I sit alone and watch the clock
Trying to collect my thoughts
And all I think about is you

~Believe-Staind~

Khadgar had been so aggrieved that he could not return to the Tower; he could not assure himself that his beloved Cordana was in her right mind and he was concerned for their son's well being. Jaaral gave him a comfortable room in the garrison, and set up Khaidric's bassinette with him. He did not know how much a young baby would need to eat, and brought a large pitcher of cooled goats milk and baby bottles to the room.

"Tomorrow we must round up Cordana and find out how we can set things right," said Khadgar. "She must not be allowed to languish in a prison bubble, but neither can we allow her to run free. She could be a danger to all of us if she remains subjected to that Orb and Gul'Dan despite what I feel I have done to protect her. Light, I am terrified that it has also affected my son. I will need to find that out first thing in the morning."

Jaaral nodded sympathetically. "I think that perhaps we should share what we know with your friends in Dalaran and ask for their help."

Khadgar's face darkened. "The Kirin Tor? I asked for their help with Garona and they made their usual excuses. Their deliberations have still not concluded and as a result I have had to keep that orb around longer than I should have! This situation is partially their fault! No my friend, they will not help me and I will not grovel before them."

Jaaral and Toriona exchanged glances.

"Very well," said Jaaral kindly. "You try and get some rest and tomorrow I will go with you and we will take care of Cordana. If she comes to the garrison I will try and contain her, it is best considering the circumstances."

Khadgar nodded. "I cannot believe that this is happening. Damn that Gul'Dan and his Fel!"

"The warlock's time is coming," said Jaaral darkly. "Each day is one day closer to his end and our victory!"

Khadgar smiled weakly at his friends. "I am ever grateful for your support," he said. "I will never be able to repay your kindnesses."

"Acts of friendship carry no price, Khadgar," said Jaaral. "One day perhaps it is we who will need you."

"And I shall be there," said the Archmage.

When he had settled into bed and was assured that Khaidric was warm and comfortable, Khadgar permitted himself to fall into a restless and unhappy sleep.

When he awoke in the morning, and his mind brought back the previous day's events, a deep sadness filled his heart. His son was awake and looking around, and when Khadgar picked him up the little boy seemed to smile at him for a moment. Babies were usually such serious little things, but Khaidric had a joy about him that was palpable. He was a content and happy child, and seeing his complete reversal the previous evening had been a terrible shock for Khadgar.

He bathed the little boy, then himself, and warmed up the goats milk. Khaidric looked confused, if that were possible for so young a child. He was used to his mother's comforting arms and nurturing breast, but he was hungry and accepted his father's loving gift just the same. The magnificent eyes stared into his father's and a deep and abiding feeling of love washed over the Archmage.

"I will mend your mother little guy," he promised softly. "No matter how long it takes or how difficult a task, it shall be done and we will be a proper family again. "

He felt the sadness prickle in his eyes, and soon he was looking at his son through a haze of tears. He was alone, with no one to see nor judge him, and he allowed those tears to spill from his eyes. He was amazed when Khaidric turned his head away from the bottle, and waved his little arm towards Khadgar's face, as if to comfort him.

Kaldorei children were very intuitive and sensitive and Khaidric seemed to be very close to his mother's people.

A soft knock at the door had him giving permission for his guests to enter. Jaaral and his wife came in with a tray of food. Toriona set it down on the table and proceeded to lay it all out in a lovely spread.

"You need your strength Khadgar," she said softly. "Let me see to Khaidric while you and Jaaral eat and talk. I have some things to attend to and I shall take him with me. You will find me in my office when you wish to have your son."

Khadgar thanked her gratefully and handed a sleepy Khaidric over. Toriona kissed her husband and quietly left the men alone.

"How is he?" asked Jaina Proudmoore, closing the door and warding it. Toriona gave a heavy, sad sigh and lay the sleeping baby in the bassinette she had placed in her office.

