Chapter Text
The sound of someone knocking on her door startled Jaina awake. She sat up and felt her lover stir beside her. “Hide,” she whispered. “I have to answer this.”
Sylvanas nodded, understanding, as she yawned and stretched and slipped out of sight in her banshee form.
The knocking continued and Jaina pushed back the covers and swung her legs to the floor, standing up. “Just a moment,” she called, as she slipped her robe on and started towards the door. She waved a hand to remove the ward and opened the door.
“I’m sorry, Lady Proudmoore,” said the servant girl.
Jaina smiled kindly. “It’s all right. Is there something you need from me?”
“Oh no, well, yes, actually, I suppose…”
Jaina was still smiling, but it, like her patience, was beginning to fade.
“Here,” the girl said, thrusting Jaina’s robes into her hands. They were folded neatly and smelled decidedly fresh and clean. Jaina clutched the bundle to her chest.
“Thank you,” Jaina said. “I appreciate this, but surely you could have just left them and not had to knock so much?” She chuckled to convey that she was not upset, even if all the knocking had given her a slight headache.
“Oh no, Lady, your mother insisted that I had to hand them to you.”
Jaina squinted and looked down at the robes in her hands. “Well, my thanks to you,” she said, giving the girl a nod. “I suppose I needed to wake up soon anyway.”
The girl returned the nod and left down the hall. Jaina closed the door and tossed her robes on her bed. Sylvanas materialized back in the room and opened her mouth to speak when suddenly Jaina blinked over to her and clapped a hand over her mouth. Sylvanas was too startled to speak and she watched Jaina point to the bed with her free hand. Her eyes fell on the robes and she eyed them curiously for a moment before the mage pulled her into the bathroom, turned on the water in the sink, and shut the door.
“Something’s wrong,” Jaina said quietly.
“What are you talking about?”
“There was a girl dropping off my robes, but something felt off about the whole exchange.”
Sylvanas raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“The girl said my mother specifically told her to hand me the robes, rather than just leave them at the door. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Do you think she’s having someone spy on you? Perhaps a tracker or some sort of sound amplification, to hear conversations?”
“Maybe both,” Jaina replied.
Sylvanas stroked her chin thoughtfully and was about to speak before Jaina began talking again.
“I actually don’t think this is my mother’s doing, at least not fully. She might be an unwitting participant.”
“Who do you think is most likely responsible?”
“Genn.” She said it immediately and it made sense. “When I came home yesterday, he was oddly inquisitive about the battle, wanting to know how I escaped, not really caring that I had made it out alive.”
Sylvanas licked her lips, holding back a rude comment about Genn for Jaina’s sake and asked, “What did you tell him?”
“I told him I initially used a short range teleport after freezing everyone to get some distance. Then, after landing on a ship, I got some rest to get my strength back and came home.”
Sylvanas nodded. “Good lie,” she said approvingly. “It’s believable and half of it is actually true. Well done.”
Jaina sighed and shook her head. “I hate lying and I especially hate it if it’s made my friends and family not trust me.”
“What do you want to do, then?”
She answered honestly, “I want to go with you to see Go’el, get him reinstated as Warchief, and then hopefully when enough time passes, I can maybe reveal our relationship to family and close friends.”
“I think the last bit is wishful thinking, my dear,” Sylvanas said somewhat sadly, looking down at her hands. “There is very little chance that I’ll be accepted.”
Jaina looked at her lover and lifted her chin up. She kissed her deeply and threaded her fingers through her hair. “Even if they don’t,” she began, “we’re still going to make this work.”
“I know,” Sylvanas replied. “I just don’t want you to get your hopes up for something that has such a small chance of actually happening.”
“Right,” Jaina agreed, nodding. “So, if there is something on my robes, how would I go about removing whatever it is?”
“More than likely, it will be sensitive to liquid. So you could simply wash your clothes again and destroy it that way.”
“How suspicious would that look?”
Sylvanas shrugged. “You could ‘accidentally’ spill a drink on it, and then make sure you observe the washing or just wash it yourself.”
