Firedragon99 has given me some of the ideas of this story, so credit must go to her for some things. I would like to thank her!
And thanks for that review KhazintheDark. I put in a little of what has happened in the two years, but if you want me to do a specific incident, I could put it in the extras.
Sapphire walked on foot to the gates of Stormwind. She was exhausted, and sweat dripped down her back and forehead. Invincible had taken it upon himself to act all rebellious. All Sapphire had suggested was that he stay outside of Stormwind. They had been just past Goldshire, but the horse had reared up and made her fall off of his back. The raven had been fortunately flying ahead, and so it just watched curiously as Sapphire had insulted the horse, and chased it around, trying to grab his reins. Invincible had pranced about, and been generally unhelpful.
The girl even apologized, but the horse refused it.
Finally, she had given up, and walked the rest of the way to Stormwind. Down in the south of the Eastern kingdoms, it was warmer than Northrend. Sapphire kept her hood up to avoid getting sunburnt, and also to avoid having people stare at her bleached hair. It had happened in Menethil Harbor.
In fact, one man, probably forty years old, had started talking to her. She learned later that he was flirting with her, but not before she agreed to spend the night with him in his room at the inn. She had found out his intention, and killed him then and there. Blood had splattered the walls, and the girl had went back downstairs to the innkeeper and asked for a mug of ale. They probably found him that next morning, but Sapphire was gone by then.
There were so many people in Stormwind, it was mind blowing. Sapphire had never seen so many mortals. She imagined killing all of them, and could see the blood running along the streets. She had to run into an alley to avoid having a panic attack. She had rarely seen people in the two years of her forced exile.
Sapphire gasped, breathing hard. Her heart thudded, blood mixed with the dark energy of the magic. The girl had once cut a vein to see what it would do, and blood had oozed out, bright red like blood was when alive. Small slivers of ice came out in the blood too, ice that would not melt and a dark black color. It was disturbing, to see warm blood dotted with ice.
Slowly, the girl took several deep breaths, and recovered from the near panic attack. She used to have panic attacks quite a lot, when she had been alone. It would come on suddenly, and not stop for hours. She had been alone for two years, fighting off undead, outlaws, wild animals. She always killed them, but the magic spiked her adrenaline and caused her to lose control. When she fought, there was never anything recognizable by the time she calmed down. Just a pile of mangled flesh and bone.
Hopefully, it was better now. She was in a large city, with an unknowing populace. It would be devastating, but fun for Sapphire, to kill every citizen in Stormwind.
Sapphire bought some food and clothes. Her Horde and Alliance victims had contributed to her money supply, but the girl had to loot them very quickly. They instantly started to move as quickly as they died. And the mangled ruins were not a pretty sight. Sapphire had screamed her throat raw the first few corpses that moved. After that, she grabbed the gold and fled as fast as she could on Invincible. Which was rather fast.
The girl explored the city. There were manmade rivers going along in the city, which were called the Canals. The water was murky, and things floated in it. Bottles, barrels, and other unknown things. Sapphire curled her lip in disgust as she saw mortals her age jump into the water, and swim around, laughing uproariously.
"Filthy," She growled. The raven showed up, and landed on a signpost nearby. It cawed, but was shooed by a passerby.
Despite the heinous water, Stormwind was impressive. Everything was made of white, smooth stone, sturdy material. Not like saronite...
No. Sapphire would not think about that place. She wiped away a tear. Gryphons flew overhead, with riders on their backs. The girl watched them. They dispelled her dark mood, and made her feel better.
"Good afternoon," Someone said. Sapphire turned to look. An elderly man with a cane had snuck up behind her. Impossible. He wore white robes. Priestly robes, as far as Sapphire could tell.
"Yes, I guess it is," The girl said nonchalantly. She shifted awkwardly. The man had white hair and a beard, and wrinkles in the face. He was smiling.
"You look like you are new here, hmm?"
Sapphire shyly nodded. This man was scaring her.
"Well, before you leave, you should come by the Cathedral of Light, dear child. All visitors should come see it."
"Oh," She said, relieved. He was not suspicious of her, she thought. She said she might.
"Take care, child," He said, walking away using his cane. Sapphire watched him, and tried to harden her heart again. It was easier to hate people when there was none to disclaim that notion. Sapphire saw a couple of children run by. A boy had a doll, and was chased by a crying little girl. Sapphire scowled, and waited for the boy to get closer. Then, she grabbed him by the shirt.
