Chapter 22
The next few weeks were a blur of accusations, arguments, and speculations.
I fell through a portal into Silvermoon, exhaustion, paranoia, and a myriad of other emotions tugging at my senses. I called for a Hawkstrider, and was soon leaving the court.
Within minutes, I reached the dead clearing. Loose dirt puffed up in small clouds as I entered, and I felt my emotions calm as I took a stick from the edge and carved runes into the ground.
"Mist, your lady calls."
The mist filled the clearing immediately, obedient and whispering.
"I call Durotan of the Frostwolves forward."
The silhouette of an orc immediately began to take shape, and within moments the misty shape of Durotan stepped forward.
"Hail, swo'bu," Durotan spoke in harsh Orcish, making the language sound almost tame in death.
"Tell me of Draenor." I spoke the dead tongue, and Durotan's form flickered in surprise.
"Why do you ask?"
"The son of Hellscream has found his way back through time." I said, praying he didn't ask me to Explain-I didn't understand either.
"You need more than me then, swo'bu," Durotan raised his arms, closing his eyes, and hundreds of silhouettes took shape around me, filling the mist and going off into the depths of the wood.
I was Unnerved-I've never seen the dead call people forth that weren't mist speakers themselves.
"They will speak through their Clan Warlords. Choose your words carefully," Durotan spoke, and I looked around in awe-there were no whispers coming from these spirits.
The dead were listening.
"When was Draenor Corrupted?" I called out, hearing my voice echo in this misty place that surely couldn't be the clearing anymore.
For a few moments, the whispers roared, then went silent. Grommash Hellscream spoke.
"I was the first to drink Mannoroth's blood, 35 years before this meeting."
I nodded-35 years, that's seven years before I was even born.
I thought for a long moment, before I realized a good question-a great one.
"Would the clans come together without demon's blood?"
The roar was loud enough that I kneeled down, holding my head as scenes flooded my vision of fighting and blood and gore, and then the silence was deafening for a few moments.
"We were originally brought together against the Draenei. A large enough threat could bring us together." Blackhand spoke, his voice deeper and chilling.
I thought for a moment, and a horrid thought made my stomach clench.
"Would Azeroth be a large enough threat?"
There was no roar, but all warlords spoke in unison, "Yes."
I left the clearing, a hand to my nose where blood trickled-too much Mist.
I mulled over my new information, and meandered my way towards the road again, when a courier raced up astride a Hawkstrider, looking panicked.
"Your ladyship! War Council has been called! You're needed at once!"
He swung down as I swung up in a fluid motion, and I dug my heels in, sending the Hawkstrider running in a blur of colours.
I made it into the court at record time, running into the war room, magic flaring out and throwing the doors open, revealing-Oh Azeroth.
Father stood at the head of the table, Mother's chair covered with a tabard. Halduron, Rommath, and Liadrin were in their places at the table. We were accompanied by Thrall.
"What has happened?" I asked, pulling out my chair with a flick of my hand to stand in front of it, and without permission I pulled all the documents on the table to me.
"Just help yourself, your Ladyship," Rommath muttered, seemingly unimpressed.
"Gladly, Magister-" I shrieked, slamming a hand over my mouth upon the reports.
Dark Portal reopened.
Orcs pouring through.
Not fel tainted.
"Alternate Draenor. The clans…" I whispered, then I looked at Thrall for a hard moment before spitting the fatal question.
"Tell me they're not united. The clans," I whispered, and he took a breath, before nodding.
I felt magic spark around me, and a lightning bolt came down, "Garrosh!"
I reined my rage in quickly, though the smell of electricity hung in the air now, and I was singed.
The room was silent for a moment, before anyone spoke, "Nethergarde needs reinforcements. We need a return invasion team."
I looked up, chest heaving, "I'm going."
Father looked alarmed, "Jadearra-."
"I am going. No one is stopping me," I gave him a look, holding myself at my full height.
"She is made to lead, Lor'Themar." Liadrin said, and I gave her a gratuitous glance.