“I like the second suggestion,” Jaina said. “But—“
“Hold that thought,” Sylvanas said and turned on the water in the tub. She left the bathroom and returned with the robes and the rest of the bottle of wine. As the tub filled, she poured a bit of wine down the front and looked at Jaina with an amused expression on her face. “Oops,” she mouthed and Jaina, despite the seriousness of the situation, found herself smiling and suppressing a laugh. Sylvanas then submerged the clothes in the water, making sure they got completely drenched. She turned to Jaina and mouthed, “That should do it,” but still did not speak just to be safe.
“Thank you,” Jaina mouthed back and stood to leave and get dressed. She slipped into some undergarments and selected a different robe and cloak from her closet. She put the robe on and drew her cloak about her shoulders, pulling up the hood. She recast the ward on her door and began to cast a portal to Deepholm. Sylvanas joined her and together, they stepped through.
Moments later, they had arrived in the Temple of the Earth. “Wait here, dear,” Sylvanas said. She approached several Earthen Ring members, prepared to tell them she was here to see Thrall. She did not need to, because he saw her as he stood next to the door of a room in the back of the temple and cleared his throat, catching her attention.
“Warchief,” came his deep, rumbling voice, “this way.” He turned and headed into the room.
Sylvanas turned to Jaina to motion for her to follow and found her visibly trembling. She held out a hand and Jaina collected herself and walked over, squeezing her lover’s hand briefly for support, then falling into step beside her as they approached the room where Thrall was waiting.
They stopped near the doorway and exchanged a quick glance. “Stay here for now,” she said. “I’ll call for you soon.”
Jaina’s mouth opened slightly in surprise, but she closed it quickly and nodded her understanding. Sylvanas walked inside and Jaina listened at the door. “Thrall,” she greeted him and bowed slightly.
Thrall inclined his head but did not speak.
Sylvanas began, “I sent word because there is something of great importance I need to speak with you about.”
Thrall nodded for her to continue, still saying silent.
“In light of recent events and my own actions, I think it is best if I step down as Warchief,” she said, hands folded behind her back.
Thrall considered for a moment, then finally spoke. “I’ve heard much about the events of this war. I do believe that your resignation is your best and probably only course of action.”
Jaina listened intently, still standing outside. Go’el’s words almost seemed cruel. Looking down and swallowing hard, Jaina acknowledged that what he had said was completely justified.
Thrall continued, “Although I have not been Warchief for some time, I accept your decision to step down.”
Sylvanas nodded her thanks and spoke again, “With respect, I have a candidate in mind to succeed me.”
“Who?” Thrall asked curiously, his eyes narrowing.
“You.”
Thrall stared for a few moments then broke out in raucous laughter.
Sylvanas’ expression stayed serious. “I’m not joking,” she said.
“I know,” Thrall said, once he had calmed down, “that’s what makes it so humorous.”
“You’re beloved and respected by both sides. You are the best chance for ending this war and leading the Horde down a better path.”
Thrall shook his head. “I have a family and I have been neutral towards the factions for years. I don’t believe it would be appropriate if I returned.”
“You may be neutral, but you’re still an Orc and your loyalty will always lie with the Horde.”
Thrall heaved a great sigh. “You may be right, but I’m not sure if being Warchief again is something I could do. At the very least, I would need to discuss this with Aggra and the rest of the Horde leaders.”
“Fair enough.”
“I’ll speak with everyone and call on you when we’ve made a decision.” He gestured towards the door for Sylvanas to depart.
“Before I leave, you should know that I didn’t come alone,” the banshee said. “I brought someone I think you should speak with.”
Thrall regarded her with interest. “All right, I’ll give this person an audience.”
“Come in.”
Steeling herself, Jaina walked into the room, head down, her face obscured. When she reached Sylvanas’ side, she looked up and pulled back the hood of her cloak.
Thrall’s mouth fell open in shock and he walked quickly towards her until he was just about close enough to embrace her.
“Lady Proudmoore,” he said, still in disbelief.
“Go’el,” she said, and she thought she saw his eyes crinkle with unshed tears at her use of his name.
