Atrocities

Part 2: Undercity, Section 2

Summary: An unusually harebrained plot of Garrosh Hellscream's involves Sylvanas in a way she had never expected possible. After all, what could the Horde gain by abducting Jaina Proudmoore? Disclaimer: Characters, settings, etc. are the property of Blizzard Entertainment.

Pairings: Sylvanas/Jaina

Author's Notes: Just because I'm asexual doesn't mean I can't tell when my favorite characters deserve a good lay.

Jaina woke feeling sore and immersed in a vague sense of fear. A rim of something like a pot or goblet was pressed to her mouth; a hot, soothing, spicy liquid touched her lips and she began to drink instinctively. The warm drink went down smoothly, and Jaina couldn't identify what it was or why it was so calming, but she felt immediately comforted.

"Go ahead, my darling. Drink up."

Jaina obeyed the tender voice, continuing to sip whatever it was that she was being fed, until she recognized who the voice was coming from. She whined in protest, but Sylvanas caressed her cheek softly and spoke again. "Don't be afraid. It's mulled cloudberry cider."

"It's laced with something, isn't it?" Jaina mumbled, forcing her eyes open.

"Technically, you're right."

Jaina clumsily pushed the sheet covering her body down to look at herself, then pulled aside the gown Sylvanas had given her (and in which she had apparently re-dressed her). The bite marks on her breasts were healing. "Oh…healing potion."

"Yes."

Jaina wanted to rail at Sylvanas for hurting her, for breaking her promise, but she was too damn tired and in too much pain, so she kept drinking. Sylvanas tilted the chalice carefully so Jaina could drink slowly, even supporting the cup when Jaina tried to hold it with her trembling hands. Eventually the cup ran dry and, except for a slight twinge in her ear, Jaina felt infinitely better.

"I should not have become violent. When I brought you here, it was not my intention to hurt you."

Jaina would have retorted, but Sylvanas sounded genuinely sorrowful, almost as if she had been crying. Jaina could not say "It's all right", because what Sylvanas had done to her was not all right, so she said nothing. Sylvanas continued, as if she hadn't noticed or cared that Jaina had been silent. "Of course you would want to believe Arthas still loved you even after he became the Lich King." Unexpectedly, she reached out and squeezed Jaina's shoulder, and when she spoke again, her voice was intense and very quiet. "And of course you could not understand how completely assured I was that Arthas became completely evil." She smiled bitterly. "If you did, perhaps you might have known that if you wanted me to leave you alone, all you had to do was tell me you no longer wanted me in your bed. I would have had no choice but to listen."

Jaina remembered Sylvanas spitting at Hellscream that there were levels to which she refused to sink so as to not lower herself to the Lich King's level and something clicked in her mind. "Sylvanas? Did…did Arthas rape you?"

For a moment, Sylvanas froze, her face so blank Jaina was concerned Sylvanas' soul might have evacuated her body. She thought her question was going to be ignored when Sylvanas finally spoke: "I would say that I prefer not to answer. But of course, you are bright enough to know that means yes." Sylvanas closed her eyes in agony. "So…yes. I lost count of how many times…to say…yes."

Jaina was aware that Sylvanas' public image was one of cold impassivity; it unnerved her that she might be about to see the Banshee Queen cry. She turned away, ashamed of the possibility of witnessing such a moment of vulnerability for Sylvanas, but she couldn't help her thoughts turning to Arthas. She remembered his bright eyes looking at her with kindness and affection, his lips against hers, kissing her gently…those images could not be reconciled with the thought of him as a rapist. She had seen the carnage his Scourge had left, she knew he had killed countless people…but imagining him actually doing such horrible things to Sylvanas…

Jaina flashed back to the heavy hands (and claws) of the various Horde leaders pinning her down to shackle her wrists and ankles, tearing off her clothing like a hunter ripping skin from a rabbit. She lay there in darkness, shaking and hapless and terrified, and suddenly instead of herself chained and naked, it was Sylvanas, and Arthas was standing over her…

Jaina let out a sob. "No…"

Sylvanas had been immersed in her terrible reminiscence, but Jaina's cry got her attention. "Jaina?"

Jaina covered her face, beginning to weep. "Arthas…he never would have…never would have done that…"

"Jaina…" Sylvanas began wearily, but Jaina cut her off.

"Of course…of course you would say there was nothing left of him…because you were right…oh, gods…"

Sylvanas reached for the mage, gently brushing strands of pale brown hair back from her face.

"I can scarcely believe it," Jaina gasped. "He…he truly had descended into darkness…why didn't I do something?"

"What are you talking about?"

Jaina shook her head. "I loved him…why didn't I try to lead him back to the path of light? Maybe…maybe there was something I could have said…"

"Don't think like that," said Sylvanas sternly. She happened to be sitting cross-legged, and Jaina crawled into her lap, resting her head on Sylvanas' shoulder. "No one person can be responsible for the destiny of another. There was nothing you could have done."

"How do you know?" Jaina sobbed.

"If a person becomes as corrupted as Arthas, an army couldn't have stopped it. Certainly not one person. Even a loved one." Sylvanas ran her palm up and down Jaina's spine. It had been a long, long, time since she had had to comfort someone, but she still remembered what to do.

