Chapter 17
I raced into the house, nodding the Bandit as I ran past. He was standing beside the door, hackles raised and teeth bared in a snarl-he smelled them too.
I pulled the chest out from under the bed, opening clasps and raising the lid to find all to familiar armor.
I spent the past four months in this.
I quickly slipped it on over my clothes, tightening the boots and sheathing my daggers in my belt. I whimpered as I pulled Anduin's headband from the chest, before placing it on my head in determination.
He meant for these wards to protect me.
Well, I guess I'll have to do that for him.
I took up my quiver-fully loaded, magically of course-and Thessali's bow, the wood humming in my hand.
My blood pumped as I left the house again, Bandit following me as I ran Forward-I missed this.
I paused for a moment as a breeze brushed my cheek, inhaling deeply to catch a scent.
Human, Night Elf. Blood. Fear.
I opened my eyes again, the bow now glowing softly in my hands, and I ran forward, tracking my prey by the bow and by scent, until I came upon a small cliff face that dropped down about forty feet into a clearing, where the fight was raging.
Teir was holding back, holding enemies at bay, and pushing them back towards the wards, which hummed in distress in the back of my head.
I nocked an arrow, narrowing my eyes to concentrate on finding the perfect shot.
There. On an elf, part of her ear was exposed, the fleshy cartilage ripe for a wound.
I let it fly, and noticed in panic that it was going to miss.
No!
Magic whipped out from my outstretched fingertips, grabbing the arrow and setting back on course. My glowing display of power had gained the attackers attention, and my target looked up in surprise just in time for the arrowhead to go through her ear, ripping through the cartilage and dragging the shaft through after it. Her silver eyes widened in shock, before dimming entirely to a dull grey as she dropped to the ground.
"By order of the Alliance, stand down!"
All action stopped as Anduin-the real Anduin-appeared, stepping through the wards in fury.
He looked beautiful. His armor glimmered in the ward light, and his eyes pulsed with energy. Lengthening golden hair was tied back in a ponytail, and his tanned features were warped just slightly in anger.
The attackers lunged for him, and I reacted.
Vines sprung from the ground ripping them away from Anduin and pinning them to the wards, which groaned in anticipation, eager to hurt those who were trespassing.
I squeezed down, and I saw the remaining three-another elf, and two humans, one male and one female-squirm in pain. Good.
"Jadearra stop!"
I stopped squishing them, the vines still uncomfortably tight, but not fatally. I locked eyes with my princeling, and my chest filled with swirls of emotion. I realized that my overthrow of magic was fraying, and I pulled it back in with an inhale, letting the wards secure the vines holding the attackers. I jumped down from the rock, a whoosh of hot wind slowing me so that I could land calmly on my feet. I moved forward silently, stopping beside Anduin, aching to touch him.
"Who are you?" Teir asked, marching forward to the attackers in rage, holding an axe up menacingly.
"They're from my Father, by request of her mother." Anduin answered, and I turned on him in shock.
"What?!"
Anduin waited for my flare of power to die down again, before continuing, "Your mother has kept close contact with the Stormwind Court where you are concerned. Even with her…current state," He gave me a look of pain, but I ignored it, motioning for him to continue, "Well, Father overheard us speaking earlier, and decided to accelerate your training. He sent S1:7 here with intent to kill everything but only knock me out if I arrived. He wanted to test your control."
I shook with fury, my knuckles white as I held on tightly to my overthrow, breathing hard to keep my temper in check, "Oh?"
"Yes…I came as soon as I could. I could not save one." He said, and we all looked at the still bleeding corpse on the ground.
Guilt strained to blossom inside my chest, but I clenched my fist at my side to quell it-as far as I had known, they were attackers and that I was not wrong for my actions.
"Did she pass?" Teir asked, brushing tangled hair back off her face, basalt skin blending in spectacularly with the night around her.
"I…"
The buzzing soared into my focus, and before I realized what I was doing, I had teleported Anduin and Teir to the cliff face above, the overthrow of magic splitting to slither down my arms in glowing, snake like tendrils, wrapping around my hands like the bandages of a gladiator. I lifted a hand, and the ward's glow intensified, lighting the clearing with spiraling colours-lilac to silver to deep evergreen, and everything in between. I watched the other side of the wards intently, the buzzing increasing in my head.
"Jadearra, what are you doing?" Anduin shouted, and I sensed that he was moving to climb down the face.
Sorry. I twitched, and vines wrapped around his feet, holding him in place, and hardened to stone.
"Jadearra!" Teir shouted indignantly, but I silenced her with a silent wave.
This is…intoxicating.
