Sapphire dreamed again of sitting on the Frozen throne. She could not move, but could see the ice over her. A large, ugly crack ran down the ice that covered Bolvar Fordragon.
It is getting more serious...
Sapphire winced, for now Bolvar's voice was deep, and cruel like her father's had been when he was the Lich King. She looked at the crack, and wondered what could possibly have done such a thing. Uneasiness came from Fordragon. He was worried, and that did not soothe Sapphire's own worries. She felt edgy, and agitated, and could feel the entire Scourge act like it.
Well, what is left of it, Bolvar said, with approval in his dark voice, What you did was very clever.
Thanks.
Sapphire mentally sighed. She just wanted to sleep. It was bad enough that she and Ethan...
Bolvar grew curious, and the girl was mortified that she had let that thought out.
It's nothing! I just want to be left alone.
Oh. Of course, child. I mean, it's not like you are alone stuck in a chunk of ice and damned for eternity.
The girl flinched at the accusatory tone, and felt guilty.
I am sorry. I did not me-
Never mind, child. I can't stay that angry. Your presence is...soothing.
Sapphire wanted to smile, but could not. She contented herself with talking with the man. She did not really know a thing about him, besides that he had been horribly burned by something.
He was taken aback by the girl's sudden questions, but hesitantly spoke about himself. He told her about his life and Stormwind. Sapphire listened as he spoke of fighting the Scourge, and talked about the Light.
You remind me of Dad like he is now. He tells me that I should pray to the Light. Why? My life has been okay without it. Why do I need it now?
Bolvar laughed. I doubt you need it much. It is better anyway that you help yourself, but sometimes you need a little help.
Sapphire thought about it. She remembered that necklace, and it seemed like a lifetime ago. The necklace had helped her with the collar.
What necklace? Bolvar asked.
Ah, come on. Stop it. How can I protect my thoughts from you?
I don't know how exactly, but I will stop prying, for it is part of my doing that I can hear your thoughts. I am just curious. You are a strange child. How about your life? Tell me about it.
Sapphire was surprised now, and thought about her life. She talked, telling him about growing up in Icecrown Citadel. Of her father's occasional kinder moods, and her childish adventures in the Citadel. Dark laughter came from Bolvar as Sapphire recounted a tale about Rot the plaguehound getting his head stuck in a jam jar that Sapphire had scavenged in the citadel's kitchens. Sapphire had to gently smash it open, but Rot had been stuck in it for several hours. Now, he could not look at a jar of any kind without barking at it madly.
She spent the rest of the night talking with the new Lich King, and when she woke up, she was still exhausted.
It was a very awkward morning. Sapphire came into the private breakfast room, openly shamefaced and with guilt clear in her features. Lethumo and Arthas were already in, the night elf drinking wine despite the early morning. Her father was drinking something else, and wore simple light grey clothes. An orange and black cloak was wrapped around his shoulders. The room was painted vibrantly, with pastel yellows, blues, and greens. Sapphire slumped down into a chair, and did not meet her father's eyes. Lethumo raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
A servant came up, smiling warmly, a man about her father's age. "Good morning, my lady. Might I offer some coffee this morning?"
The girl looked at him in confusion, but nodded. The servant went into a side room, and came back with a tray.
There was a teapot, and a mug like Arthas's, both fragile porcelain. The servant poured a dark liquid into the mug, and set it in front of her on a small plate. He placed a little thing full of white liquid next to it, and a bowl of sugar cubes. Then, the man went to refill Arthas's, and then brought Sapphire a plate of biscuits. The girl took several.
She looked at the sugar cubes, and the white liquid. She grabbed a handful of the sugar, and dumped it all into the coffee. She saw her father smile.
"Not funny..." Sapphire mumbled.
She took the bowl of cut fruit from the servant with a muttered thanks. Arthas shook his head, and looked to the man.
"Have you anything more substantial? I believe my daughter had a difficult night," He said, grinning.
"Yes, my lord. We have sausages, ham, and I'm sure an omelet could be made if the young woman desires it."
Arthas looked at Sapphire. She sighed.
"Ham please," She said to the servant. He bowed, and left the room.
Sapphire buttered up her biscuits, and bit into one. She groaned and leaned back. The girl picked up her mug, and drank. It scalded her tongue, and she yelped. She grabbed the relatively cold fruit and stuck them into her mouth.
