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31_days2012-02-03 11:53 pm
the--ivorytower.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-02-03 11:53 pm
[Feb 03] [Warcraft] Fire and Ice 3/29
Title: Fire and Ice 3/29
Day/Theme: February 3: O, for a muse of fire!
Series: Warcraft
Character/Pairing: Kael'thas Sunstrider, Jaina Proudmoore (primarily); Kylian, students, teachers.
Rating: PG (Kylian's mouth has bumped the rating)
Previously: 1 2
Author's Note: These fics will be primarily unbetaed, and then reposted on my personal journal at the end of the month.
~ * ~
It was just after the final class bell and Kael felt relieved. The last class of the day, basic conjuration, seemed to drag on forever. He was beginning to regret starting from the 'beginning', but at least now he wasn't alone. Kael smiled over at Jaina, and the human girl was still writing carefully. Kael glanced over her work, and winced at her notes.
Jaina's handwriting is... well, she is young, yet, Kael thought. She has time to learn how to not look like something written on the wall of a bathroom--
"I think you're supposed to take your own notes, not read from mine," Jaina said, and Kael started.
"I'm sorry, Jaina, I was just admiring your handwriting," Kael said. Jaina gave him a look. There was a certain way her forehead wrinkled, the way her lips drew together. Kylian described it as her 'you are full of shit' look, and Kael had to admit, it suited her. "It's... please, stop looking at me like that, I'll say it. Your handwriting is terrible."
"It sort of is, isn't it?" Jaina said, tilting her head. "Oh well, I'll get better."
"You're not offended?" Kael asked, studying the girl closely. She shrugged philosophically.
"Not really? You're not telling me I don't belong, you're not telling me that my family or my beliefs are dumb, so why should I be mad? I'll fix my handwriting."
"I believe I have some good guides for you," Kael said, sighing with relief. "I'm glad I haven't hurt your feelings, life in Silvermoon is remarkably... fraught." Jaina reached over and punched him. Kael blinked. The impact of her fist on his arm was very light, just enough to be notable, but not enough to hurt. "What was that for?"
"It's a thing," Jaina said. "It means it's all okay."
Kael collected up his books and walked with her out of the classroom and into the busy hallway. "Hitting is okay for humans?"
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Not bad hitting, just good hitting."
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Well, hurting people is wrong. But I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"Well, no," Kael said. "I hardly felt it."
"Exactly. You were just honest with me. You weren't mean-honest, or not really. Just honest. It's just a little punch. Not a mean one. Just a punch."
"I'm sure that I'll find something wrong with your logic, but I can't think of anything right now," Kael said. Jaina snorted. "I have an idea. There's a place I overheard some of the students talking about, and I must confess I'm curious."
"Oh? Where?" Jaina asked, looking up at him.
"It's a place called Sweete's Sweets. I suspect a pun involved, but it's a store that sells things like candies and chocolates, and I..."
Jaina's eyes widened. "You've never had those things?"
"No," Kael admitted. "I've never really had the chance."
"Were you in trouble?" Jaina asked, her brow wrinkling. "Were your parents mad at you?"
Kael stilled a moment. "My mother died too early for me to remember her, and my father rarely speaks to me. The servants that raised me wanted to make sure that I adhered to the traditions of the Quel'dorei, so I've lived a very ascetic lifestyle. No sweets that aren't fruit related."
"I'm sorry," Jaina said, reaching up to touch his arm. "That's terrible."
"It's... why I'm here," Kael said. "It gives me the chance to see new things, meet new people, and try pastries."
"You're being punished too?"
'Too'? "I'm not being punished at all. I wanted to come to Dalaran." Kael looked down at her. "Do you think you're being punished by being sent here?"
"Well, yes?" Jaina said. "I... I did something bad."
"I can't imagine it," Kael said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not... really," Jaina said. As they walked, Kael noticed that Jaina's gaze would dart to something that caught her eye, and there was a brief flash of wonder before she looked away. Several bright purple blocks of Dalaran passed in silence, and Jaina's behaviour remained consistent.