"He has been crying, there were tears on his cheeks when we arrived. He did not even try to hide them. His heart is broken and we must do something to assist him."

Toriona detailed her conversation with Khadgar, and also shared the strange words Cordana had told her some time ago. Jaina agreed that there mostly likely had been Fel corruption at the Tower for quite some time, in such small amounts that it was not instantly noticeable until it had claimed a victim.

"Light," said Jaina unhappily, sitting down next to the baby. She looked at the little fellow and her face softened. "Such a beautiful child and so good natured. He favors his Kaldorei blood. So Khadgar refused to come to us for assistance?"

Toriona nodded. "He did. He is quite angry and mentioned that he came to you before and you refused to help him. He feels that if you had come forward he would not have had to keep the prisoners or the Orb nearby for that long."

Jaina looked at the other woman, her expression open. "And do you feel the same way Ambassador? Do you feel we acted in error by not immediately agreeing to assist the Archmage?"

The question was honest and straightforward and Toriona would respect it by giving her answer in the same vein.

"Yes, unfortunately I do. While I understand the need to explore all possible options, I feel that the time sensitivity of the issue should have carried a greater weight. Together with Khadgar the Council could have freed Garona long ago and perhaps spared Cordana being twisted by the Fel influences."

Jaina hung her head. "The others warned me that I was not taking the situation seriously enough when in truth I was taking it too seriously. I wished to find an option that would remove the need for that Orb. I should have trusted that Khadgar had already done everything he could before choosing that option. He is far greater in skill than I, and perhaps a part of me still resents that everyone looks up to him even though I am the current leader of the Kirin Tor. Prophecy or not, it is he who should have taken up the mantle."

Toriona knew that Khadgar had stepped back from the opportunity to lead the Council of Six due to a prophecy foretelling that Jaina Proudmoore would take the reins. The Ambassador agreed that with his great skill and leadership qualities he would have been the better choice, but she said nothing. Kirin Tor matters were not her place to discuss and it held no weight for the current situation.

"The first thing we need to do is find out if Khaidric has been tainted by the Fel also," said Toriona. "Khadgar described the child crying last night and refusing to take to Cordana's breast. I am sure he was feeling the darkness around her."

Jaina nodded and conjured a crystal. She held it over the sleeping baby and whispered a few words in the arcane language. Toriona, a natural arcanist, joined her and together they wove the arcane through the crystal and into Khaidric. The baby kept sleeping and the weaves did not change color.

Relief stole over the two women as they tried again, with the same result. Their weaves, filtered through the light, should have changed color and upset him if he had been affected at all. The child was clean.

"He should not go to the area around the Tower, not until this situation is under control," said Jaina. "The Council is going to go there and meet with Khadgar and let him know that we will stand by him and assist him with releasing both Cordana and Maiev from the Fel influence. I am not sure if that is truly what ails Maiev, but in Cordana's case I believe she has been twisted."

Toriona sat back down. "I will continue to watch over Khaidric."

Jaina stood up and prepared to teleport away, then stopped. "Ambassador are you able to conjure an arcane prison should Cordana appear here in the garrison? I am not sure what your abilities are although I remember Khadgar telling us that you were a natural arcanist and had been schooled in Dalaran."

"Yes I can conjure a prison bubble. Khadgar is right, I did school there. I completed my training but preferred the diplomatic path. I would always have been just another mediocre mage and this way I feel I can make more of a difference for the Alliance."

Jaina gave her an understanding smile. "A natural arcanist can tap into the arcane in a way a scholar can't. You sold yourself short, Ambassador but I do understand why you could feel that way. The Mage Academy never seems to honor the natural arcanist and tries to place all the students in the same mold. Khadgar and I agree on that one thing for sure: things need to change in that respect."

Khaidric sleepily opened his eyes half way and brought his fist to his mouth. He looked around and when Toriona came closer he seemed to smile but continued to scan his environment.