"She is my last living heir. I nearly lost her after Pandaria. An alternate reality is out of the question- "
"We've had this argument!" I yelled, impatience and rage and a burning desire causing me to snarl.
The room went dead silent as Father looked at me, "You don't speak to your Reagent Lord like that, Jadearra."
"Father. I have to go. I owe it to Thessali and…and to Mother." I said, and he flinched visibly.
"Lor'Themar, we need her to go," Thrall said, "If the clans are at their mightiest in this reality…that's hundreds of thousands of orcs united against us, at the least."
My stomach dropped, thinking of the numbers I saw in the Mist, and Father relented.
"We will vote as a council. Those opposed to Jadearra leading, remain standing."
All but Father remained standing, and I got a sickening sense of deja'vu.
He sighed, running a hand over his face and giving in.
"Collect your party, daughter. Have them come to the Palace tonight. You will leave for the blasted lands at first light."
Something like sorrow and pain played in his voice, and I let my eyes rest on mother's chair, old memories from months ago playing in my ears.
"All those who approve of sending Jadearra Theron, Reagent Princess of Quel' Thalas and Lady of the Mist to spearhead the Expedition, rise." Father remained standing, as Rommath, Myself, Liadrin, and after a moment, Halduron stood. Mother remained seated, nostrils flared and fury floating off of her in sharp waves.
"All opposed, please rise."
We all sat as Mother stood defiantly, her breathing growing shallower and frantic.
"It is settled. Jadearra Theron shall spearhead the expedition."
Here I am, preparing to go off on another expedition. I've come full circle.
But so much has changed.
I was dismissed, and I went off to my chambers, standing in front of my mirror and whispering the spell that Jaina begrudgingly taught me.
An image of Anduin came into being, and I watched him for a moment. He was scribbling furiously on something, mumbling in various tongues. His hair was floppy again, held sloppily by a headband. He wore simple cloth clothes and was sitting barefoot, a cat sat at his feet, pale with deep stripes of black in her fur-he named her Thess.
I missed him so much. I hadn't seen him since the trial.
"Seems exciting."
He jumped out of his skin with spewed curses, papers falling off the desk, and Thess hissed, running to the mirror in curious surprise, he looked up in shock, before his face morphed in a surprised grin. I missed those eyes.
"Jade!" He stood and came to the mirror, scooping up Thess and soothing her with a stroke or seven.
"Are you coming through?" He stood back excitedly, but his face fell somewhat when I shook my head.
"Not tonight Princeling. You've heard the news from Nethergarde, yes?" I asked, and he nodded, his face darkening with a myriad of emotions.
"The portal's opened, and orcs who say they are of the Iron Horde are pouring through with technology that they shouldn't have. Blackfuse's," Anduin said, and I growled low-
Wait, I didn't growl.
I turned, and saw Bandit prowling closer to the mirror, eyes locked on Thess with a snarl in place.
"Bandit, calm," I smiled, stroking his head as he sat by my legs and leaned, eyeing the cat with apprehension.
"Thrall has called me for the return invasion," I said, and Anduin's face took on a thousand expressions at once, and he dropped Thess.
"Bring me through." He said immediately, and I sighed, stepping aside and pressing a hand to the glass.
It rippled and bent, and then Anduin came through, the glass flowing off of him like water and back into the mirror, which resumed its formerly reflective state.
We came together immediately, crushing each other in an effort to make up for lost weeks, and I breathed in the warm, familiar scent of honey and mint.
"You should write to your father. If you are to come with me," I whispered the invitation, and his entire body stiffened at the implication.
"To a…a different planet?" He held me at arm's length, looking into my face with shock and confusion and concern, "On the other side of that portal is a different fucking reality."
"I leave at first light. I am asking Teir and Kenlora to accompany us as well." I said, fear and anxiety making my stomach clench.
I'm very aware of how fucking far away we're going.
"You need to be aware of something, before you say yes." I said, holding his hands tightly as I collected myself, "I have been asked to go…to close the portal."
"Okay, so we go to the blasted lands and back, done," Anduin said, but I shook my head, fear causing my ears to twitch.