For a few moments, they looked into each other’s eyes, neither of them saying anything. Jaina began to get antsy and suddenly began to stammer a disjointed apology for years gone by as tears filled her eyes and her voice wavered. “Forgive me,” she finished, just above a whisper. Her shoulders were shaking.
Thrall regarded her with kind eyes and he stepped forward to wordlessly pull her into a hug. The floodgates opened and Jaina sobbed on his shoulder, whispering her apology over and over.
Thrall chuckled lightly, patting her back. “I missed you, old friend,” he said.
Jaina took a few shuddering breaths trying to calm herself. She pulled back from Thrall and wiped her eyes. “I missed you, too.”
Once they had both calmed down, Thrall asked the question that Jaina dreaded having to answer. “How is it that you and Sylvanas are here together?”
Gulping hard, Jaina began, “My allies were escaping after they took out King Rastakhan. I was the last line of defense in making certain they made it out. I fought Sylvanas’ warriors until I was nearly defeated. Sylvanas... told them to stop.”
“Change of heart?” He directed the question towards Jaina who was confused until she realized Sylvanas had, at some point, left the room.
“From what she told me, it seems like she turned over a new leaf.” Jaina hoped to avoid any real specifics, as she was unsure how to answer without either lying outright or divulging details of her relationship with Sylvanas.
When Thrall spoke, his voice was quiet, almost conspiratorial. “I was not sure what would happen when Vol’jin appointed her as Warchief. I worried for the Horde. It would seem that perhaps that worry was not misplaced.”
Jaina’s mouth opened slightly, but she closed it quickly and nodded. “I... think you may have been right, at least, before the last couple of days.”
“Seems you two have developed a friendship of sorts,” Thrall noted.
Swallowing, Jaina dropped her gaze and out of the corner of her eye, she saw his expression change.
“Perhaps... not just friendship?” he inquired gently.
Jaina’s lower lip trembled and she merely nodded. She did not trust herself to speak and she did not want to lie to him, not when he had just renewed the friendship that she had so desperately missed.
“Oh,” he said. “I see what you mean about Sylvanas having turned over a new leaf.”
Jaina nodded again. Her face was flushed and she was not certain what to say. If this was how she could expect herself to act when faced with needing to tell her loved ones about Sylvanas, she was going to need to muster up some courage fast.
“Well,” he began, “I hope the two of you will be happy. Perhaps, you both will be to each other what Aggra and I are to one another.” He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
Jaina nodded a third time, still unable to speak. She stepped towards the orc and flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her and held her for some time.
After a while, he took a step back from her and spoke. “I think, despite our actions, that we all deserve and are worthy of love,” he said kindly.
“I do love her,” Jaina said, just above a whisper. She paused for a moment, realizing it was the first time she had said that aloud. She continued, “But, I’m afraid of how my family and other friends will react.”
“Understandable,” he said, nodding. “But, you’re brave, strong, and completely in control of your life. I believe in you, and so does Sylvanas.”
She smiled then, looking up into his kind eyes. “Thank you. As silly as it may seem, sometimes I need to hear that.”
Thrall laughed and Jaina found herself joining in, feeling relaxed and loved and safe.
“It’s probably time for Lady Windrunner and I to be getting back,” she said sadly. She was very much enjoying her friend’s company again and not anxious to leave.
Thrall nodded and pulled her in for one last quick hug. “Don’t be a stranger, my friend.”
Jaina smiled warmly. “I won’t. I promise.”
“I’ll be holding you to that,” he said with a wag of his finger and a smile on his face.
Jaina’s smile broadened and she grasped his hands in hers, bowing before him. He returned the bow and they dropped their hands. With a wave, she turned and headed out the door, nearly tripping over Sylvanas, who had been leaning against the wall outside.
“Oh!” she gasped as she fell forward. The banshee caught her and smiled.
“I’ve got you,” Sylvanas said. “I’ll always have you.”
Tears sprang to Jaina’s eyes and she smiled back, pulling her love into a quick kiss. “Let’s go home.”