"He wants a parent," said Toriona sadly. "At this point he has not seen his mother in quite awhile and I sense he is bothered by it."

Jaina nodded. "Are you going to tell Khadgar that you and I had this talk?"

"I am not going to say anything to him, no. He has so much burdening his heart, and I am sure he is considering what will happen if we can't help Cordana."

Jaina flashed her a hard look. "We will be able to help Cordana. Do not doubt it, Ambassador. If Garona could be helped, then this will not be any more difficult."

Her face softened and she vanished.

It was several hours later that Jaaral came to Toriona's office, his face a mask of concern. Toriona looked up with a smile, but it faded as she saw his face. He sat down hard in one of the large Draenei chairs. Toriona was feeding Khaidric who had just finished his second bottle of goat's milk. She kept her voice pleasant and soft.

"Hello my love," she said. "I am glad to see you. Is all well at the Tower?" She glanced down at the baby, whose eyes were closed.

The Commander shook his head. "Perhaps our little guest would like a nice silent place to sleep, yes?" He indicated the bassinette. Toriona rose and placed the baby inside and covered him with a blanket. She gestured and a bubble appeared for a moment around him.

"What is it, Jaaral?" she asked, now openly worried.

"Cordana is gone," he said.

"What? What do you mean gone? She was not at the Tower?"

"Correct. However it is worse than that, draga mea, Maiev has been freed and the Orb is also gone."

Toriona clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh light, no! So Khadgar doesn't know where Cordana is at all?"

He shook his head. "Our friend is in terrible distress. I believe we must go against his wishes and seek help from his Council. He cannot be expected to handle this on his own, not with his son to look after as well."

Toriona put her arms around him. "Already done. I spoke with Jaina this morning. We tested Khaidric to ensure he has not been tainted and Jaina and the Council are going to the Tower to meet with Khadgar today. In fact, they may be there already."

"What a terrible thing this is. We must guard the little one carefully now. He must not be allowed to be harmed."

Toriona nodded, and hugged Jaaral close.

"I can feel the oppression of the Fel in this place!" exclaimed Jaina. "Oh Khadgar, what have you done?"

The Archmage's usually kind face was hard with grief and anger. "I have done what needed doing! If you remember, I came to you all for aid, and you preferred to mull it over in your usual extended timeframe, not giving thought to the perils it created!"

Jaina sighed. "You are right and I am sorry. I wanted to find a way that perhaps did not involve the use of that Fel orb!"

"And you felt that I had not already done that? It was the last resort! I took that risk because I had to! Now Maiev and my wife have disappeared and taken that demonic orb with them. My son is without his mother! Go, Jaina. I wish to be alone."

She shook her head. "I will not go, you stubborn old man. The others will be along shortly and together we will decide how to find Cordana and clear her of the Fel. Also, your son is not compromised so you need not worry yourself over him. The Ambassador is looking after him and the Commander has taken every measure to see the child is protected. Now you may stand here and rail against me and while it is perhaps justified, it is not doing us any good when we could be putting that energy to better use in finding your wife!"

The Archmage looked defeated and sat down. "Once again you are correct. It is not right of me to blame anyone else for this when it was my choice and my actions that set it all in motion. I am not sure that I have also not been compromised and must ask you to test me also. My mind must be clear in order to do what must be done next. Can I count on you for that?"

Jaina gave him a smile. "Yes, you can count on us all for that."

Khadgar's emotions were in tatters. The Council had determined he was slightly affected by the Fel, but not enough to cause any issues. They performed a clearing ritual on him regardless which was unpleasant for him but not overly so. Jaina insisted he take some rest, and set Kalec to guard him while he did. Within a few hours Khadgar had regained most of his strength both mental and physical, and was ready to move forward.

He went to see his son at the garrison, and fed him and cuddled him. He did his best to appear calm and in control but he struggled to act the part. He wanted his wife, he wanted his little family back together and happy, as they had been before.

