This bloody road remains a mystery
This sudden darkness fills the air
What are we waiting for?
Won't anybody help us?
What are we waiting for?

~Invincible-Pat Benatar~

Khadgar eyed the Warden carefully. She was taller than Cordana, as most other Kaldorei were, with the same silent aloofness that he had seen in his wife when they first met. This one had presented herself on behalf of Jarrod and the Enclave as Cordana's replacement, to relieve the alliance base commander. She knew everything about the situation, most likely from Jarrod.

"While I am grateful to Jarrod and the Enclave, I am not certain I am ready to replace my wife as my protector. Commander Jaaral and I are doing quite well together and change might not be necessary."

Something about the situation bothered him. He had not appealed to the Enclave for assistance. Was there something going on with Cordana that he was not aware of, but that Jarrod knew? Was she not willing to return in her former capacity as his protector and assistant? If that were the case, forthright and honest Cordana would have told him.

He felt slightly ashamed that he had not been to see her in some months. Every moment of every day had found him working ever harder on the Orb of Dominion. The blasted thing was resilient to most power infusions, and although he was closer, he was not at the point of freeing Garona's mind. The Kirin Tor, in its usual infuriating slowness, was taking their time in giving him their decision for assistance. If they would not help him, why shouldn't he accept Jarrod's impromptu gift of a new protector?

He wanted to go and see Cordana. But he had become eggshell minded in regards to her. He had not wanted to leave her there, but her well being and that of their son was at stake. He received reports from Jarrod occasionally, as that good sire went to visit her nearly daily. As the days moved on, it was harder for Khadgar to make himself go. It was easier to not have to see her, to see their child growing inside her and not being able to take her home and care for her himself. He felt as though he had failed as a husband, failed to protect his wife and the baby adequately, and each day made it harder for him to get past that. So he dug himself deeper into his work, promising himself that once Garona's mind was freed and she had coughed up her knowledge, he could retrieve his wife and they could await the birth of their son together. The one constant thing he had always had: his magic and his studies.

Khadgar was not sleeping well. He disliked being alone in that bed, and often imagined that Cordana was outside his door like she always was. He conjured up large pillows to place beside him, and had gone so far as to place one of her shirts on his pillow. Nothing helped well enough although he finally managed to force himself to fall asleep when exhausted enough.

Khadgar just wanted Cordana back home. He had become marginally ill tempered and his fuse had grown short. Although he had managed to catch himself before snapping at Jaaral several times, he knew that one day he would slip up and it would begin to mar their relationship. Already he had stopped teaching the other arcanists. He had sent them all away, saying that the mission was now critical and he could not spare the time. He was also keenly aware that Cordana had reached the human gestation point, and that at any time their son could be born. It concerned him greatly that he may not be at her side.

"It is your choice, Archmage," said the strange Warden before him. Her voice was higher than Cordana's and it felt strange to him to hear a different voice emanating from the encounter suit. "But I sense a great need in you to complete your work with the assassin. I can help with that. My abilities, while most likely different from Warden Felsong's, are still considerable and will serve you well. I will serve you well."

"What are you called?" he asked. "And why did Jarrod not send a letter introducing you?"

"I am Kira Dawntreader. There was a situation at the Vaults and he made immediate haste to see to it. He felt secure that there was enough trust between you that you would be grateful. If you wish, I shall leave and await his return, to ask him for the documentation you require, Archmage."

Khadgar sighed and waved dismissively at her. "There is no need. There is too much work to be done here. I trust that you are trained in the same manner as Cordana?"

"Precisely. Although I will not dress you nor share your bed."

"Don't be ridiculous!" he snapped, then apologized immediately. "I am sorry Kira. I know you must have had other assignments with different demands that might not have been entirely agreeable to you. Come. Let me show you what your duties will be. My work is primarily arcane in nature, but we will be working closely with an Orb of Dominion, as I am sure that Jarrod has explained to you."

Light, he thought as he led her around. I do not want her here, but I cannot ask any more of Jaaral. I wish I could just freeze time until Cordana could be at my side again. I miss you terribly, my love. I am sorry for having failed you both.

Cordana awoke in the middle of the night, seized by an almost incapacitating fear. She sat up, trembling. Little Khadgar poked a foot out, awoken by the sudden disturbance. She looked around. She was in her cottage, with Elune's light shining through the window. There was nothing nefarious or dangerous at Sanctuary. There never had been and it was not going to change now. She padded silently to the bathroom to relieve herself, speaking softly to her son who was most likely still annoyed at being awakened, pushing on the confines of his watery home. It occurred to her, as she stood at the window thereafter, that perhaps he was comforting her by letting her know she was not alone. It made her smile, it was something Khadgar would do, touch her reassuringly when she was upset, so why not his little son?

Cordana made herself an herbal tea and sat by the fire which was now burning low. She was lonely and missed her mate. Surely he could have spared a few hours to come and see her occasionally? Were things that intense in Draenor? Of course he had to find time to eat and sleep also, but with his ability to cross worlds with a single portal couldn't he have been able to do both of those things at her side?

The baby dragged his hand across her belly. She pressed down gently on it and he responded by sticking a foot up.

"I wish I could hold you in my arms, little Khadgar," she said. "It will be so nice to finally meet you and hold your little hands and kiss your face."

A strong pang of fear suddenly assailed her again. What was going on? She reached out and touched the wards, which were still there and would be until they were challenged. She sent out her own energy as Khadgar had taught her, seeking anything that was out of balance.

