. No no no, Jade wake up, stay awake. Keep your eyes open. Eyes on me," he moved into my line of vision, which was tunneling, his eyes were glowing, and I felt warm arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer to him.
"Tired.." I slurred, eyes flickering, and he cursed, and the heat increased.
"Come on come on-"
Shatter.
I was wide-awake, and alert, and what the fuck?
I sprung away from him, eyes wide and face pulled into a snarl, and I felt the cold trying to set in again.
"Sha attack. It was listening. Shit." I hissed, shivering as my breath puffed in front of me.
"I broke it, come here."
"No!" I pulled farther back from him, offended with myself for sharing that story, and for feeling tender towards him, what the hell?
"Its either suck it up and come huddle for warmth or become a refugee statue."
I growled, moving back towards him and leaning stiffly against him, cursing silently for relaxing into him as arms circled me. We were tucked almost completely into the corner, and I was warm.
And disgustingly enough, I was again, vaguely aroused.
"Comfy?" he asked, noting the awkward silence, and I nodded.
"Question for you, Princeling." I said, looking at the bicep that my nose brushed against when he inhaled.
"Answer for you, Princessling," he tried, and I snorted, biting down the lazy smile that threatened to break my face as his chest rumbled with amusement.
"What is your name? You know mine, it's only fair." I said, rambling slightly from fatigue.
"My name's Anduin, princessling. Now get some sleep."
"Oh dear, they look comfortable."
"Should we disturb them? I know Lord Zhu needs them, but…"
"Shh, the woman wakes."
I blinked slowly, prying my eyes open to see the tanned skin of human neck, and I nearly had a heart attack before I remembered that he was keeping me from turning to stone last night.
I lifted my head slightly, shaking away the last dregs of sleep, and observed. I looked almost small, even though I'm nearly his height. His arms circled my torso, hands rest on my waist and hips lazily, his legs drawn up to wrap around mine. One of my own arms was strewn across his chest, the other tucked into his side. I feel nauseated.
"Morning."
I jumped, turning to see that the human-Anduin-was indeed awake, and he was smirking playfully at me from where he was still laying. Damn him and his not unattractive face.
I grunted, and he laughed softly, still watching me as I shoved my hair behind my headband, pulling it back from its lion-esque chaos.
I moved to take the cloak off, but his hands covered the clasps and my hands suddenly, alerting to him being very close to me.
"It'll help keep you warm. It should be enough until tonight." He said softly, and I felt my face heat, and swallowed, moving my hands.
I stood and walked away, having slept in full armor again. I drew the cloak tighter about me and admired the deep blue fabric-well made.
I noticed Taran Zhu giving me an amused look as I approached, and he gestured to the cubby, where Anduin was still sitting, watching lazily.
"It was for warmth only," I muttered, and he huffed a laugh, "What's the goal for today?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Bathe, continue fortifying the camp. We attack tomorrow," He said, and my eyebrows must've reached my hairline before he explained, "There is a copse of trees that we grew over pools, some engineering…it is the temple bath house, and has lasted wonderfully. I suggest taking advantage of it. The women have taken the liberty of cleaning some cloth clothes for you to wear."
I nodded, seeing two sets of cloth clothes sitting on the makeshift table beside him, one set much larger than the other. I said nothing as I gathered up the smaller one-and the bar of soap next to it-and left the camp.
I found a cobbled path that led to a copse of-oh.
I pushed aside a layer of hanging vines to find two blowing pools, the bottoms of them covered in reflective crystal, causing the entire bath house to glow a blue and green. The water looked heavenly.
I stepped in, taking a step to the left-it had a sign marking it for the women-and with one quick look to make sure I was alone, I stripped out of my armor quickly, praying the water was warm as I hopped in.
It was the perfect temperature, and my skin felt fleshier than it had since I had arrived here. I sighed in content, sinking completely under the water and opening my eyes to see blue. I spun in the water, giggling to myself as it swirled, before pushing myself up to sit at the edge and cover myself in soap.
This was what I was lathering through my hair when Anduin walked in.
I shrieked, falling into the pool with a loud splash as he whirled around, yelling "Sorry!" and covering his eyes.
He just saw me naked.
I was burning under the water, only my eyes and nose above the surface as I stared at Anduin in horror.
"I-um-Uh-" He turned around now, looking flushed and embarrassed and a little strained-
oh ew.
I sunk down the rest of the way in horror, to let him get in the water and to marinade on the last few traumatic moments of my life. I peeked to see if he was done-
Nope.
His pants were still on, and his back was to me, but his bare back was tanned with pale crisscrossing scars, and a semi ornate tattoo on his shoulder blade of...a list?
"You're not subtle." He said, not looking at me, but laughing when I jerked under the water, cheeks burning. I peeked when he had hopped into the water, and the water kept certain areas on both of us covered.
"What's the list?" I asked, standing at the edge of the pool and lathering my hair again, watching Anduin carefully.
He was watching me, his muscled shoulders and arms shifting as he washed everything that was above the water's surface, "It's a list of everyone I love, my parents are there, my best friend is there," He said, and I dipped down momentarily to get my soapy hair wet, and started combing out the soap with my fingers.
"Why is it tattooed to you? Do you not know who you love?" I asked, poking at the social boundaries of whatever was between us.
"Back when I was a child, I was made king for a short time because Lady Prestor-Onyxia-took my father's memory and split his soul into two beings. He didn't remember me, my mother, anyone that he loved-I never want to forget those people." His tone carried weight, and I was silent for a moment as I thought that over.
