*~~~~ CAP 2: MEMORIES BENEATH THE STORM ~~~~*

Lady Jaina Proudmoore was in the highest part of her fortress in Theramore, silently watching the icy storm that lashed the city through the window.

She shivered inside, not because of the low temperature of the storm, her arcane tunic made of beautiful runic and lunar threads, designed by one of the best tailors in Stormwind, was sufficient to protect her from that damp and icy weather. No, the reason was different, one less earthly, one deeper. Not her body who trembled but her own soul.

The memories she believed forgotten, resurface again in her mind. A flame was awakened in her heart. But not a warm flame, welcoming and happy. No, rather a cold flame that crossed her from within, burning her with its icy touch. Those happy memories of her youth had become dark and painful, she didn't allowed herself to think of them often because an agony deeper than her existence came over her to remember every detail, making her feel helpless and guilty for not being able to save him of that destiny.

Arthas.

In her youth, Jaina Proudmoore had been a magician apprentice who had the opportunity to meet the Prince Arthas closely. They had been great friends, had shared happy and unexpected adventures, had perfectly understood each other from the moment they met, had been confident, and for a long period of time, also had been lovers. Jaina had fallen in love Arthas with all her heart, she had given him her body and soul under the blazing Harvest's Festival, promising to never leave him, never disown him.

Despite the heady sensation he felt during the times they spent together, Arthas wasn't ready to get engaged to her. He was still very young and that responsibility surpassed him, so he decided to break up that passionate relationship and continue their innocent friendship as each went about their business. Jaina felt her heart burst into pieces, but kept her face impassive and accepted the wishes of one whom she loved. Perhaps he was right, maybe it was better that way, everyone should concentrate on their duties. Arthas received the blessing of Light and trained hard as a paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand, under the command of the most noble and brave paladin, Uther Lightbringer and also instructed in state matters, preparing himself to someday rule his people with the same kindness, firmness and wisdom of his father, King Terenas. On the other hand, Jaina spent her days in Dalaran, the imposing city of magicians, under the protection of Antonidas, immersed in endless study sessions with ancient scrolls that contained all the secrets of the magic of Azeroth. She learned to control fire, to invoke elemental, to create ice storms, to control arcane magic, to transfigure her enemies into harmless vermins thanks to polymorph and teleport to distant places.

The next time the two met again, Arthas was a handsome man and mature further, covered with his paladin armor and his silver mace which reflected the will of Light whenever he invoked it. Jaina had become a decided woman who dominated with proud the magic she had learned under those walls. Both did not meet by chance, they were chosen to discover the mysterious plague that had afflicted the world in silence.

Neither could avoid their passionate feelings wake up and return to the surface, had been a long time but the deep connection between them had not diminished, but appeared to have strengthened. They decided to compromise when carried out the mission that had been entrusted.

That plague was what took her beloved. Gradually, they discovered the atrocious reality. Someone had infected wheat grains with that sinister plague. Whenever the villagers ate it, they became infected and had become into living corpses, rotting, joining the stranger undead army that began to ravage the Eastern Kingdoms. Arthas couldn't bear that his people were corrupted by this illness, having to fight against his own, now coverted into zombies without choice, dominated by demons who called themselves Lords of Terror, was too much for Arthas. Arthas became so obsessed with the idea of destroying this threat and protect his people, that he ended up losing himself.

The prince decided to raze the city of Straholme when he learned that the grain had been delivered completely in this place. The idea of killing men, women and innocent children tortured him, but he thought that was the only way to end the curse before it took effect and all become monsters. So he might end up with that threat once it spread so quickly. It would be the sacrifice of the people to safeguard the greater good, the safety of Azeroth. Jaina couldn't accept this decision and left him when he most needed her. Tortured her still remember those eyes full of sadness and despair begged her not to leave him alone in that painful and merciless quest he had imposed himself. Arthas made the wrong decision, but Jaina knew that he had done because at the time believed it was right, because he was willing to take on his conscience with all those horrible deaths if this way he could save the rest of his people. Again and again, Jaina wondered herself what would have happened if she had stayed with him, if she hadn't betrayed him, perhaps being his side could have prevented this dark curse consume his spirit transforming him into a Death Knight.