"This is so foolish," Jaina mumbled. "You were the one he tortured. And I'm the one crying."

"I shed my tears over what Arthas did to me long ago," Sylvanas soothed. "Don't feel ashamed. If you keep those feelings locked up, they will poison you."

"But I…"

"Stop blaming yourself. You've done nothing wrong." Sylvanas returned to her caresses on Jaina's hair. "Go ahead and cry, my darling. It's all right."

Jaina clung to Sylvanas and wept and wept until her tears ran dry, and when she emerged from her fog of sadness, Sylvanas was still there holding her. "Sylvanas?" she whispered.

"Mm?"

"I'm sorry I…I was wrong."

Sylvanas kissed the top of her head. "I will accept your apology if you accept mine for turning violent."

"I accept. If I were you, I'd have done the same." Jaina choked back another whimper. "Oh, gods, why are my eyes imitating waterfalls?"

Sylvanas tightened her arms around Jaina instead of replying verbally. Jaina stayed where she was, head tucked under Sylvanas' chin, for a while, despite the fact that the potion Sylvanas had drunk to feel warm had worn off and Jaina could feel how cold her undead body was. "Sylvanas?"

"Yes, Neph'a?"

"Thank you."

Sylvanas rocked Jaina back and forth slowly. "You are welcome. I'm sure you were happier believing there was something of Arthas left in the Lich King, but you deserve better than delusions."

Jaina realized something. "What…what did you just call me?"

"Oh—that was Thalassian. 'Neph'a'; it means 'beauty'. It's often used as a pet name."

"Don't you usually speak Common or Gutterspeak now?" Jaina wondered aloud.

"Of course. But Thalassian lends itself better than Gutterspeak to affectionate epithets."

Jaina smiled. "Say it again?"

"Neph'a."

"I like that." Jaina sighed. "I like that you find me beautiful. I've always been seen as 'pretty enough', or just 'cute'…but not ever 'beautiful.'" Jaina tried to sit up a bit. "Oh…I've cried all over your gown."

"I can change into something else." Sylvanas guided Jaina back onto the mattress and got up. Jaina had been planning to look away out of politeness when she undressed, but somehow that didn't happen. Sylvanas retrieved another dress, more simplistic in style and pattern than the one she had previously been wearing, and pulled the gown Jaina had cried onto over her head without preamble. Jaina had to place a hand over her mouth to stifle the little moan that fled her lips; Sylvanas had unfastened her gown once before, back in Orgrimmar, but Jaina hadn't exactly been paying attention. Now Sylvanas was standing only a few feet away from her, completely bare but for her thigh-length cloth stockings.

Jaina could not tear her eyes away. Despite the violent way she had been killed, Sylvanas' skin was a delicate, unbroken pale blue all over, without any scars. As Jaina had noticed earlier, Sylvanas had the body of a warrior, her legs lean and powerful, the muscles of her arms, shoulders, and abdomen sharply defined. She was mingled strength and softness, all dramatic curves and hard muscles. Jaina imagined tracing Sylvanas' tiny waist and broad hips with her hands, covering her ample breasts with kisses…

"Do you…do you have any more of that potion you drank to make you feel warm?" Jaina quavered.

Sylvanas looked up her curiously. "I do, but I see no need, as I was planning to find somewhere for you to board for the night…" Sylvanas trailed off when she noticed the way Jaina was looking at her. "Staring" might have been a more accurate word than "looking", really.

"You're so beautiful," Jaina whispered.

Sylvanas raised her long eyebrows perhaps half a centimeter. "I do believe you mean that."

Jaina reached out her arms to Sylvanas; Sylvanas stood still, regarding Jaina with a vaguely befuddled look on her face, for a moment, but then stepped close and let Jaina embrace her tightly. Sylvanas was cold, she was freezing, but Jaina clung to her anyway. "So…will you make good on that promise?"

Sylvanas brushed one hand over Jaina's hair. Her reply was hesitant because she could feel, actually feel, Jaina's hands gliding shyly up and down her back. "I broke my promise to not harm you. Which promise are you referring to now?"

"You never actually promised not to hurt me," Jaina demurred. "I was referring to the promise you issued when…well, you bit my breast, actually."

Sylvanas was quiet for a moment. "I do not quite remember what I said."

"That…that you could make me scream…?" Jaina felt her cheeks grow hot and thought bitterly that she would be immensely rich of she had a copper for every time she blushed.

"Ah." Sylvanas stepped back from Jaina's embrace to lift her chin up with one hand. "You did not seem to care much for pain, so I'll have to resort to making you scream with pleasure."

Jaina shivered. "I wouldn't…I wouldn't mind if you bit me again as long as it wasn't as hard. And maybe not on my chest."

"I can be gentle."

"I know you can." Jaina smiled tremulously.

"You still look concerned." Sylvanas softened her voice. "You still don't trust me? I wouldn't blame you…"

"Same as before." Jaina hung her head in shame. "I…I still don't know if I can please you."

"This again?" Sylvanas sighed and sat down on the bed beside Jaina. "Do you really think that when I brought you here, I thought even for a fraction of a second I expected anything that passed between us to be mutual?"