I reined the magic back in after that, letting those effects sit as I nocked two arrows and waited for the trespasser to come into the light. I inhaled deeply, and nearly choked.
Varian Wrynn.
My lips pulled back from my teeth in a snarl as I choked on my kneejerk hatred, which threatened to pull a vortex inwards, and I stood ramrod stiff as the High King of the Alliance entered the clearing.
"Hello, Jadearra. It is relieving to see you alive and well."
I remained silent, simply letting my magic bring the S1:7 to his attention by sending a nice squeeze into the vines, eliciting groans.
"Why did you send them? Why do you throw lives away for no reason?" I asked, and a small ball of life split from the ward to personally illuminate the stiffening corpse on the ground.
The King's eyes narrowed slightly, a muscle in his jaw clenching and his shoulders drawing in minimally, but his aura spoke of surprise, shock, and minor levels of anger-
Since when could I read auras?
I filed that away for later, waiting for my answer.
"You've come strides in controlling your power, if you completely stealing the wards away from Jaina Proudmoore is any indication." Wrynn said, and the wards purred in my mind, obedient and quiet, "Your simple manipulation of magic here alone speaks volumes."
"Can I leave then?" I blurted, and the wards flickered, casting momentary shadows all around us.
"Jade-" I silenced Anduin, staring at Varian Wrynn intensely.
"I…don't think it is wise. No. Jaina and Khadgar- "
"They're not here. You're not strong enough alone anymore," I said, taking a step forward, and the wards shuddered again, "Can. I. Leave?"
I felt Teir tiptoeing into my mind, and I clenched.
She fell with a cry on the cliff behind us, cradling her head.
"Miss Theron. I believe that in your current state, that without these wards your anger would roll over Azeroth and destroy it."
Archmage Khadgar stepped onto the scene, the wards not quite fast enough to warn me, and I hissed, brightening the clearing again and putting my arrows away, standing down.
"Please release our audience here. I'm sure a simple memory charm and some instructions will leave them well enough." Khadgar said, and I sighed, bringing down the vines and plucking all memories of me out of their heads.
I sent a message, "Your friend has fallen. Take her home."
I watched as their eyes glassed over, their wounds healing, and they moved robotically to pick up the corpse from the ground, leaving in a daze.
I watched them for a few more yards, until the charms had settled, before turning my attention back to the clearing.
"You have a dangerous amount of raw energy running through and around you, Young Lady."
"I am not you-"
"I fought in the first and second wars. You are young to this human," Khadgar said, and I chewed on my tongue, fighting back a snarl.
"As I was saying-this much magic in one vessel will end up destroying you. I have devised a way to contain this magic in multiple vessels that you can skim from and store inside with ease."
I cocked my head to the side, bringing Teir and Anduin down to stand beside me and washing a healing wave over her mind, hearing a sigh of relief in response.
"I have made a necklace with charms on it-all with containment runes carved in, of course. This way you can channel and store magic through them with ease, and the overwhelming tidal waves of energy won't eat you alive." Khadgar said, producing a necklace made from cool metal and runic stones in various different shapes.
"It's not glamorous, but it's functional. If it works as well as I project…you'll get to go home."
Need and longing and thousands of other emotions overwhelmed me on that one word, and I felt my soul zero in on it. Home.
I snatched the necklace from him, pushing it over my head and under hair, and the thing worked.
I gasped as I felt energy spiraling from around, the very wards shattering in a monsoon of spectral glass, dissolving and rushing towards me as the runes began to glow intensely. I felt pain that I hadn't realized was there fade, I felt previously undetected discomfort fade. I felt everything.
It stopped after a few long moments of memorization, and I opened my eyes, feeling about a thousand pounds lighter.
"Oh." I whispered, and I realized that I was being stared at.
"Your eyes…they're green again," Anduin breathed, and I waved a mirror into being, small trickles of magic still arcing through my fingertips.
He was right; my eyes were still a deep jade that hummed. I looked…I looked like the before again.
"Does this mean I can go home?" I breathed out in one fast breath, my heart pounding and my eyes quickly dampening, as the mirror faded again.
"Your aura has died down significantly, and you seem to be controlling the channeling well enough…I say yes." Khadgar said, and I nearly fell over, longing and happiness swamping me.
"I want Jaina to look at her before she goes, just to be sure." The King said, and I snarled spitefully, calming only slightly when Anduin wrapped an arm around my shoulders, sending warmth fluttering through me.
"We can no longer use the wards to communicate with her…we will have to use a looking glass." Khadgar said, and I perked.
"There's one in the house, come on."