He blamed himself entirely for what had happened, but then the anger set in and he lashed out at Gul'Dan and the Fel, and finally at himself for allowing his over confidence to make a huge mess of things. Cordana had been right when she had warned him that his arrogance would be his undoing. It had never really sunk in, he believed that whatever repercussions came of his actions would be on his head alone. Never had he thought that those consequences would land on the ones he loved.

Khadgar chose not to return to the Tower, and accepted Jaaral's kind offer to remain in the room he had stayed in the night before. He wanted to be with his son, to hold him and care for him while he formulated a plan to find Cordana.

The Council was also working things on their end. Jaina was going to have a talk with Jarrod Shadowsong to see where he stood on the matter of his sister, where his Wardens stood and what they were willing to do to assist the Archmage.

She felt terrible for Khadgar. The older man had long been an incredible arcanist, gifted with great power and skill and as a result had no problems taking risks and walking a razor's edge. It had turned out well for him in the past, but this time he had gambled what he held most dear and it had not been fortuitous.

Jaina felt the most sorrow for little Khaidric. He was so very new, and already his life was one of upheaval and turmoil. She wondered why Khadgar had chosen to conceive a child at this time, and then considered the fact that perhaps it had not been a conscious choice at all, but a twist of fate. In the end it didn't matter. The baby was present, and needed both of his parents in his life.

Jarrod Shadowsong was shocked when Jaina told him what had transpired. He paced the room and thought out loud.

"Maiev has not made her presence known to me," he said finally. "I do not know how she feels about me and about the Enclave at this time. Based on her past behavior I would venture that her feelings are not favorable. The madness has driven her into a frenzy of vengeance, a role she is all too comfortable with. With Illidan no longer an issue, she lost herself and disappeared for a long time. I have no idea what it was she did, where she was...all these years."

"Are there any Wardens who are sympathetic to her? Any who would breach the bounds of loyalty?"

He nodded. "Oh yes, there are, and they have made their feelings on the matter known. However their loyalty to the Enclave is very strong and intact. I did take the added precaution of removing them from the Vaults and assigning them elsewhere where they could do no harm should Maiev contact them."

She nodded and he paced, stopping at his tapestries, then his bookshelf, then mindlessly staring off out the window into the darkened forests beyond.

"It is Cordana who worries me the most, however," he said softly. "Her past has created some difficulties in the way she handles emotional situations."

"What do you mean?" asked Jaina.

"She is highly sensitive, but represses her feelings. Most of us live with our emotions openly. Not so for Cordana. She did not have a happy childhood and youth and as a side effect of repressing her feelings, she had learned to take the passion and love inside herself and turn it inside out, making it negative so it could not be a temptation any longer. To Cordana, it is better to hate something than to feel the pain of not being able to attain it."

Jaina shook her head sadly. "Poor Cordana, I didn't know. In fact I know nothing about her at all."

"It is a defense mechanism," said Jarrod. "She resisted her feelings for the Archmage initially but thankfully she came to me and I was able to help her through that. However now, with Maiev guiding her, the Fel twisting her, she may have taken the love she has for Khadgar and her child and changed it into something dangerous. I am very concerned. She must be found."

Jaina felt even sadder. "This is such a terrible turn of events. Khadgar is a new father, he is so in love with his new bride, and now this...Jarrod could I ask you to come to the garrison so we can all get together and formulate a plan. It cannot wait. Bring your most trusted Wardens, those who love Cordana most of all."

He nodded. "Yes. Allow me to round them up."

Khadgar was quiet and reflective. His eyes were sorrowful and the usual vim and vigour he presented to the world was not there any longer. He looked tired and defeated. His powerful magic, that he had always relied upon to save him and those he loved, had failed him. His wards on the orb and on the prisoners had not been good enough. His ability to find any magic user, even Gul'Dan, was not serving him in finding Cordana. He had tried everything but her earth magic was not the same and therefore untrackable and she was nowhere to be found.