Jaina leaned over to rest her head on Sylvanas' shoulder, but Sylvanas was longer in the torso than Jaina, so her cheek ended up against Sylvanas' upper arm. "Why? Isn't it obvious that I find you attractive?"

"I know you find me attractive. But despite the fact that my body was reconstructed extremely well—you have that worm Arthas to thank for that…" Sylvanas clenched her teeth angrily for a moment; Jaina sat up and kissed her cheek. "…I am still a creature of undeath, and you are alive. You have surely been taught to fear and detest undead all your life."

"I don't mind. Really, I don't." Jaina found herself thinking of the fact that despite all they'd done, Sylvanas had never deep kissed her. Was that because Sylvanas was still a bit concerned about Jaina's reaction to being intimate with an undead? She wouldn't mind Sylvanas' tongue inside her mouth. Really, there were a few things of Sylvanas' that she wouldn't mind being inside her…Jaina caught herself paying undue attention to Sylvanas' long, tapered fingers and pressed her face to Sylvanas' arm again, ashamed of her own desires. She'd never been with anyone who aroused her so powerfully, certainly not by being casually naked during a simple change of clothes. "Please, Sylvanas? I came so close to peaking before…I want to know what it feels like…"

"Wait, you mean to say you've never reached sensual climax?"

Jaina shook her head.

"And you've never slept with a woman before, yes?"

Jaina shook her head again.

"Men." Sylvanas' voice dripped with revulsion. "It seems I have a job to do."

Jaina flushed darkly once more and felt like cursing her own face for being so easy to read. "I'm sure you'll do it admirably."

Sylvanas took Jaina's chin in one hand and kissed her. It was a soft kiss, not meant to arouse passion. "Shall I make a truly grand romantic gesture and offer you a glass of wine?"

"A glass of wine would be nice."

Sylvanas retrieved her fallen dress from the floor and, much to Jaina's disappointment, slipped it onto her shoulders and did up the tie. "I will return shortly." Sylvanas walked out.

Jaina lay down, trying not to think about the various things she wanted to ask Sylvanas to do for her. Sylvanas, true to her word, was back within a few minutes, a bottle of wine swinging from one hand. A Forsaken servant followed her, carrying two wine glasses. Sylvanas set the bottle down on the bedside table, then took the two bottles from the servant, who proceeded to swiftly uncork the bottle—not with any instrument, Jaina noticed, but with his clawed hands. He bowed to both Sylvanas and Jaina, then hustled away. After he was gone, Sylvanas poured both herself and Jaina half a glass of the wine. "This is Suntouched Special Reserve. Nothing too special, until one realizes it's from the year 23." Sylvanas lifted one of the glasses to her nose and inhaled deeply.

"What is so special about the year 23?"

"They still aren't completely sure." Elegantly, Sylvanas took a sip of the wine and then handed the other glass to Jaina. "Some unusual ingredients got into the soil…nothing harmful, but it resulted in an interesting bite. Some love it; some hate it. Either way, sommeliers everywhere would give their left arms to get a bottle of this, and the vineyard keepers used to go mad trying to reproduce it. Go ahead—try a sip."

Jaina did. "I like it."

Sylvanas propped a pillow against the headboard and sat with her back against it, leisurely sipping her wine. "I hadn't opened it before because it isn't nearly as strong as my usual fare. I figured this was as good an occasion as any."

Somehow the implication that Sylvanas was a heavy drinker didn't surprise Jaina. The wine was delicious and meant to be savored, but Jaina gulped it down quickly so she could lay her head down in Sylvanas' lap. She closed her eyes, hoping Sylvanas would finish her wine soon so they could get back to kissing already.

Sylvanas, sensing that Jaina was a bit antsy, placed her glass on the bedside table and leaned over to kiss her. Jaina reached up to undo the tie of Sylvanas' gown, pulling the cloth aside to press her palms flat against the cool skin, which was surprisingly soft and delicate to the touch. Jaina moaned lightly into Sylvanas' mouth.

Sylvanas misinterpreted the little sound and pulled away. "Ah, right…" She got up and dug through her things to find another flagon of the warmth potion. She downed it in three swallows and climbed back onto the bed with Jaina, who wrapped her arms around Sylvanas' waist and covered her neck with kisses, sighing as Sylvanas' skin grew warm against her lips.

"Are you comfortable, Jaina?"

"Mmm." Jaina nuzzled Sylvanas' collarbones. "Very."

"Will you undress for me, then?"

Jaina sighed. "I still…I don't…"

"Someone so beautiful shouldn't feel so insecure. What is it about your body that you're so insecure about?"

Jaina bit her lower lip. "My legs, mostly. And, well…my backside. It's not as if mages exercise frequently."

Sylvanas untied the cloth rope holding Jaina's robe closed and slipped it from her shoulders. "You're perfect." She paused. "You can tell me if anything I do troubles you. I don't want you to be afraid of me anymore."

"I'm not afraid." Jaina playfully bit the base of Sylvanas' neck and felt the undead woman issue a low chuckle.