Jaina never be able to forgive herself, but everyone around implored her to do it, all were determined to ensure that his efforts would have been in vain, that would have ended murdered by his hand like everyone else and was no way to save him. But she didn't believe in such claims, her heart was determined to tell her that she could have helped her, that she was the only person he have heard. Although, it might be a lie created by herself for not facing reality, she couldn't bear the idea that Arthas had forgotten her, but now it was too late.

After that village's massacre, Arthas departed for the frozen lands of Northrend to slay Mal'ganis, the demon that had stood laughing at him and then controlling the power of the Scourge. There he met the existence of a powerful and unique runeblade, Frostmourne, and offered his soul to get its power and thus protect everything he loved. That fateful day, Light left him and was consumed by the curse that hung over this demonic sword. He ceased to be a Paladin to become a Death Knight. His spirit was corrupted, began to obey the orders of the Lich King, and he gained control of the Scourge's army. He joined his enemy after having given everything to try to destroy it. That fateful day, Arthas Menethil died forever, and with it, much of the heart of Jaina.

After getting the devastating and unlimited power Frostmourne, Arthas returned to the Eastern Kingdoms and there destroyed and annihilated everything he had fought to protect. He killed his own father Terenas, Uther, who had been his teacher and example to follow, Antonidas,the archmage master of the city of Dalaran. It destroyed the fortress of Lordaeron, profaned the Sunwell, massacred entire villages full of innocent people. Every time the dead bodies of the villagers fell at his feet, he stood them up as undead and therefore his army was becoming more and more powerful. No one could stand against him, his days of destruction seemed to have no end, world was completely convicted under his blade. Jaina was not able to deal with this new and sinister personality. She was debated between fleeing or attempting to talk to him, but no one allowed her to attempt such madness, since Arthas feelings were buried in a cold place in his heart and the curse of the Runeblade, which continued to swallow souls, won't let them resurface again. Instead, Jaina tried to evacuate as many people of this condemned land, using her power of teleportation, leading to the lands of Kalimdor, there would be safe from the threat, at least for now. And there she waited for the nightmare to end.

One day, when all seemed lost, when all the warriors capable of dealing with that unstoppable Death Knight had perished to swell the ranks of his army of undead or had fed with their sould that insatiable sword, something happened Lich King and Arthas began to lose his force. Sylvanas, an elf whom he had killed without mercy and forced her to obey, took this opportunity to revenge, freed a part of the Scourge and fought them against him. Arthas was lucky to escape alive from the rebellion. He fled to Northrend, dragging to the Lich King's Frozen Throne, and once there, merged with it, crushing the remnants of the orc shaman that gave life and he waited.

He had spent many years under that ice lethargy, all in Azeroth were believed to be safe from his dark and uncontrollable domain, so that night, Jaina felt a terrible shiver.

She knew he was awake.

That distant threat that she had tried to forget, was about to emerge, who knows how hard, to finish destroying a world that was still suffering from the ravages of his earlier attack.

And it isn't only the inhabitants of Azeroth who feared his return, the earth itself trembled under his presence. He had destroyed all the purity that had dared to cross his path. Blood stained the sunrises and sunsets polluted with the stench of rotten soldiers. Rivers had corrupted the purity of its waters. He had silenced the beautiful singing of birds and the wind between mountains with the hissing sound of soul-sucking sword. He had left a scar in the earth to remind the world of his cruelty, a lasting memory that will survive at any age of the earth, a black trail full of death and ashes where nothing would never sprout.

Despite her fear, loneliness, despair and the bitter pain of remembering those lips that she wouldn't prove any more, the arms wouldn't hug her again, the heart whose beats she wouldn't listen over her chest, Jaina made a promise to herself.

This time she wouldn't flee.

This time she would face to face that man, although no longer stay a shadow of what he had been, although no feelings dwell in that frozen heart, although her efforts ended up in her own death, this time she wouln't give up. She would bring back Arthas or at least, she free him from the torment of his curse. She was determined, had come the opportunity to redeem herself for giving him back when he most needed her.

It was time to respond before her feelings and face her destiny.

This concludes the introductory chapters.

I hope I have explain the past events for who haven't known the history of these characters, now it will begin the real adventure.

Thanks you very much to Darkness1st and Pedobee for their reviews and the people who have follow or favourite this story! :D It's makes me very fortunate. And also thanks to all the people who has spent their time reading these words :)

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