I'll get to the bottom of this, Kael vowed. He followed the directions to the Sweet Shop and held the door open for Jaina so she could walk inside. This meant that Kael heard Jaina's soft gasp before he saw what provoked it:
Sweete's Sweets was a relatively small shop on the outside, but inside it seemed three times as big. There were shelves and shelves of glass jars, filled with more candy than Kael had ever seen before. An entire rainbow of flavours awaited, and the candies varied in size, shape and apparently texture, from what he could see. Another shelf held bars of chocolate that were white, various shades of brown including one that was so dark it seemed black. Another shelf held slabs of fudge mixed with herb flavourings; the mageroyal pink fudge made Kael's mouth water just by looking at it. Still another held jars of cookies, another nuts, and still others cakes, pastries and baked sweets.
Kael inhaled sharply, and the scent of sugar in the air nearly made him dizzy. Jaina moved ahead of him, looking at some of the hard candies. Kael let himself regain his focus as Jaina opened one of the jars and used a small metal scoop to retrieve some of the bright yellow creations and deposit them in a brown paper bag. She checked her pockets for coin before bringing it to the cashier. The cashier weighed the candy and then Jaina handed him some of her money. Immediately, she took one out and began to suck happily.
It all seems so simple, Kael said. I wonder if they take credit?
~ * ~
"If you eat all of that, you'll be sick," Jaina said. "That's what Mother always says, and she's smart."
"Elves hardly ever get sick," Kael promised her, carefully steering the sacks of sweets that he levitated in front of him towards his residence. "I wanted to try some of everything."
"I think you have some of everything here," Jaina said, poking at one of the sacks. "How are you doing that?"
"Magic," Kael replied. Jaina rolled her eyes. "No, I mean it. It's a magical spell. You'll be able to learn it too."
"I guess," Jaina said, sighing.
Kael fished out a rune and handed it to her. "Here, touch this to the door. Why do you 'guess'?"
Jaina did as she was instructed and then opened the door, allowing Kael to nudge the sacks through the door. Jaina closed the door behind him and set the rune key on one of the tables. "I'm supposed to be learning magic because I need to. I need to learn how to control my gift. Why would I be able to learn something fun like this?" She poked at one of the floating sacks again.
Now is a good time, Kael decided. He let the sacks float gently to the ground, and gestured to Jaina to sit. "Do you drink tea?"
Jaina nodded and Kael went to make her some. While his meals were often ordered in, tea making was an art he'd learned, and it pleased him that he could do something for his friend, even as trivial as this. When he returned with the cups of tea, Jaina thanked him and sipped a little. "It's good."
"Thank you." Kael sat down, and opened one of the sacks, fishing out cupcakes for the pair of them. "Jaina... why do you think you're being punished by being in Dalaran?"
Jaina sighed, and looked down at her tea cup. Kael started in on the cupcake, and was stunned by the rush of sweetness from the first bite. "I got into a fight with someone. It wasn't... I wasn't really mad at them, I just shoved them, but something happened. They slipped and fell... and hit their head. People used to talk about me. They said I was weird, a changeling, switched with the real me so that I could cause trouble and hurt people. I didn't mean to! I... I tried to hide, but Da found me, and he brought Antonidas with him. Antonidas said that I had a special magical gift. Most people have to learn how to use magic, but some people are born with it, and they have to learn to control it."
"The difference between wizardry and sorcery," Kael agreed, and retrieved another cupcake. "You're very special. Most people aren't recruited personally by the leader of the Kirin Tor. Your father made a good choice in regards to who to contact."
Jaina's expression was distressed. "But I'm in trouble, they were talking about how to deal with me, and now I'm here--"
"Buhh yuur noo--"
"Wrong kind of sea food, Kael."
Kael finished his cupcake hurriedly and swallowed. A rush of dizziness hit him and he shook his head a little to clear it. "But you're not here because you're being punished, Jaina. You're here because Antonidas wants you to learn. Being in Dalaran is a gift, not a curse, and so is magic. Many of my people are born with magic, or some kind of ability to learn. It's part of who we are. In fact, one of my friends who has no magic at all is considered an aberrant because of it. You have an opportunity, Jaina. To learn, to enjoy your new gifts and your freedom." His lips quirked a little. "You should enjoy it."
"...so I'm allowed to like Dalaran?"
"Yes," Kael said decisively, and decided that something else was in order. I know there was fudge... "In fact, I think you should love Dalaran. Love to study, too. Love magic, love life... love freedom."
"You didn't have any freedom when you were at home, did you?" Jaina said. Kael took a moment to break off a piece of fudge before taking a bite.