"Well, all right…" Sylvanas took tight hold of Jaina's hips and flipped her onto her back, covering her mouth with kisses.

After that, Jaina's mind became a haze of bliss. When Sylvanas was satisfied with her exploration of Jaina's mouth, she continued with those exquisite, tiny bite-kisses (much lighter this time) down the mage's neck, her palms caressing Jaina's waist, sliding tantalizingly up and down her ribs but never touching her breasts. "Sylvanas…"

"What is it?" Sylvanas let the tip of her tongue brush against the pulse point in Jaina's neck.

"Please…" Jaina whined. With any of her other lovers, she had always been too modest to vocalize what she wanted with anything but noises.

"Talk to me, Neph'a." Sylvanas' voice was soothing. "Tell me what you want."

Maybe it was the nickname, but Jaina found herself able to talk. "M-my breasts…please, please…"

Sylvanas responded warmly, cradling both of Jaina's full breasts in her hands. Jaina whimpered. "Oooh…that feels amazing…"

Sylvanas left a trail of kisses from Jaina's clavicles to her right breast, exchanging one hand for her lips, the hand reaching up to stroke Jaina's neck. Jaina squealed out loud, arching her back to force the tip of her breast deeper into Sylvanas' mouth. The sensation shot straight to her groin, a warm, throbbing desire curling below her belly. She struggled to wrap her legs around Sylvanas' waist, pressing the burning ache against Sylvanas' hard abdomen. The only sounds she could make were desperate cries.

"You're lovely, Jaina," Sylvanas murmured against Jaina's soft flesh.

"That feels lovely," Jaina panted.

Sylvanas persisted in her affections, suckling at Jaina's breast and teasing the other nipple with her fingertips, until Jaina thought she couldn't stand it anymore, but then Sylvanas began kissing her way down Jaina's belly—Jaina uncrossed her ankles from behind Sylvanas' back—until she reached the junction of her legs. Jaina was expecting Sylvanas to plunge into her like a man, but instead, Sylvanas hooked Jaina's legs over her shoulders and covered her inner thighs with kisses. There was no more biting, only her soft lips. When she landed a kiss directly on the little fold of flesh covering Jaina's bundle of pleasure-giving nerves, Jaina found her words again, though her voice was thin and half an octave higher than usual. "Sylvanas? What are you doing?"

Sylvanas sat up halfway, one hand lightly brushing against the place she had just kissed. "You've never had your satin kissed?"

"I've…I've heard that expression, but…no. No one's ever done it for me."

"In Thalassian, we say shanre nor'no; 'honey tasting.' You don't want to know the Gutterspeak phrase."

Jaina laughed softly as Sylvanas dipped her head, her lips and tongue beginning the most incredible work between Jaina's legs, her hands continuing to rhythmically brush over the human woman's nipples. Jaina's hips rocked involuntarily, pressure building hotly inside of her, and she found herself thinking that the men she'd been with had all been so rough and clumsy in comparison to the careful, calculated, perfectly placed strokes of Sylvanas' tongue. Jaina was close, she was almost there, but she wanted something more.

"Sylvanas, please, I want to hold you!" Her hands buried in Sylvanas' hair weren't enough. Jaina needed to cling to her lovers.

Sylvanas sat up, quickly moving one hand to caress Jaina's most intimate places so her arousal wouldn't ebb away from lack of stimulation. "There is a way…"

"Do it. Please."

Sylvanas nodded. "It's all right if you don't reciprocate." She lay down with her head beside Jaina's hips, wrapping her arms around the mage's waist and pulling her onto her stomach, so Sylvanas' mouth was in the right position to continue pleasuring Jaina.

"I think I understand," Jaina whispered, maneuvering herself so her head was also cradled between Sylvanas' thighs. She closed her eyes for a moment to savor the sensation of Sylvanas' breasts pressed to the sensitive skin of her lower belly, but soon began to whimper when she felt Sylvanas' expert tongue somewhere much more sensitive. "Mmmm…so good…" Jaina laid her head down on Sylvanas' hip, the wonderful sensations of warmth and tension swelling inside her again. But why did Sylvanas not expect her to reciprocate? Was it because Jaina had done exactly nothing for Sylvanas and direct stimulation to her most intimate places would be unpleasant? Jaina's mind swam with delight and she couldn't think any farther, so she dropped her head to trail kisses up and down Sylvanas' inner thighs the way the Forsaken woman had done for her. It would be easy, so easy, to dip her head down straight and bury herself nose-deep in Sylvanas' body…was that why the Dark Lady had allowed her to be on top? She had her answer half a second later; Sylvanas began stroking and massaging her thighs and her backside, the parts of Jaina's body she had admitted to not liking. "Sylvanas…" Jaina moaned, and wrapped in that one word were countless feelings: gratitude, admiration, surprise, wonder. Overwhelmed and aching to show her thanks, Jaina moved her kisses to Sylvanas' delicate woman's flesh. But she could barely focus on that task because oh what Sylvanas was doing felt amazing…

A strong shuddering sensation stirred deep within Jaina, and she gave a cry that was almost a scream. "Ohhh, Sylvanas, you're making me peak…!"

