Jaina tried to remain calm as she walked down to the docks. The salty sea air helped calm her, but she was stricken with worry. Only someone who knew Sapphire would know of her existence. Jaina had kept it a secret.
Terra trotted along after her, dirty rag clamped in her mouth.
Ships sat at the docks, sails furled up. Sailors loaded and unloaded them, and fisherman sat at the wooden docks with their fishing poles and tackle boxes.
A hooded, heavily cloaked man sat on a mooring pole, clutching a staff. A black feather mantle covered his shoulders. Jaina felt great magic coming from him, and she stopped approaching.
"You!" She knew who he was. He looked up, and smiled from the darkness of his hood.
"Hello again, young mage. I fear I am in need of your help."
Jaina looked at him, suddenly fearful. Whenever he came, nothing good happened.
"What do you want? Is it about my daughter?" She asked hesitantly.
"I have seen things, and now I need you to help me get to Alterac. My magic...is not as it used to be. I exhausted myself to just get here, but you are needed. To save your daughter Sapphire...and your future husband. Should you want him."
Jaina gaped, but the man wearily stood up.
"Call the massive plaguehound, and quickly! Young Miss Menethil is going to need all the help she can get. A fragment of Ner'zhul wants her soul."
Water flooded over Sapphire's head, and she sputtered as it got in her nose. She lay in a copper tub, being scrubbed by servants while Lady Perenolde looked on in disapproval. A large fire burned in the fireplace nearby, pots of water above the flames, bubbling quite profusely. Sapphire looked at it nervously, and yelped whenever someone used a brush hard on her skin.
"When was the last time you took a bath, child?" Lady Beve asked.
"Not that long ago..." Sapphire shrugged.
"Well, you did it poorly. Isabella, get her neck. It is filthy."
Sapphire had to restrain the urge to kill, as she felt extremely vulnerable as her neck was scrubbed hard by a girl younger than herself. She saw a pot of water taken away from the fire, and braced herself. They let it cool down for a second as one woman poured pink goo onto the girl's white hair, and gently rubbed it in. Then, more water was dumped on her head.
"So, Is your mother still with your father?" The lady asked. Rot was curled up in her arm, with a glassy-eyed, content look as he was stroked. Sapphire saw more water put over the fire, and tried not to groan.
"She never was, lady," Sapphire answered, glaring at a woman as she messed with her feet. Sapphire did not like people touching her feet. Anywhere actually, but especially the sensitive skin of her feet.
Lady Beve just smiled. "Oh, poor dear. So your father just raised you by himself? That must have been hard on him."
Sapphire tilted her head, thinking about it. "Well, not really."
"Lovely," She said distractedly. Rot yawned, and sniffed the woman's thin pale fingers. Sapphire thought Lady Perenolde reminded her of her mother. They were both mages, and noble looking women. Rot seemed to like Ethan's aunt very much, and the woman did not seem to mind undead. Jaina had kind of liked Rot too.
Sapphire bared her teeth as a particularly rough handed woman cleaned her.
When she was sufficiently cleansed, the girl was finally allowed to leave the horrid warm water. She was dripping wet, naked and quickly getting cold. A woman brought a towel and dabbed the girl dry. A warm, fluffy bathrobe was put around her.
Lady Beve smiled. "Feeling better?"
Sapphire sniffed, the steamy air making her a little stuffy. "Yeah, I guess. Thank you."
"Don't mention it, young lady. It is quite a nice feeling to see my young nephew with such a beautiful, charming girl. Ethan never seemed interested in women. We almost thought he...well, never mind. I saw the way he looked at you. But, you could do so much better than him. He is dirtpoor after his family was murdered and their money liquidated. You should reconsider other suitors."
Sapphire stiffened, then looked at the woman in surprise. "Sorry, ma'am. But I love Ethan. I could not just find another person!"
The lady sighed in disappointment. "Such a pity. Such beauty and you waste it on one poor lowly grandson of Aliden Perenolde, my father. Even if we get back our kingdom, Ethan would have no chance to take the throne. You would be better off with my cousin. He is older than your father, but he would have more to offer you. Well, come along. You must be hungry, and we need to get you into some proper clothes. A bit of powder or eyeliner would work too."
Sapphire felt too disgusted to even think about food or even question what eyeliner was, but numbly went along with the woman.
A roast pig stared at Ethan with dead eyes. Steaming vegetables sat around the cooked animal, and an apple was stuffed in its mouth. Even with the delipadated state of Alterac, of course his aunt would still have luxuriant food. He saw that other nobles were there as well, but none that he recognized.