"No," Kael said quietly. "I'm going to be a king some day, and people look to me as an example. My father... is in mourning for my mother. He has been since she died, and he's not... well. Shel -- my father's friend, Kylian's father too -- says that he loved my mother very much. So much so that when she died..." He bit into the fudge, ruthlessly eating as much of it as he could stomach, and the sugar hit him in a wave. "It was my fault."
"How was it your fault?"
Jaina's gaze was anxious, and Kael slumped back. "I was born. It sickened her. Father blames me, and I look just like her. If I wasn't here, she'd still be alive."
Jaina punched him in the arm. This time, it did hurt. Kael frowned at her. "It's not your fault. Your da is stupid."
"Jaina--"
"He is stupid," Jaina said fiercely. "It's never a baby's fault for being born. Not ever. Your da is wrong, and if I ever see him, I'm going to punch him right in his stupid gob."
Kael blinked, then laughed, then rubbed the back of his hand against his eyes. "Jaina... do you want me to show you how to levitate things?"
"I'd like that a lot," Jaina said, and touched his sleeve. "Though, aren't you eating a lot of chocolate?"
"I'll be fine. Let's get you started on the basic theory."
~ * ~
The weeks that followed saw Jaina and Kael traveling all over Dalaran. Freed from her guilt, Jaina was incredibly curious about everything. More than once, Kael was forced to admit he didn't know the answer to her question, and so Jaina would drag him around until they found someone who could.
Sweets were a constant third companion as Kael tried new delights, and Jaina was such a distraction that it was only late one night that he noticed that his hands were shaking badly.
"Kael, you're jittering like an arcane dust addict and your house smells like candy. What's the deal?"
"You're observant as always, Kylian," Kael muttered. "Don't you have a lab partner to torment?"
Kylian sighed. "Noah is out on some kind of super-secret 'thing'. I bet it's a date. With a man."
"Just because you find him attractive and want to sleep with him, doesn't mean he's gay," Kael chided him, turning his hand over, observing the shaking with a detached air. "And even if he was, it still doesn't mean he'd sleep with you."
"Who could resist me?" Kylian said, grinning broadly. Kael rolled his eyes.
"The majority of Dalaran's population."
"Harsh," Kylian said, and watched as Kael unwrapped another candy bar. "Seriously, though, I think you've had enough. You've got these weird... things. On your face."
"If this is another joke about my nose, I swear--"
"No, they're like spots." Kylian took Kael by the elbow and steered him towards a mirror. "Look." He pushed Kael's hair back so that his face wasn't shadowed. Kael's reflection showed someone who looked oddly sallow, and there were shadows under his eyes. Dusted across his cheeks were red spots. Kael raised his free hand to poke at them and winced. "Dude, if it hurts, don't poke it."
"It didn't hurt until you pointed it out," Kael grumbled, poking it again. "My face feels oddly numb."
"That's because you're high as a kite on sugar," Kylian said, and reached for the chocolate bar in Kael's hand. "Just stop eating--"
The world became a sudden, violent blur, and Kylian found himself sprawled in the middle of the street, Kael's incoherent roar still ringing in his ears. People crowded around, and Kylian made shooing motions as the door to Kael's residence slammed shut. Kylian stood, and dusted himself off.
That's it, Kylian thought as he headed in the direction of the residence of one Kelnar Goldensword. Kael needs help, and I'm going to get him help. That means going to a little kid. This isn't at all cowardly, Firesong, just keep reminding yourself of that.
The journey was relatively uneventful, and Kylian had spent the first few weeks of their time studying the city's layout and the travel routes, so this knowledge helped him arrive at his destination swiftly. He knocked briskly.
The door opened immediately, and Kylian smiled brightly. "Instructor Goldensword! It's so good to see you, I--"
"No." The door slammed sharply. Kylian sighed, and knocked again. "I said--"
"Wait, wait. Just wait. I'm not here to proposition you for sex. Or your daughter, or anyone else. I need help." Kylian's expression was serious. "I think there's something really wrong with Kael, and I think Jaina can help."
"I'm not sending Jaina over there with you alone."
"Technically, I've spent time with Jaina before, and nothing bad--"
"I mean if the Prince is injured, he shouldn't be left to the tender mercies of a ten year old and a professional slacker."
"Ouch," Kylian muttered. "Alright. Just hurry up."
"Stay here," Kelnar said sternly, and backed away from the door. Immediately, Kylian followed her, wandering into the kitchen. "What did I just say?"