Something new—Sylvanas' mouth pressed tightly against her, almost as if she were making a seal. A sharp vibration, tight in wavelength, starting in her core, traveling, radiating through her, carrying her through wave after wave of indescribable ecstasy. Jaina's throat released a wordless, ragged cry as her entire body shuddered almost uncontrollably.

It was almost as if she blacked out for a moment; one second she was experiencing the most extraordinary sensations of her life, and the next she was lying on her back, exhausted and immensely satisfied, her head cradled in Sylvanas' lap. "Sylvanas…?" Jaina whispered.

"I'm here." The callused hands sifted through her hair, brushed away a tiny droplet falling from Jaina's temple. "Ah, sweat…I remember…"

Jaina was either too tired or too content to move, so Sylvanas picked up the corner of a sheet and dabbed the sweat away from Jaina's face, neck and chest.

"Sylvanas?" Jaina asked drowsily.

"Yes?"

"What you did, at the end…was that…?"

"A modified banshee scream, yes. Only the frequencies that you could not hear, of course." A smile stretched her lips. "I've always wanted to try that."

Jaina let out a girlish giggle. "It worked beautifully."

Sylvanas reached over to the bedside table for her unfinished glass of wine. "Here—if you want to rinse your mouth."

Jaina looked up at Sylvanas, puzzled. "Why would I want to do that?"

Sylvanas raised her eyebrows. "Because you somehow mustered the courage to kiss an undead between her legs?"

"You keep saying things like that," Jaina sighed. "I wish you'd stop talking about yourself as if being undead makes you somehow repulsive."

"Most living creatures find undead repulsive, morally if not aesthetically. A small number somehow manage to disparagingly fetishize us. A sort of 'I admire how you wear your undeath' with a lecherous smile fit to make even Forsaken skin crawl."

"I wasn't thinking about whether or not you were undead or alive," Jaina protested. "I was just thinking that I wanted to do the same thing you were doing for me. I'll take a sip of wine, but only because it's delicious." Jaina sat up and drank slowly from the glass, then replaced it on the night table when she was finished. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I do not mean this in an offensive way, but giving a woman pleasure can be very difficult; even more so if she has diminished sensitivity. And you do not have experience."

Jaina nodded miserably.

"Stop looking guilty," Sylvanas admonished. "It isn't your fault."

"You have such a beautiful body. I want to kiss you all over…"

"Oh, you can still do that." Sylvanas pulled Jaina into her lap. The human woman immediately laid her head down on Sylvanas' shoulder, nuzzling the long, graceful neck with her nose, shyly leaving kisses on the smooth skin. "That's my good girl," Sylvanas whispered.

"Sylvanas? Could you please lie down?"

Sylvanas obliged; Jaina draped herself over the Forsaken queen's body, feeling like the luckiest woman on Azeroth. She traced Sylvanas' collarbones with a brush of her lips, then soft kisses. She had never played an active role in intimacy, and found herself praying that she was doing it right. Her hands had ended up on Sylvanas' hips and she began hesitantly tracing the lines from waist to hip bone. Alive or undead, Sylvanas had beautiful muscle tone. "Are you enjoying any of this?"

"Jaina, did you in all seriousness just ask me if I'm enjoying being kissed by a beautiful woman?"

Jaina flushed lightly. "I suppose I was worried you might not feel it."

"What you're doing feels quite nice."

After a short time, Jaina had covered Sylvanas' entire upper chest with kisses. She hesitated, but desire won out over bashfulness and she lowered her head to the elven woman's breasts. Sylvanas helpfully pushed her hands through Jaina's hair and interlocked her fingers, keeping the hair from falling down and getting in Jaina's way. Jaina was grateful for that; she hadn't expected kissing could be so bloody difficult. Sylvanas' soft flesh felt wonderful under the touch of her lips, but with her face so close to the other woman's body, Jaina couldn't properly see, and she felt blind and clumsy. She fumbled slightly trying to get Sylvanas' nipple into her mouth, but her shame was relieved whenshe heard Sylvanas sigh with pleasure, or at least contentment. Encouraged, and loving the sensation of the sweet flesh in her mouth, Jaina began to repeatedly kiss the tip of Sylvanas' breast.

"Noble attempt, my darling," Sylvanas breathed.

"Does that feel good?"

"More."

To Jaina's dismay, she had to sit up and re-situate herself to place her mouth on her lover's nipple again, but this time she dispensed with the kisses and suckled hungrily. She took a second to slide one hand up Sylvanas' ribs to cup her other breast, trying to coordinate the movements of her hand and her mouth. Once she had the hang of it, it was immensely enjoyable. How had she never tried this before?

But something was wrong. Jaina remembered that when Sylvanas had worked her breasts, her nipples had grown hard with arousal. But try as she might, she could not get Sylvanas' body to respond the same way.

"Sylvanas, I'm sorry…I can't…" Jaina felt unshed tears burning the backs of her eyes.

"No need to apologize," Sylvanas soothed. "It just takes us undead women a bit longer. Keep going. What you're doing feels lovely."

