Iyvee and Vaspien were coming. And she might never have known if Arthas hadn't complained about the damn bullheaded mage and the fellow warlock who served with the Argent and with Sylvanas. There were only two that would ever dare... if they'd known she was here. There was no way they could have known she'd sacrificed life and limb to gain entrance into the citadel. Not unless he'd harassed them somehow.
He'd had her believing that no one gave a shit for her. No one would ever care enough to look for her. At the time she'd first arrived, Valari hadn't needed a source to tell her that nobody cared. Vaspien was long gone. Iyvee just never seemed to be around anymore, though she did send the occasional letter.
So when Arthas came in to see her; to check in on her as it were, Valari was less than the usual 'thrilled' she was so often. She gritted her teeth and pointed at him with an accusatory finger.
"You said you'd leave them alone!"
For the first time in months she felt warm. On fire even. Her temper hadn't flared so high in so long, it had almost lost its familiarity. She rounded on her captor, burning from within with a fiery vengeance. She must have truly impressed him, for his brows shot up, just before his features schooled into a vicious frown.
"Take care of your temper, Valari. It is running away with you."
She ignored the not so veiled threat, the heat of her emotions stoking her to be bold. She stormed toward him. If only she knew just how powerful she looked in the moment, her hair billowing behind her like a curtain of flames, her fel-green eyes sparking with power. Her fragile frame no longer looked weak, but merely a thin veil between reality and the consuming flames within.
"I agreed to remain here, without resistance, if you would only leave them alone. You go back on your word, so I owe you nothing."
They were face to face, her breath turning into mist as it brushed his chin. "You think you can escape?"
"I'll do whatever I must. I'll force you to kill me, which you seem so loath to do."
"You think to thwart me so easily. I hold a piece of your soul, Valari."
"I don't care. You went back on your word, our bargain is void."
She expected pain, agony. She expected retribution. But what came truly rattled her. He turned away from her. She watched him pace to the lone window, and as the silence dragged on, she found it more and more difficult to hold on to that raging anger
"Trust," he said after a long pause. "Is a tenuous thing, is it not, my dear? I acknowledge I broke our...pact."
"You...do?" Valari couldn't help but feel like the rug was going to pulled out from under her any moment.
"In recompense, I will grant you one boon." He turned from the window and strode toward her. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you there are certain things I won't grant. Nor should I have to caution you not to waste it." He stood before her again, lifting her chin with a finger. His features were schooled into a concerned expression. "You are pale, sweet. I will have something sent up for you, and more wood for the fire."
She felt the tension melt out of her, her shoulders sag. She nodded and muttered a thank you. He pressed his iced lips to her forehead, making her shudder. Then he smiled at her, and left her alone in the room, comfortably assuming he'd been forgiven. But he hadn't realized that her downcast eyes had not been out of submission, but to hide the spark that still remained within.
Later, the food was sent up—some sort of mutton with some winter squash on the side and some heavy wine. Valari's appetite was less than agreeing at the moment. More wood was laid on the fire and more stacked tall next to it. It was clear that Arthas meant to keep her here and Valari wasn't content on leaving anytime soon.
At least… not yet.
((AN: Eventide, who has served as inspiration many times over and who, for some reason, finds inspiration in my drivel has contributed her talent to this chapter. She's wonderful and I hereby knight her as my co-conspirator in this story. ;) Thanks a million for your inspiration, being an awesome friend, and being the Best. Beta. Evar.))