We remained silent as we continued washing, but I was done and there was an obstacle.
I braced my hands on the edge of the pool, "If you look I'm poisoning your rations,"
I heard a splash, and made sure he was completely under, before lifting myself out of the pool and quickly wrapping a towel around myself and tying it. I used a second towel to begin the chore of drying my endless amounts of hair.
"Let me help,"
I turned just in time for a hot blast of wind to rip at me, nearly taking my towel and sending my hair out behind me, like a lion's mane. I stood there shell shocked for a moment while Anduin laughed at the water's edge.
"Never do that again." I said, using my hands to bring my hair down from its chaotic heights, the annoying mess falling over my forehead and spilling down my shoulders and back, "I have to change, don't you dare look."
He darted under the water, and on the count of three I dropped the towel and got into under clothes, pulling on pants that reached my mid calf and making sure the important things were covered. I bent down to grab the cloth shirt when I heard a wolf whistle.
I straightened immediately, shirt in hand, glaring at the grinning dork of a human who was resting his arms on the edge of the pool.
I slid the shirt on, focusing on buttoning it as he got out of the pool to dry and change.
Suddenly, he moved, and was right there.
His bare toes brushed mine, and I noticed he was only half dressed-well formed abs and pectorals were level with my torso.
Two tanned fingers tilted my chin up, and my eyes met his. They burned with…something that I didn't know, but it stirred emotions up inside me, and that damned arousal seeped back in.
He ran a hand through my hair, his fingers untangling it and fingertips brushing my back and leaving a trail of raw nerves behind him.
"I like your hair down," he whispered, his minty breath with a hint of honey brushing against my face.
We were silent for a moment, just staring at each other, until he blinked and we both seemed to remember what the hell we were doing and where we were, as he cleared his throat and stepped back again. My cheeks burned as I finished buttoning up my shirt and sliding on leather armor, boots, and his cloak. I left my hair down.
I slid my headband into the pocket of the cloak, pulling the hood up and bracing against the wind as I walked back to camp, fighting back the shivers. I felt Anduin follow me, and I did not look at him.
Lord Zhu looked dire, "We cannot attack the temple-Saurok have taken children."
All of my warm fuzziness died in my stomach, and I felt my responsibilities slam back into place. I straightened up, looking over his shoulder at the map intently, "Where are we going."
He used a small stick to mark the path on the parchment, "This is their main camp, it's a shallow pond, they have six Pandaren children. They demand to see the reinforcements sent away and the temple surrendered by tonight or they'll kill them." He sounded vaguely ill.
"I can go in and take out the Saurok, And-the human can get the children to safety and heal their wounds," I said, and he sighed.
"I fear this is what they want, it's a trap."
"Children are involved, Lord Zhu!" I exclaimed, hair getting in my face as my head shook, I shoved it to the side, "With all due respect, I don't give a damn what orders you have. Those children come first."
"Just so, Jadearra..." Lord Zhu studied the map and sighed, his shoulders sagging, "Prepare for battle, you leave before sunset."
I gave a mock salute, before turning on my heel and loping over to my things, anger heating my core as Bandit nosed at my hair confusedly.
"Don't rush into this recklessly, Jadearra-the Sha feed off emotion-"Anduin started, having followed me, but I ignored him.
"I will get those children out, come or don't. I'm leaving now." I sheathed a dagger in my belt, slung a quiver filled with arrows over my back, and grabbed my bow, marching away.
He followed me, of course.
We marched in grim silence, my anger rolling in waves, and I found their damned camp fast enough.
A horde of lizards awaited me, and I saw the children front and centre, all looking harried but otherwise unharmed.
I stood there, staring them down, nostrils flared and arrow Nocked-I was in the shadows and they didn't know my scent.
I scanned them...there, children. I nocked three arrows and let them fly without hesitation.
With squeals, three Saurok children died with arrows in their eyes.
The Saurok wailed, and suddenly, a thing exploded from the pond with a blast of air so cold my nose stiffened almost immediately.
"So this is how you choose to die, death speaker."
The thing was huge, black and white and vaguely scorpion like, and it radiated utter agony and despair. I called on the mist instinctively, upon him mentioning, but the air was too still.
"Release the children!" I stepped into the light, and I prayed Anduin stayed in shadow-he has to let me distract this.
The thing laughed, a cold sound that made my bones rattle, "Foolish little child. You breathe in despair; you're cursed with it! You very soul feeds me. What makes you think I am threatened?"
I nocked five arrows and shot down five more Saurok, never looking away from the monstrous thing.
It growled, and I felt a weight shove me to my knees, "That was a mistake."
I screamed, something grabbed my heart, and fire clouded my vision. I watched the death of my sister, constantly, my parents dying. Elvi jumping off the tower, Delevenia drowning herself. All of this pain-because-because-
So cold, I shivered convulsively, I heard screaming, and I realized it was me.
"Fight it, Jadearra! FIGHT IT!" I heard Anduin, his voice a small beam of warmth as I screamed, my skin stiffening.
I did this to Thessali and my parents and my maidens and my people. I didn't save my sister and for that I will die. I am nothing, I am worth nothing-
"Give in, murderer. Give in."
I felt a hot swell of anger, as two faces swam into my vision.
Garrosh and Varian Wrynn.
"NO!"
A wave of fury and magic exploded from me, and my vision went dark.