Nothing.

Sanctuary slept peacefully.

Cordana stood up and stretched, then crawled back into her bed and curled up, holding tightly to a pillow.

"Please come and see us, Khadgar," she whispered.

The following morning, she was exhausted and the feeling of fear had not worn off although it had dulled slightly. She was visited by two of her Warden sisters which cheered her considerably, but the feeling persisted. It persisted into the afternoon and evening, and when she could not sleep she asked Rashana to stay the night, which the other woman gladly did.

Something is out of balance, she thought when the fear inside herself had become a hard ball that would not dissipate no matter what she did.

Khadgar had not grown accustomed to Kira. She spoke very little if at all, and followed his directions exactly and he could find no fault with her work ethic. She slept outside in the hall as Cordana had once done, remained in stealth nearby all day, and followed him everywhere he went. She stood outside the garrison when he met with Jaaral, but Khadgar insisted on placing a ward of silence over the room.

"You are strangely suspicious of your new Warden," observed the Draenei. "Was it this way when you first met Cordana?"

"No," answered Khadgar. "Cordana and I were instant friends. Yes she was aloof and silent but there was something about her, something different. This one...I am not sure. I get a different feeling from her then I do any of the others. Perhaps Kira is just a young Warden, or perhaps she is too seasoned and has become hard because of it. Whatever it is, it brings me unease although I am grateful for her assistance with my work. She does as asked and causes me no problems. She has not left my side once since she arrived."

Jarral stopped leafing through his tome and looked up. "No, my friend that is not entirely correct, is it?"

"What do you mean?" asked Khadgar.

"I saw her here the other day. She met with one of the travelling merchants, and then went to the apothecary. Ahh it is of no concern to me, I just found it strange. She did not wish to acknowledge me when I waved to her, and I know she saw me."

Khadgar frowned. "Rudeness is not one of the Warden's directives. I must speak to her about that. I will not have her exhibiting inappropriate behavior. I am disturbed by this. She had asked leave to go and rest, and I saw her go into the Tower. I certainly did not see her leave."

Jaaral could see that Khadgar did not like the new arrival. Everything about his friend radiated tension and unhappiness. He remembered his talk with the leader of the Kirin Tor and her concerns. He hoped that they would sort things out soon as he was becoming concerned himself.

"Why do you not send her away and ask for another? It is not a sin to have an incompatibility with someone. I would be happy to step in again if it would make it easier for you. I know my Toriona will not object. The Wardens are professionals, she will not take it to heart if she is reassigned."

Khadgar sighed. "It is true that I am not adjusting to her. I thought perhaps it was my missing Cordana, but now I am not so sure. You are correct that I am suspicious of her, it is a pervasive feeling I have. Let me write to Jarrod."

The commander handed him some parchment and an inkwell and pen. "When you are finished," he said. "I will personally see to its delivery and we will keep this to ourselves."

Khadgar smiled gratefully at his friend. "I appreciate all that you do for me Jaaral. I know I have been difficult lately and I worried that it would cause friction between us. I apologize."

Jaaral waved dismissively. "There is nothing that requires an apology. Now write!"

Cordana was softly brushing her goat when Jarrod came for his usual visit. He carried a sealed parchment with him. She perked up. Could it be a letter for her from Khadgar?

The goat scampered away as she stood up.

"Hello, Jarrod," she said with a smile and led the way into the cottage. She set the kettle on to prepare some herbal tea.

Jarrod put the letter on the table. "Cordana, is this Khadgar's seal?"

She looked at the cracked wax and nodded. It was the symbol of the Kirin Tor with a small raven beneath it.

"Read it, if you please," he said.

Dearest Jarrod;

I am writing to you to thank you most auspiciously for the assignment of Warden Kira Dawntreader. She is conscientious and meticulous in her work and I have come to expect nothing less from the Enclave. However, I regret to inform you that Warden Dawntreader and I are not operating on a harmonious level and I would like her recalled. I do feel terrible about this, but my work is of such a sensitive nature that I am sure you can understand. If you have no other available Wardens, I shall accept the services of my friend, base commander Jaaral once again.

Please give all my love to my beautiful Cordana and our son. My heart aches for her and I hope to be concluded with my current task soon.

Your humble servant,

Khadgar

Cordana smiled. "It warms my heart to know he thinks of us fondly," she said. "But I find it odd that Kira did not mention this to me when I saw her a few days ago. I would have thought being assigned to my mate would be the first thing we talked about."

Jarrod raised his eyebrows. "So...you did not send Kira to Khadgar?"

Cordana frowned at him. "Of course not. Why would I do such a thing? I am not in charge of assigning my sisters."

"Cordana," said Jarrod softly. "I did not send Kira to Khadgar either. I had thought perhaps that you had asked her to step in, which is why I came, to respectfully ask you why you would have done that without speaking to me, at least to let me know! I see now it was folly of me to even think you would have sent her."

The ball of horror that had taken up residence in Cordana's stomach began to roil and churn. She felt suddenly nauseated and shaky, and ran to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and her dusky skin was pale and her eyes completely free of their glow.

"Jarrod," she said when she emerged. Her voice was low and shaky. "Please get me an encounter suit immediately. We must go to the Tower at once."

"You cannot be serious, Cordana, you are due to give birth at any time! I will go and see what this is all about." The elder sire stood up and headed for the door.

"Jarrod!" she nearly shouted.

He turned, surprised.

"It is not Kira who is at Khadgar's side. It is Maiev!"