"The rift…must be closed from both sides, princeling," I whispered, and he took in a sharp breath, his hands stiffening in my mine.
"So you're saying, there's no guarantee we're coming back from this," Anduin said softly, and I nodded, risking a glance up at his face.
"I'd follow you to the ends of the earth. Princessling. To the ends of any earth." Anduin whispered, and we came together, our lips touching softly.
Hot fire sprung into being, flickering through my body as I wrapped around Anduin, tangling my fingers in his hair and pressing against him.
I pulled away, whispering against his jaw as I took in the warm scent, "Thank you."
He gave me another hug, pressed me against him, before stepping away, "When are we leaving?"
"First light. Write your father," I reprimanded him, and he nodded, going to my desk and sitting, taking out quill and paper and scribbling.
I turned to the mirror again and focused, whispering.
Teir rippled into being, a deep chamber in the depths of Undercity illuminated with warm Darnassian lights. Laughter spilled into the room, and I realized that Kenlora was here as well.
Teir sensed my presence, and looked up into the mirror, inquisitive. I was blushing, because they were in…less than decent conditions, but neither seemed to mind.
"Do you need something, kid?" Teir asked, tying her blue hair up on top of her head, as Kenlora looked at me curiously from over her shoulder.
"Have you heard the news of Nethergarde or were you…busy," I ended lamely, and Kenlora snorted.
"So bashful, little one. Yes, we've heard of the new portal and this new Iron Horde. Why?" They thankfully began to dress themselves, quickly slipping into cloth clothes.
"I am being sent on the return invasion. I need you with me," I said, and Teir's face contorted into a myriad of thoughts all at once as the bond opened, and she learned everything.
Shock, Horror, Anger, Fear.
"They're sending you to die!" Teir exclaimed, "And even if you don't, you'd be-" She slammed a hand over her mouth, eyes burning and emotions bouncing up and down in the bond.
Kenlora put two fingers to Teir's temple, and all at once she was enlightened as well.
"Azeroth would be spared another war." Kenlora said, and I nodded, Teir's anxiety mixing with my own.
"If we go-would we ever come home?" Teir asked, her voice rising somewhat.
"I don't know," I confessed, and I heard the scratching of Anduin's quill stop, and knew he was listening.
"But you don't want to die alone." Kenlora said, and I knew this was the truth.
I was very selfish in this-if I am to spend the rest of my days trapped in an alternate reality, then those numbered days will not be spent alone.
"I will go."
Teir startled me, and I think the revelation startled her as well, but she held my gaze, "We're bound together. You will not be alone on Draenor."
Kenlora looked conflicted, before she sighed, a hand going through deep green hair as silvery eyes softened, "I will go as well."
I took in a breath of relief, and they came through, Kenlora bending low to fit through the passage.
"Write your parents, and Sylvanas. We leave at first light," I said, and they took parchment from my desk, taking to the balcony for privacy.
I sat down hard on my bed, thinking of what I will need to bring-every bloody arrow in the Palace, every dagger that fits my sheaths, full leather-or mail? -armor-
"Stop panicking or I'm going to get shot."
I looked up to realize that arrows peppered the walls around me, daggers we on the ground, and armor was strewn across my bed.
"Oops." I said, and Anduin smiled, and he began to dislodge arrows from the walls while I found a pack, and in minutes I had a pack filled with all that I needed, the royal bow beside it and a quiver chock full of arrows.
Kenlora and Teir came in, looking tired but determined, "I am going to Undercity to retrieve my things. Kenlora will take the portals to Darnassus and Stormwind, so that you're not left alone. See you before first light."
They left the room, and we were alone.
I looked to Anduin, and I think my fear showed through because he pulled me to him, lowering us to the now empty bed and curling around me, kissing my forehead as his fingers trailed up and down my back.
"It'll be alright, Princessling," He whispered softly, and I sighed into him, resolving to sleep.
I curled into him, basking in the warmth, and relaxed to the sound of his heart beat.
As I drifted into sleep's embrace, Mother's visage swam into my vision.
"Goodbye, Daughter."