"Ah! Let go!" The boy shouted, and squirmed. Sapphire took the doll from him, and looked to the girl. The little girl looked at Sapphire, and took the offered doll.
"Oh, thank you!"
Sapphire smiled. "You're welcome. You know, you ought to steal something of his. See how he likes it."
The girl let go of the boy, and told him to scram. When the raven once again landed on her shoulder, and she stared at him with her bright blue eyes, the boy started crying and ran away. The girl giggled, and hugged Sapphire. She stiffened, and blinked.
"Thanks, miss!" The little girl said, and ran off, clutching her doll. Sapphire watched the girl, and went off to look for an inn. It was hot, and she was sweating profusely. She needed a bath, and a warm meal.
She quickly went to the inn in the Dwarven District, and paid for a room, and got some beer, and made the dwarven woman who cooked food take pity on her skinny frame. She was given a hearty dose of haggish, steak, and thick vegetable stew. She tried to pay, but the woman would not hear of it. Sapphire ate as much as possible, and had three glasses of beer. She knew she was drunk, and she liked it. She flirted with several men that were appropriately aged, but nothing came of it, despite what they clearly wanted. Sapphire was drunk but was fully aware of her actions. After she was done having fun, she retired up to her room. She locked the door, and stumbled forward.
Sapphire collapsed on the bed without a bath, and crashed.
Jaina was very nervous. She had been having an odd feeling all day. A static of magic was in the air, a certain tension that was unexplainable. Ethan did not feel anything, but he had confessed he was not a magic-user. A deathknight used magic, but they were made with magic, not born with it most of the time.
The woman sighed, and decided it was nothing. Rot and Terra trotted over to her, and attacked her, licking her and rubbing against her. Jaina gave them attention, but did it mechanically, not thinking. They did not care.
"My Lady," Ethan called out, coming in. He held several papers in his hands. He had not enjoyed the dance in the Keep. Jaina had seen him keep a happy face for Karanda, but it was false.
"Reports from Theramore?" The mage asked.
"Yeah. I put them in order of what I believe is of most importance. I will deal with the smaller problems if you want."
Jaina smiled. Ethan was always doing stuff like that.
"Thank you, Ethan. I think they can wait until we go back home though."
He nodded, and put the papers on her desk. He had not been able to get his house, and Jaina had tried to help. There was nothing to do, so he would be staying with her a little while longer. Ni'kua peered into the room, and woofed. Ethan looked at him.
"What? No, I am not going to date Karanda. Stupid."
Another bark. Ethan cursed, and then blinked. "Oh, sorry, Jaina."
"It's fine, Ethan. I've heard worse. Now, if you would, Go find Anduin."
The deathknight scowled. "If you are trying to make us be friends, it is not working."
He left.
Arthas groaned, lifting his head slowly. He sat up. He had nothing but bad dreams the whole night, waking up multiple times.
He still did not feel right. His head hurt painfully, throbbing. His hands were shaking. The man got up to his feet, and left the house. He had a cloak, and he pulled his hood up around his face. Somehow, he felt like he did not want anyone to know who he was. A small voice in his head.
Arthas made his way to an inn, regretfully stealing some gold from a passerby. He entered the inn, and asked for an ale.
"Never seen you here before. New?" The barman asked.
"Yes...Actually, I have had a serious hit on the head," He regretfully lied. Two things that were frowned upon.
"Really?"
"Yeah, and I need to know what year it is," Arthas asked. The barman frowned, and told him. Arthas froze, and stared at him. He must not have heard right.
"What? I...don't understand."
"Well, 'tis the truth. What's the last thing ya remember, bud?"
The man hesitated, and told him the plague had started in Lordaeron.
"Ooh, boy. You have had a bump on the head. Lordaeron's been dead for years, thanks to tha' bastard, Arthas Menethil."
Arthas felt sick. He asked, and heard the whole story with horror. About the plague making "undead," Himself killing the Stratholme populace, himself going to Northrend, coming back and killing his own father, and everything that had happened. Him becoming something called the Lich King, and the war, and finally being killed. And he got this information from an uneducated barman. That somehow made it worse.
His family, Uther, and Jaina. All of those innocent people.
Arthas had drank several mugs ale, and he thanked the man for his time, paying him. He left the inn, feeling sick. He found someplace dark, and promptly threw up the ale he had just drunk. Tears ran down his face. He did not do those things. He could never have...have...killed his father. Thousands of people.
Oh, Light. Light, Light...What had he done?
"Light, forgive me...I have done some terrible things, and I do not know why or how I could have done this. Please, forgive me!"