Arthas sat at his side, in dark clothing decorated with gold thread. Lethumo did not need to attend, and he chose not to. A deathknight did not need to eat anyway.
But, looking at the honey drizzled foods, the rich soups and breads, Ethan's stomach rumbled. He was confused by it, but chose not to think about it.
Doors opened, and Ethan's aunt with Sapphire came in. Ethan stared, and Arthas had to clear his throat to the boy to shut his gaping mouth.
Sapphire wore a silver dress, a bit too long for her, but it sparkled like her hair, which was pulled back and held with a silver circlet. Her face had been marred by powder, which paled her skin, and her eyelashes had been curled.
Then, Ethan saw his aunt's face, and his mood darkened momentarily. He eyed the others in the room. They noticed the silver decked beauty that held Ethan's heart, and wanted her.
"Boy, I normally would be upset at your possessive attitude, but right now...I feel the same way," Arthas muttered quietly. The man had seen the younger man's look.
Ethan's mood brightened, and he whispered back. "I'm better than all of them put together."
"I don't question it," Arthas growled, picking up his goblet.
Sapphire came over to sit next to her father. She smiled shyly, and awkwardly sat down with the dress.
"Do...I look okay?"
"Lovely," Her father said tactfully.
"As Lethumo would say, like the moon goddess Elune herself," Ethan breathed.
It was a good thing Sapphire had makeup on, for she blushed hard. It was hard to believe earlier that day Sapphire had summoned up a wall of ice and killed a San'layn all by herself.
Arthas sighed, "Clearly, even in my years of death and destruction rampage, I remember my table manners. One does not compliment someone like that in public."
Ethan turned his gaze back to the food. He heard the grumbling of his stomach again, and went they were allowed to eat after a boring toast from his aunt, Ethan had to restrain himself from wolfing it down like a dog. And the whole time, he kept stealing glances at Sapphire.
Sapphire lay quietly in her dark room. The bed was covered in furs, and a bear rug covered the floor. Rot was staring fearfully at the intact head of the bear, the large teeth yellow with age. Glass doors led out to a balcony, and Sapphire had cracked open them to let in cold, comforting wind.
She sighed, and sighed. Her face felt oily from the makeup.
There was a soft knock on the door.
Sapphire sat up, and blinked. She whispered. "Yes?"
The door opened, and Ethan's green eyes met hers. Her stomach clenched. She had seen the look in his eyes at dinner. Lethumo had told her that she needed to start it, but Ethan clearly had worked up the courage.
He came forward, and Sapphire had to breathe deeply to try to still her throbbing heart. It was loud, and she knew the deathknight could hear it. He crept over to the bed.
"Everyone is asleep," He whispered, calmly. He smiled at her warmly. Sapphire forced out a smile.
The boy nervously rubbed his neck with his hand, and bit his lip.
"Uh..."
Sapphire took up the courage and leaned forward. She kissed him, and gently wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her back, and gently stroked her hair. They kissed each other for several minutes, and listened to each other's breathing, and checked to hear if anyone was awake. Ethan kissed her along her jawline, and that drew shudders from her. She laid her head on his shoulder, and moaned. Then, she saw Rot staring at them.
"Uh...Ethan. Rot's watching us," She warned. Ethan shrugged.
"He doesn't know what's going on."
Rot perked up his ear.
"I think he knows..." Sapphire said, moaning when Ethan kissed her behind her ear.
"Relax, Sapphire."
The boy gently pulled the girl's nightgown up, and kept kissing her as he did so. He also pushed her down against the fur covers. Sapphire smiled, and kissed him, running one hand through his hair. She clumsily tried to take off Ethan's shirt, but failed. He backed away for a second, and pulled it off. Then, he went back to kissing her on the hollow of the girl's neck. He ran a hand down her leg. Sapphire gasped, but wrapped her arms around his waist, moaning.
All of a sudden, the door to the bedroom opened, and bright light spilled over them. Sapphire was momentarily blinded, but she yelped when she saw her father. She yanked the covers over her, face burning.
Arthas said nothing, but looked to Ethan. He nodded, gesturing to the boy to leave the room.
Ethan's face was also red, and he quickly grabbed his shirt. He shot Sapphire an ashamed, apologetic look, and left. He stopped next to Arthas, and looked up. He opened his mouth to say something, but then lowered his head and walked out.
Sapphire's father looked over to the girl, and sighed.
"Good night Sapphire."
The girl nodded, humiliated.