I focused only for a second, and we were only a few yards from the house. Bandit jumped, barking, but stopped when he saw me, his tongue lolling out as he trotted forward for attention. I kneeled down and gave him the attention he wanted, before focusing back on the Archmage.
He was looking around in a bit of shock, before focusing on me, "Your growing skill continues to astound this old man," He said, before he moved forward to the house.
They moved ahead, but I paused, staring at the house with a conflicting mix of emotion, twitching and focusing on Anduin when he moved to look at me.
"I told you I'd get you home, Princessling," he said, his eyes sparkling with energy and emotion. I could feel his magic softly around him, embracing both of us.
I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug; previously unshed tears finally trickling down my face. Anduin hugged me back immediately, his cheek pressed against the top of my head and hands splayed flat against my back.
"Come on, you have to talk to Jaina." Anduin said after a few long moments, giving me one last comforting squeeze, before pulling away. His fingers laced with mine, and we walked.
We stepped inside the house to see that Khadgar had taken the full length mirror from the bathing chamber and brought it into the main room, to stand beside the crackling fire. Jaina stood in the reflection, her hair rumpled and eyes tired. She had been woken up.
"Well, where is she?" Jaina's voice snapped, and I dropped Anduin's hand, pushing forward until I was in front of the mirror.
"I'm here, Proudmoore."
She studied me critically, eyes raking over me in a way that almost made me uncomfortable. She studied the necklace I had around my neck, and my significantly quieter aura.
"She seems to have stored her magic well enough. Her aura has calmed significantly." She said, before falling into a studying silence again.
We all stared at her for a few long moments, waiting, "Well?" I asked impatiently.
She sighed, looking at me with a calmly conflicted face, "From here, you look perfectly fine, but I can't know for sure until I test you in person myself."
"Then come through and we'll do this now." I said, raising my hand to bring her through, but she shook her head, giving me pause.
"I have responsibilities here in Dalaran…Varian," She looked over my shoulder, and I stepped aside as the king stepped forward, "Do you think she could attend the Winter Ball?"
"The what?" I asked, in confusion, and Teir hushed me, eyes promising to explain later.
"I-Jaina, she's a member of the Horde- "
"Kenlora's pet has been attending with her for years. Why can't Jadearra attend? I will be, and then I can see how she does in a stressful environment." Jaina said, and I looked at Teir, who had the gall to look mildly embarrassed.
"I…I suppose, but who would she-" All eyes went to Anduin, who blushed, "Oh no. Do you have any idea how that would look?"
They launched into a political argument, and Anduin drew me away subtly, only Teir noticing us, as Khadgar and Varian crowded the mirror to argue.
We stood outside, and he drew me up to look him in the eye, "Will you go to the Winter Ball with me?"
My mind screamed with questions, but the emotion that was bursting in his eyes and face, the utterly terrified but hopeful way he was holding himself, persuaded me, "Yes," I breathed.
He smiled warmly, pressing a soft kiss to my lips that lit my nerves on fire, and I smiled into it, basking in it.
He pulled away, and led us back inside.
"She's going." He announced, and all the other humans in the room stopped, staring at us.
Jaina looked triumphant, Khadgar looked pleasantly surprised, and Varian looked pissed.
"Anduin, do you have any idea what that will look like?" He accused, and Anduin nodded, his hand on my back comforting as his thumb moved in slow circles.
"If the prince wants to take her, then there's no harm in it," Khadgar said, and Varian gave him an accusing look, "What? He's a prince, she's a princess. At least they're on the same level."
Why would that matter?
Unless…
My cheeks heated as realization struck me, and I looked to see that Teir was practically biting through her lip to keep her mirth contained, but it shined through icy eyes.
"Fine!"
I jumped, focusing back on the King as he continued; "Anduin takes Jadearra to the ball. Jaina examines her, then she leaves."
Jaina smiled and nodded, Tier grinned, and Anduin's happiness was radiating off of him in waves.
"Very well. I'll see you in three days." With that, Jaina's reflection faded.
Wait-
"Three days?!" I exclaimed, impatience and longing to go home filling my chest.
"Yes, the Winter Ball is in three days-it is our opening ceremony for the celebration."
Varian said, looking sulky, "It is…custom, for the Royal family and their partners to be in Stormwind for days before the event, greeting visiting nobles, and assisting in getting the castle ready." Varian said.
"That's no trouble, we can just spend the next three days in Stormwind." Teir said, and I looked at her, horrified.
"I-What- "
"It burdens me to agree with the elf, but yes. We have no other option than to bring you into Stormwind City."
Early afternoon light spiraled through the windows of the house. Teir, Anduin and I had spent the last night here, and the morning cleaning it. I had taken a bath to clean the last few days of dirt from my hair and skin, and nerves were threatening to strangle me.