"Hey, Jaina," Kylian said. The girl smiled up at him. He tilted his head. "Look at you, the letters are getting neater every day."
"Thanks, I want Kael to think my handwriting is good enough to be a mage," Jaina said. "Is he with you?"
"No, and that's what I want to talk to you about," Kylian said, and he squatted down, so he was looking up at her, his gaze serious. "He kicked me out of the house because I tried to take his chocolate away."
"He eats too much of it," Jaina said. "He said he'd never had it before."
"He's right, he hasn't," Kylian said. "Since he isn't a professional slacker, he didn't think to get me to sneak him any when we were kids. He's got things, too, on his face."
"Pimples," Jaina said with authority. "Tandred had them when he was growing up. There are good ointments for it, we can find some here, but if Kael is getting them, it's because of all the candy and sugar. He said he was having headaches."
Well, someone's unseated me from best friend position, Kylian thought, only a little bitterly. Kael doesn't tell me what's going on any more. Dad's going to wonder what the hell I've been doing all this time. "That's no good at all. We need to help him, but he got pretty mad at me when I tried to help him. I thought he might listen to you."
Jaina nodded and closed her book carefully. "Kael's my friend, I want to help him."
"Yeah, so do I," Kylian murmured, and then blinked. Jaina's fist impacted with his shoulder.
"We'll help him together, that's what friends do. We stick together like syrupy pancakes."
Kylian smiled and then stood, offering his hand. "I've heard that saying before, about waffles."
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Pancakes are better."
"I'll duel you to prove you're wrong."
"You're on."
Kelnar stood at the kitchen doorway, hands on hips. "Not in my house, you won't."
Jaina and Kylian heaved identical, exaggerated sighs. "Yes, Mom."
~ * ~
Kael curled in the corner of his room, shaking and rocking. I blasted my best friend. I blasted him right out the door. What if he's hurt? What if I killed him? Asoleil help me, I don't know what to do, I don't--
Chocolate would help him. Sweet, delightful oblivion. I need... I need...
"Kael?"
Jaina, Kael thought. Her name was a bastion of a calm in a swirling sea of cacao and sugar, because while Jaina herself wasn't someone he'd consider to be calm or restful, there was something utterly solid about her practicality and her logical processes. She really is such a good--
"Kael!"
"What?" he mumbled, curling in the corner, hugging his candy to his chest, even as it melted to his robes. "No... no..."
Jaina knelt down and took his hands. "It's okay, there's more." She looked into his eyes. "The first thing you need to do is get cleaned up, okay? Kylian will help you."
"Kylian!" Kael's eyes widened. "I attacked him, is he hurt?!"
"I'm fine," Kylian assured him as he came into view. "I was just sur-- urk!"
Kael hugged him frantically. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it." Kael rambled on for a few more seconds as Kylian patted his back and smiled.
"Hey, you're getting chocolate all over me, and you're not allowed to lick it off with kids and teachers hanging around," he replied. "Jaina said to get you cleaned up, so let's do that."
Kael nodded, and Kylian led him into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Jaina went through Kael's sacks of chocolate. Kelnar watched as the human girl sorted them into piles, though the piles weren't particularly even. "What are you doing, Jaina?"
"We can't just take all of his candy away," Jaina said. "He'll get all shaky and sick, but he can't keep eating more and more either. So I'm dividing up what's left to ease him off of it."
"Weaning," Kelnar said. "Not a bad idea, where did you learn about this?"
Jaina looked up at her. "I heard Uncle Revilgaz talk about it. A lot of people who go to Booty Bay need to sober up. His Bruisers know how to help people."
Kelnar blinked, and found this hard to resolve with the fact that Jaina's Light's Guardian was one of the most notorious "professional businessmen" in all of the Eastern Lands. "That's very... generous of him."
"Yeah..." Jaina said, and went back to sorting. "But there's no harbour here to throw Kael in, so I hope the shower works."
Ah.
Ten minutes later, Kael and Kylian returned from the bathroom, cleaner and dressed in simple robes. Jaina had finished sorting out the candy and placing them in bags. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better," Kael said, and smiled at Kylian. Kylian blew on his nails and buffed them on his robes. "What are you doing?"
"We're going to ease you off of candy," Jaina said. "This is the one you can eat tomorrow." She pointed to one of the bags. "The rest are coming with me. I'll give you one bag a day, and it has to last for the whole day. You're going to concentrate on getting better. Give Kylian your credit rune."