When her tongue did not feel as bad, Sapphire just ate the fruit. She saw slices of cheese in front of her, and grabbed several pieces. She ate them quickly, the cheese a bit sharp but tasty.
"Good morning, Sapphire..." Her father finally said. Sapphire did not look up from her food.
"Hey. Hello, Lethumo."
The alcohol drinking night elf just grunted.
She heard the door behind her open, and she looked back.
Ethan shrunk back, and looked down. The boy nervously sat at the table, and saw the teapot. He sighed, and grabbed Lethumo's unused wineglass. He grabbed the teapot and poured the coffee into it. He threw his head back and drained the hot drink down his throat. Ethan groaned.
Sapphire looked at him sympathetically. "Didn't sleep good last night either?"
The boy shook his head, and laid his head down the plate in front of him, black hair tumbling forward. Sapphire reached out for the biscuits, but it was too far. Arthas picked them up, and handed them to her. She thanked him, and then held them out for Ethan.
"Here," She said. The boy looked up, and smiled. He took the bowl of biscuits, and cradled them in his arms. He crammed them into his mouth hungrily.
Arthas just laughed, and both girl and boy cringed at the loud noise. Lethumo did as well, and then covered his large ears, cursing profusely.
"I apologize for last night, but you two needed someone to stop you. I made a...mistake with Jaina. While it did result in Sapphire, I would have preferred it done right. And I want you two to do it the proper way."
"What's the proper way?" Ethan grunted through a mouth full of food.
Lethumo answered before Arthas. "Marriage, you idiot."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "Marriage is overrated. Besides, no priest would marry a deathknight."
"Well, since you are no longer a deathknight, that should not be a problem," Arthas said.
Ethan tilted his head, "Huh?"
The servant came in with a silver platter of sugar cured ham piled up on it, sliced thinly. He set it on the table, and gave Arthas, Sapphire, and Ethan some of the pale meat. Sapphire did not look at Ethan, who did not touch his food.
"What do you mean, no longer a deathknight?"
Look in a mirror, my green eyed little friend!" Lethumo chuckled. He pulled out a small mirror, and the boy snatched it. He stared.
"What-"
He froze, and listened. Sapphire knew he would be hearing the gentle throb of a heartbeat.
"Oh, By the blessed Light. Sapphire, you are some kind of miracle creature!"
Arthas drank from his coffee mug, and ate some of the food on his plate.
"She should not give anyone else her strange, ice infused blood though. It is...disturbing. I would have preferred not having it myself, but you deserved it. Too young to die..." He said sadly, shaking his head.
Sapphire nodded. She agreed, and cursed herself for not thinking. But Ethan's skin and green eyes were too alluring to make her regret it long.
Arthas stood up, and looked down at them reproachfully. "Now, I will be going to see Beve. She mentioned some undead spotted in Alterac City last night. Might be important. Don't go feeling each other as soon as I leave."
He left the room. Lethumo raised an eyebrow.
"Beve? I want to know what he was doing last night."
Rain was starting to fall. Clouds darkened the sky, and Jaina braced herself to a miserable walk. Medivh had convinced her to come with him to the Alterac Mountains. She had no idea what they were doing there. She was not very familiar with the terrain. The most she knew of the region came from books and maps. Medivh slowly walked beside her, leaning heavily on his staff. Ni'kua walked ahead of them, sniffing around excitedly. He smelled something that he liked. Snow covered the ground in patches, and Jaina saw grass growing up in the snow. There was more snow up in the higher elevations.
Terra hopped around, dragging the rag with her. She wagged her tail happily. Jaina picked her up, and went forward to keep up with the old man. She took him by the arm.
"You asked me to help you, and mentioned a...husband?"
"Only if you choose to. No one can force you to marry him, but you might be happier. No one would love you more."
Jaina grimaced as lightning flashed. Thunder followed quickly afterward. The woman pulled her hood up tighter over her head.
"Does this man have a name?"
The man chuckled softly. "I assume so. Don't all men have names?"
The mage woman scowled at his response. She had wanted a definite name from the old prophet, not a smart retort.
Ni'kua howled loudly, and went into a sprint. He ran toward a distant village. It would be a little while before they got there, but it seemed like that was where they were supposed to go.