"Relax, Jadearra. You'll be fine." Anduin said, though his own nerves were sparking through his aura.
We were dressed in simply elegant clothes. Anduin wore his noblemen cloth armor, complete with tabard and cloak. Teir was dressed in simple plate armor, hair pinned up and excitement humming through her-word had come through that Kenlora and her family had arrived in Stormwind.
I was dressed in Thalassian silk, the reds and golds contrasting beautifully with Anduin's blues and whites. My skin looked like porcelain against the deep reds and brilliantly warm golds. I wore a tabard with my family crest emblazoned across the front.
My quiver was slung over my back, and my belt had knives sheathed. A simple red headband held my hair back. I held my bow so tightly that my knuckles turned white.
"Your nerves are causing the trees to grow, Princessling," Anduin said, and with a start I realized that the trees had grown a bit taller. I reined my magic back in, storing all of it in the necklace that shined around my neck.
"So the plan is that you're teleporting us to the outskirts of the city-you can feel the site pulse, right?" Anduin asked, and I nodded, focusing on the small pulsing that tugged at me.
"A couple of soldiers will be waiting with horses, and from there we'll ride into the city proper-we have to go through the city publicly, before we reach the Keep." Anduin finished, and I nodded, nerves clanging.
I felt nervous enough walking through the Undercity, where life was frowned upon. Walking through the Alliance Capital City? Yeah, I'm terrified.
"Ready?" Teir asked, packs slung over her shoulders.
I nodded, and grabbed onto their hands, closing my eyes and focusing intensely on the pulsing, and a sucking sensation pulled at the back of my head.
When I opened my eyes, we were in a completely different part of the forest, and Anduin looked vaguely ill.
"Easy there, Princeling," I grabbed his shoulders to lend momentary support, and he nodded, taking a moment.
"Your highnesses."
All three of us looked up-holding sway in our courts-and four soldiers were waiting for us. Three were holding the reins of a horse, and the fourth sat atop his steed, a captain's badge shining in the sunlight. They all eyed me suspiciously.
"Hello, Captain. Glad you were prompt," Anduin said, leading our small party forward.
"We assumed that with the rank of your…visitors, it might be best for everyone."
The captain responded, and I nodded coolly at him.
We took our places atop horses, and I stroked the warm, back of my mare. Her fur was a deep mahogany, and her mane was thick and soft. I tangled my fingers there, as the soldier was still holding my reins.
"Are we being led in?" I asked, trying to find a way to sit atop these foreign Creatures-Elvin nobles typically rode Hawkstriders.
"In case something goes wrong, they'll swing up and get us out," Teir said, and I nodded, looking around in curiosity. I smelled bread.
"We're not far from the main road…" the soldier holding my horse paused, looking at me questioningly. He wasn't unattractive, with red hair falling over his face in waves.
"Jadearra," I supplied my name for him, and he nodded, turning his attention back as the captain called out orders.
"Walk!"
The horse began to move under me, startling me as she followed the soldier, and I looked over to see that Anduin was already staring at me, smiling nervously from atop his own horse-a white mare with black spotting.
"Stop making googly eyes at each other, Jade-you'll want to see this," Teir said, and we came onto the main road.
Oh. Azeroth.
White stone paved the road inwards, which turned into a bridge over a great moat. An insanely tall archway with thick wooden doors stood before us, tall and imposing, and statues the height of my spire lined the road.
"Heroes who went to Outland during the second war. Only one has actually returned to us," Anduin said as we passed through the gates. I could feel legions of alliance citizens staring at us in shock, but I didn't care.
"Danath Trollbane," Teir pointed to our right, at the tall, imposing statue of a balding man.
"Kurdrin Wildhammer," Anduin pointed to the dwarf statue at our left, who was holding a stone hammer to the sky, the gold engravings shining brilliantly.
"You'll recognize her," Teir pointed to our right again, and I gasped as I realized that it was a statue of Alleria Windrunner.
"There's Khadgar," Anduin pointed at a tall statue of a mage with a flowing beard, holding his staff skyward.
"Ahead of us is Turalyon, general of the Alliance army in the second war, and second to Anduin Lothar." The captain supplied, and I noted the broken sword that the tall human held. I know that story.
"Horde!"
I jumped, looking around quickly, before I noticed that a human woman was pointing right at me.
Oh yeah.
"Don't focus on them, just smile and wave and be friendly," Anduin said, and I gave him a skeptical look.
"Trust me, you'll be okay."
I sighed, focusing on the beautiful architecture around me, and smiled.