"Oh, I like you," Kylian said. "I am going to have so much fun."
Jaina put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Your responsibility is to make sure Kael can't buy his own candy. Not to buy hookers and blow."
"Jaina--"
"You really are the best little kid ever," Kylian said, and offered her an elaborate bow. "I'll give it back when we're sure Kael is clean."
"Good," Jaina said decisively. "We need to work together to take care of Kael."
Kael looked over at Kelnar, who was smiling and shaking her head in amusement. Kael smiled too. He still felt shaky, and he wasn't at all certain this was going to be fun, but there was something comforting about being taken care of, by being teased by Kylian and bossed around by Jaina.
I could get used to this, being comforted and inspired by someone like Jaina. She's happy to be in Dalaran, and so am I. He remembered her words from earlier. I'm happier to be me, too, thanks to a little muse of fire...
[Feb 04]
Day/Theme: February 3: O, for a muse of fire!
Series: Warcraft
Character/Pairing: Kael'thas Sunstrider, Jaina Proudmoore (primarily); Kylian, students, teachers.
Rating: PG (Kylian's mouth has bumped the rating)
Previously: 1 2
Author's Note: These fics will be primarily unbetaed, and then reposted on my personal journal at the end of the month.
~ * ~
It was just after the final class bell and Kael felt relieved. The last class of the day, basic conjuration, seemed to drag on forever. He was beginning to regret starting from the 'beginning', but at least now he wasn't alone. Kael smiled over at Jaina, and the human girl was still writing carefully. Kael glanced over her work, and winced at her notes.
Jaina's handwriting is... well, she is young, yet, Kael thought. She has time to learn how to not look like something written on the wall of a bathroom--
"I think you're supposed to take your own notes, not read from mine," Jaina said, and Kael started.
"I'm sorry, Jaina, I was just admiring your handwriting," Kael said. Jaina gave him a look. There was a certain way her forehead wrinkled, the way her lips drew together. Kylian described it as her 'you are full of shit' look, and Kael had to admit, it suited her. "It's... please, stop looking at me like that, I'll say it. Your handwriting is terrible."
"It sort of is, isn't it?" Jaina said, tilting her head. "Oh well, I'll get better."
"You're not offended?" Kael asked, studying the girl closely. She shrugged philosophically.
"Not really? You're not telling me I don't belong, you're not telling me that my family or my beliefs are dumb, so why should I be mad? I'll fix my handwriting."
"I believe I have some good guides for you," Kael said, sighing with relief. "I'm glad I haven't hurt your feelings, life in Silvermoon is remarkably... fraught." Jaina reached over and punched him. Kael blinked. The impact of her fist on his arm was very light, just enough to be notable, but not enough to hurt. "What was that for?"
"It's a thing," Jaina said. "It means it's all okay."
Kael collected up his books and walked with her out of the classroom and into the busy hallway. "Hitting is okay for humans?"
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Not bad hitting, just good hitting."
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Well, hurting people is wrong. But I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"Well, no," Kael said. "I hardly felt it."
"Exactly. You were just honest with me. You weren't mean-honest, or not really. Just honest. It's just a little punch. Not a mean one. Just a punch."
"I'm sure that I'll find something wrong with your logic, but I can't think of anything right now," Kael said. Jaina snorted. "I have an idea. There's a place I overheard some of the students talking about, and I must confess I'm curious."
"Oh? Where?" Jaina asked, looking up at him.
"It's a place called Sweete's Sweets. I suspect a pun involved, but it's a store that sells things like candies and chocolates, and I..."
Jaina's eyes widened. "You've never had those things?"
"No," Kael admitted. "I've never really had the chance."
"Were you in trouble?" Jaina asked, her brow wrinkling. "Were your parents mad at you?"
Kael stilled a moment. "My mother died too early for me to remember her, and my father rarely speaks to me. The servants that raised me wanted to make sure that I adhered to the traditions of the Quel'dorei, so I've lived a very ascetic lifestyle. No sweets that aren't fruit related."
"I'm sorry," Jaina said, reaching up to touch his arm. "That's terrible."
"It's... why I'm here," Kael said. "It gives me the chance to see new things, meet new people, and try pastries."
"You're being punished too?"
'Too'? "I'm not being punished at all. I wanted to come to Dalaran." Kael looked down at her. "Do you think you're being punished by being sent here?"