So Jaina obeyed, continuing to knead and stroke and suckle, forcing herself to let her teeth brush the fragile flesh, to pinch and squeeze; if Sylvanas were still alive, she would have felt pain (or at least more of it), but being undead, she might enjoy it…

"Mmm…Jaina…" Sylvanas' voice was deep and husky. The sound caused a stirring in Jaina's groin. Was she so attracted to Sylvanas that just her voice was arousing? "That's my good girl."

Jaina liked being called that; it sent a rush of heat through her, a sensation that settled on her heart and between her legs. At this rate, she would have to ask Sylvanas to pleasure her yet again before she got to making love to Sylvanas. Perhaps she could stimulate herself and Sylvanas at the same time, but she'd never had as much…success…trying to pleasure herself as Sylvanas had had that one night. Not to mention Jaina wasn't sure she had the coordination. She was barely managing to play with both of her lover's breasts as it was.

With a low moan, Sylvanas sat up. (Jaina felt her core begin to throb achingly.) "I have an idea." She cradled Jaina's face in both hands. "Will you allow me to restrain you slightly? Perhaps just at your wrists?"

"I would allow it…but what can I do for you, then?"

"You'll have to trust me." Sylvanas' ruby eyes glistened.

Jaina nodded. "But you may have to attend to my desires before I can do the same, at this rate." She smiled tremulously.

"Oh, I think you'll enjoy this." Sylvanas kissed Jaina between her eyes. "Lie down. Make sure you are comfortable."

Jaina lay on her back with her head on one of the pillows. Sylvanas quickly dove into a drawer in the bedside table and retrieved two lengths of pale blue rope. "It's silk." She trailed one of the pieces over Jaina's chest. It was really more like a ribbon, Jaina noticed, than rope. "It shouldn't chafe."

Jaina wondered if, with her long elven ears, Sylvanas could hear how hard her heart was pounding.

"Would you put your arms above your head for me?" Sylvanas' voice was heady and seductive. Jaina could only nod in response to that voice, and when she had processed the request, she obeyed. "I'm going to tie your wrists to the headboard," Sylvanas whispered.

"Mmm," was all Jaina could say.

Sylvanas swiftly looped the ribbons around Jaina's wrists and tied each one in a secure but comfortable and slightly loose cuff, then tightly knotted the other ends to the decorative knobs on the headboard. "Will you struggle for me?"

Jaina pulled at her restraints, but only lightly; why on Azeroth would she want to get free?

"You can do better than that," Sylvanas chided with a tiny smirk. She leaned over to kiss the swell of Jaina's hip, sinking her sharp teeth into the soft flesh without warning. Jaina let out a squeal of surprise and pleasure, straining against the ribbons as she tried to reach for Sylvanas. "That's my girl," Sylvanas crooned.

"Am I a good girl, Sylvanas?" Jaina panted.

"You like being called that?"

"Oh, yes…"

"I like the way you struggle." Sylvanas stroked the bite mark she had felt on Jaina's hip. "Will you show me more?"

Jaina nodded.

Watching Jaina hungrily, Sylvanas lightly raked her nails down her lover's inner thighs. Jaina moaned, struggling to press her hips harder against Sylvanas' touch, her wrists yanking on the ribbons so hard her skin began reddening.

"Easy, my darling. You'll dislocate something."

"Please…please say it…" Jaina whimpered.

Sylvanas leaned over to nip lightly at Jaina's earlobe. "You're my good girl, Jaina."

Jaina tugged at her restraints again. It was frustrating, not being able to put her hands on Sylvanas, but oh it was exciting… "Gods, Sylvanas, you make me wild…but…but how…?"

"I know you want to please me," Sylvanas soothed. "Rest assured…I love watching a beautiful woman struggling helplessly. In pleasure, of course."

"Then let me touch you," Jaina gasped.

"Oh, I have another idea. I think you'll enjoy it." Sylvanas shifted her weight, arranging hers and Jaina's legs so she had one thigh beneath her lover's and the other draped over Jaina's quivering thigh.

"Is this like before?" Jaina whispered. She had loved what Sylvanas had done with her stocking-clad thigh, but that hadn't offered Sylvanas any stimulation.

"No, Neph'a, this is a little different." Sylvanas shifted a few inches forward to press herself against the join of Jaina's legs.

A long shudder ran through Jaina's body. "Ohhh, I think I'm going to like this!"

"I hope so." Sylvanas lightly stroked Jaina's hips.

"Make love to me," Jaina begged softly.

Sylvanas began to rock gently, slow, rhythmic strokes repeatedly striking Jaina in just the place to make the mage whimper and gasp. She pulled at the ribbons around her wrists, clenching her hands into fists and releasing as if wishing she could hold on to Sylvanas. As Sylvanas' pace slowly increased, Jaina began to struggle to press herself tighter against her undead mistress, trying to match the thrust and roll of Sylvanas' hips. Vaguely remembering that she was supposed to do something to please Sylvanas, Jaina whispered, "Am I doing it right?"

"All you have to do is lie there and be perfect and lovely," Sylvanas cooed, her speech interrupted by light moans.

Jaina laid her head back, her desperate moans escalating into screams. Sylvanas' soft tongue had worked wonders on her woman's flesh, and maybe it was because she was getting to watch pleasure slowly take over Sylvanas' expression and hear her rough breaths and little stifled cries, but never had she felt every nerve in her body become a live wire singing with ecstasy in such a way.