He sat in the war room, feeding Khaidric, feeling lost and miserable. He had not slept well the last few nights; the baby was also unhappy and fussy and Khadgar knew it was because he was missing his mother. The Archmage had had a hard time leaving him with Toriona, as the little boy watched his every move and clearly showed signs of unhappiness at seeing his father leave. Khadgar had decided that he would keep Khaidric with him at all times, to help ease both their feelings of loss.

Many suggestions had been put on the table. Primarily it was essential that they try and unravel Cordana's thought process. For that, Khadgar had had to own up to his involvement with the Fel. He felt as though all eyes were judging him, when in reality everyone was amazed that he could command the Fel as easily as he could the arcane, and that he was able to ward his son well enough to stop any sense of corruption in the child. They could not explain why the wards had failed to work on Cordana. With a heavy heart, Khadgar explained how he had linked her mind with Garona's during the rituals, never thinking that it would open his wife up to Gul'Dan's influence.

"Khadgar," asked Jaina. "Is there anywhere she ever spoke of in regards to her relationship with Maiev? Somewhere they had gone, somewhere she loved to go even on her own? We need a starting point."

Khadgar said nothing. He was remembering the first time they had made love, in the glade near Darnassus. Cordana had been happy and so free. They had joined with one another so perfectly, so beautifully.

He was not going to share that memory with anyone, nor would he breach his wife's trust in sharing the location. It was somewhere he would search on his own.

"She never talked about Maiev, or her time with the Wardens. Cordana did not relish her memories and chose to live in the present."

For awhile no one spoke.

Jaaral stood up and walked around the room. He stopped behind Khadgar and lay a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"We must proceed without the benefit of magic. There seems little that can be done using the arcane arts. Toriona, you have ties to the court of Stormwind. Perhaps you can ask if Si:7 can help us? They are highly trained in unconventional means and tracking is one of their specialties."

His wife smiled and nodded.

"We shall send Kirin Tor agents into the towns and cities and see if we can follow any rumors," said Jaina. "Villagers can be superstitious, and if Cordana and Maiev are hiding in the forests there might be some stories circulating about."

"In any case," said Kalec. "It does not matter what Cordana's mindset may be at this time. The important thing is that she must be found, likewise with Maiev."

The four Wardens that had come with Jarrod stood silent against the back wall in their encounter suits. Each of them loved Cordana unfailingly and wanted nothing to do with the Fel. They were older sisters and knew Maiev's story and were not supporters of hers. Jarrod was aware that if it came to blows, they would neutralize Cordana but would not hesitate to kill his sister. It broke his heart, but he had come to accept that Maiev had chosen her pathway and it would lead where it would and she, and he, would have to live with the consequences of that choice.

"Our search will cover Azeroth as well as Draenor," said Jaaral. "I have my best mission specialists assigned to this task. Some will be undercover and some will not. I have spoken to my soldiers and they are on extra guard here at the garrison. Our priority here is keeping the Archmage's young son free of harm."

"I will assign my mages to accompany the SI:7 agents and any agents here who are unable to effect portal travel, " added Toriona.

Khadgar looked up. "I have unlocked the Ogre Causeways. Doing so nearly cost my wife her life, but I have finally managed to balance the magic for both timelines. I will provide the necessary enchantments to those who wish to access the Causeways here on Draenor."

There was a murmur from the Council of Six, and from Toriona. Khadgar's brilliance once more shone brightly. His dedication to his craft was as legendary as he was, although to see him now, one would not be able to guess it.

Jaaral concluded the assembly and people gathered into groups to leave or to remain and talk. Many of them fussed over the baby and tried to comfort the Archmage. Khadgar was gracious but wanted to return to his room with his son.

Exhaustion was his constant bedfellow now, and if not for Khaidric he felt he would go to his bed and not emerge.