"Ohhhh, Sylvanas…!"

"That's right, my sweet," Sylvanas panted. "Cry out for me."

Jaina didn't particularly have a choice. Her body shook wildly with the most exquisite sensations, grinding hungrily against Sylvanas completely of its own volition. "More! Harder!"

"I don't…want to…hurt you," Sylvanas groaned through clenched teeth.

"Please! Harder!"

One of Jaina's legs had crept up to wrap around Sylvanas' waist; Sylvanas took hold of that one knee and extended the mage's leg in the air, covering the tense calf with kisses. Jaina's toes curled around air as the stutters of Sylvanas' hips grew shorter, more rapid.

"Mmmm, yes! Just like that! Oooh, Sylvanas, you're so good…"

Sylvanas clutched Jaina's trembling leg to her chest, head thrown back, fighting to stifle her low, quiet moans. Jaina gazed up at her, helplessly admiring Sylvanas' unrelenting grace and elegance even when overcome with bliss.

"You're so beautiful," Jaina whined. "S-so beautiful…ohhh…ahhh!" Euphoria overtook Jaina once more, her body shuddering intensely as she squealed in unbridled ecstasy.

"Jaina…my Neph'a…" Sylvanas pushed Jaina's leg to a slightly different angle, rocking fiercely against her for a few more seconds until a sharp cry that sounded almost pained escaped from her throat and she collapsed over Jaina's exhausted body.

"Sylvanas? Will you please untie me?"

Sylvanas struggled to lift herself up on her elbows. She smiled up at Jaina, looking exhausted. "Give me a moment, my beauty."

"I'm sorry I didn't do more for you," Jaina whispered.

"No, my darling, you were wonderful."

Jaina waited for a few minutes while Sylvanas rested briefly, worn out by the effort it had taken to bring her undead body to climax.

"You were wonderful too, Sylvanas," Jaina sighed. "You were fantastic."

Sylvanas crawled up to the headboard of her bed to carefully undo the knots around the headboard's knobs, then trailed gentle kisses down Jaina's forearms from elbow to wrist as she released her lover's wrists from the silk ribbons. Jaina's arms flopped loosely to the mattress, and Sylvanas picked up each arm and traced the red marks made by the cuffs with her lips.

"Who knew the Banshee Queen could be so kind?" Jaina smiled tremulously. "I think I almost like being untied by you better than being tied up by you."

Sylvanas let the ribbons fall to the floor. "There you go." She eyed the redness around Jaina's wrists and the shallow new bite marks. "Would you like some more cider?"

Jaina shook her head. "No, I…I think I'll like looking at these later." She lifted her arms to admire her marked-up wrists.

Sylvanas lay down on the bed beside Jaina, eyes closed. "I can't recall the last time I felt so weary. Undead do not tire easily."

"Sylvanas?"

"Mmm?"

"You didn't have to make me say it this time."

"Say what?" asked Sylvanas sleepily.

"That…that you were a better lover than Arthas." Jaina smiled shyly. "Nobody's ever made me feel like you just did."

Sylvanas reached out blindly until her hand landed on Jaina's elbow. "I should…I should get you back to Theramore."

"Do I have to?"

Sylvanas cracked her eyes open. "You want to stay the night? You'll freeze down here."

"I spent much time in Northrend. I learned how to imbue blankets with…well, it's fire, really, but it makes them warm."

"Just don't catch them on fire," Sylvanas mumbled.

"How did you know I used to have trouble with fire spells?" Jaina demanded.

Sylvanas sat up halfway. "That was a guess, Neph'a."

"Oh." Jaina crawled over to Sylvanas to wrap an arm around her waist and nestle close to her. "You're still nice and warm."

"The potion will wear off soon."

"Mm." Something occurred to Jaina. "Sylvanas?"

"Yes?"

"You said you can sleep? How?"

"I have to burn a special incense that puts undead into a state of…well, I suppose it's like a meditative trance. Most of us call it 'sleep-cense.'"

"May I…may I sleep here with you? Or…does the sleep-cense do anything to humans?"

"According to my apothecaries, it shouldn't have an effect, but it's never been tested on humans."

"I like sleeping alongside people I care for," said Jaina shyly. Coming out of her mouth, it sounded incredibly foolish. "It…it's a kind of intimacy."

"You have to trust them."

Jaina nodded as best she could with her head tucked under Sylvanas' chin. "That's…that's part of it."

"You are certain you want to stay here tonight? Your people are already panicking, I'm certain. How exactly are you planning to explain your protracted absence?"

Jaina thought for a moment. "Well…I can say I received a communiqué from Hellscream saying he might retract some of the threats he's made against Theramore if I would meet him in Orgrimmar. I brought a few soldiers with me for protection, but they missed the Horde rogues concealing themselves, and…my soldiers were killed, and I was shot with a poisoned dart. When I woke up…" Jaina paused. "I can simply say I was restrained, and you helped release me because you disagreed with the others' intentions. But I was so upset I stayed in Undercity until I felt steady enough to leave by myself. It's mostly true."

"Ah. I had been wondering how someone as powerful as you was captured."

Jaina sighed. "I was too trusting. I may have brought a protective detail, but we were not prepared for such…underhanded tactics."

"Your story is…quite close to what genuinely happened."

"I'm a terrible liar. If I stray too far from the truth, someone will be able to tell I'm lying." Jaina absently nuzzled Sylvanas' collarbone.

"Surely your people know how resilient you are. Will it be believed you were so traumatized you stayed here all night?"

"I'm not certain I even care at this point. I'm so exhausted. Please let me stay."

With a groan of effort, Sylvanas sat up. "All right. Let me get out the sleep-cense. How long do humans sleep? Some of my formerly human Forsaken have said…oh, what the hell was it…eight hours?"

"Yes."

Sylvanas got up laboriously and dug through her bedside table for the incense. Jaina watched her dreamily. Now that her desire had been immensely satisfied, she felt no stirrings in her body; she could only think of how perfect and graceful Sylvanas was. Eventually Sylvanas retrieved an incense burner and several sticks of incense that were different lengths. "These burn by intervals of two hours…I think this one is eight." Sylvanas set up the incense burner. "Neph'a? Would you mind?"

Jaina summoned her focus and cast a quick spell, sending a little spark flying from her fingertip to the incense, which released a small puff of smoke before beginning to smolder. Sylvanas raised her eyebrows. "If you'll forgive the pun, you do have more fire in you than most give you credit for." Sylvanas paused. "You did handle yourself admirably back in Orgrimmar."

"Thank you," Jaina whispered. "I was terrified. I know I already said this, but…thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for tonight."

"You are quite welcome, Neph'a." Sylvanas glanced over at Jaina, who had begun casting warmth spells on the blankets. "Are you certain you don't want me to find a sleeping robe for you? If I know you, you'll want to drape yourself over me and be right up against my ice-cold body."

"No…I like your skin. I was expecting it to be strange to be so close to an undead, but…it's nice. Soft, and…almost like powder."

"I was very well preserved. Finally something for which we can actually thank Arthas." Sylvanas climbed into bed with a wry smile, lying on her back so Jaina could lie with her head on Sylvanas' chest.

"You make such a nice pillow."

Sylvanas snickered. "Another advantage to being intimate with a woman."

"Mmm…built-in pillows," Jaina sighed.

"Sleep well, Neph'a."

"I will. Sylvanas?" There was no reply. "Sylvanas?" Jaina sat up.

Sylvanas was lying utterly still as if she were dead once more. Jaina kissed her cheek experimentally and there was no response. Apparently the sleep-cense had worked quite abruptly. Jaina sat back on her heels, admiring Sylvanas' relaxed body, gorgeous in repose. The beautiful sight gave her an idea. She carefully got off the bed and wrapped herself in the robe Sylvanas had given her back in Orgrimmar. She crept out of the royal quarter, eventually finding a few Forsaken scurrying around running errands. "Er…excuse me?"

"Lady Proudmoore." One of them bowed her head respectfully to her. "I had heard you were a guest of the Dark Lady's tonight."

"I…er…I have a request. Could you please bring me some drawing paper and charcoal? And something that would make a good surface to draw on?"

"Of course, my lady. I will return shortly." The Forsaken woman hastened off and returned within twenty minutes with the supplies Jaina had requested. "Is there anything else you require?"

"No, thank you."

The Forsaken woman nodded and returned to her errands. Jaina brought the paper and charcoal back to Sylvanas' boudoir, where Sylvanas still lay completely still and slumbering. Jaina climbed back onto the mattress, gently pulling the covers from Sylvanas' body and sliding the cloth leggings off of her thighs, her calves, her ankles, so the Dark Lady was completely undressed. That accomplished, Jaina sat cross-legged with the smooth, thin plank of wood the Forsaken woman had brought her across her lap and placed a sheet of paper across it. She rolled the piece of charcoal in her hand until she found a point she could reasonably use, glanced up at her unconscious, lovely model, and began to sketch.

A/N: Dark Lady/Bright Lady yin-yang! …I'm fired, I know.

Rumor whispers that Theramore will be destroyed before Mists of Pandaria comes out. This is totally not giving me plot bunnies about Jaina sacrificing herself in a Thanatos Gambit-type fireball, Sylvanas recovering her body from the wreckage, and Jaina being raised a Forsaken…no, not at all…

Oh yeah, one more thing: I personally believe Sylvanas is capable of being nice, it's just not part of her public image of being aloof and unflappable. I see her as being very Sugar and Ice Personality. (Oh gods I've been spending too much time on TV Tropes.)

I lied. Something else. For those of you who also read my other Warcraft fic, Arrows in My Quiver (character study of Sylvanas with plot involving her taking a Forsaken consort who kind of serves as synecdoche for Sylvanas' relationship with her people), Anristina (Sylvanas' consort) now has an ask Tumblr. Because...I don't even know; take it up with my brain. But there's an Ask Anristina Tumblr now. It'd be shiny if people could ask her things, or submit cool Forsaken-related posts or images. http : / / ask - anristina . tumblr . com