"Well, yes?" Jaina said. "I... I did something bad."
"I can't imagine it," Kael said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not... really," Jaina said. As they walked, Kael noticed that Jaina's gaze would dart to something that caught her eye, and there was a brief flash of wonder before she looked away. Several bright purple blocks of Dalaran passed in silence, and Jaina's behaviour remained consistent.
I'll get to the bottom of this, Kael vowed. He followed the directions to the Sweet Shop and held the door open for Jaina so she could walk inside. This meant that Kael heard Jaina's soft gasp before he saw what provoked it:
Sweete's Sweets was a relatively small shop on the outside, but inside it seemed three times as big. There were shelves and shelves of glass jars, filled with more candy than Kael had ever seen before. An entire rainbow of flavours awaited, and the candies varied in size, shape and apparently texture, from what he could see. Another shelf held bars of chocolate that were white, various shades of brown including one that was so dark it seemed black. Another shelf held slabs of fudge mixed with herb flavourings; the mageroyal pink fudge made Kael's mouth water just by looking at it. Still another held jars of cookies, another nuts, and still others cakes, pastries and baked sweets.
Kael inhaled sharply, and the scent of sugar in the air nearly made him dizzy. Jaina moved ahead of him, looking at some of the hard candies. Kael let himself regain his focus as Jaina opened one of the jars and used a small metal scoop to retrieve some of the bright yellow creations and deposit them in a brown paper bag. She checked her pockets for coin before bringing it to the cashier. The cashier weighed the candy and then Jaina handed him some of her money. Immediately, she took one out and began to suck happily.
It all seems so simple, Kael said. I wonder if they take credit?
~ * ~
"If you eat all of that, you'll be sick," Jaina said. "That's what Mother always says, and she's smart."
"Elves hardly ever get sick," Kael promised her, carefully steering the sacks of sweets that he levitated in front of him towards his residence. "I wanted to try some of everything."
"I think you have some of everything here," Jaina said, poking at one of the sacks. "How are you doing that?"
"Magic," Kael replied. Jaina rolled her eyes. "No, I mean it. It's a magical spell. You'll be able to learn it too."
"I guess," Jaina said, sighing.
Kael fished out a rune and handed it to her. "Here, touch this to the door. Why do you 'guess'?"
Jaina did as she was instructed and then opened the door, allowing Kael to nudge the sacks through the door. Jaina closed the door behind him and set the rune key on one of the tables. "I'm supposed to be learning magic because I need to. I need to learn how to control my gift. Why would I be able to learn something fun like this?" She poked at one of the floating sacks again.
Now is a good time, Kael decided. He let the sacks float gently to the ground, and gestured to Jaina to sit. "Do you drink tea?"
Jaina nodded and Kael went to make her some. While his meals were often ordered in, tea making was an art he'd learned, and it pleased him that he could do something for his friend, even as trivial as this. When he returned with the cups of tea, Jaina thanked him and sipped a little. "It's good."
"Thank you." Kael sat down, and opened one of the sacks, fishing out cupcakes for the pair of them. "Jaina... why do you think you're being punished by being in Dalaran?"
Jaina sighed, and looked down at her tea cup. Kael started in on the cupcake, and was stunned by the rush of sweetness from the first bite. "I got into a fight with someone. It wasn't... I wasn't really mad at them, I just shoved them, but something happened. They slipped and fell... and hit their head. People used to talk about me. They said I was weird, a changeling, switched with the real me so that I could cause trouble and hurt people. I didn't mean to! I... I tried to hide, but Da found me, and he brought Antonidas with him. Antonidas said that I had a special magical gift. Most people have to learn how to use magic, but some people are born with it, and they have to learn to control it."
"The difference between wizardry and sorcery," Kael agreed, and retrieved another cupcake. "You're very special. Most people aren't recruited personally by the leader of the Kirin Tor. Your father made a good choice in regards to who to contact."
Jaina's expression was distressed. "But I'm in trouble, they were talking about how to deal with me, and now I'm here--"
"Buhh yuur noo--"
"Wrong kind of sea food, Kael."
Kael finished his cupcake hurriedly and swallowed. A rush of dizziness hit him and he shook his head a little to clear it. "But you're not here because you're being punished, Jaina. You're here because Antonidas wants you to learn. Being in Dalaran is a gift, not a curse, and so is magic. Many of my people are born with magic, or some kind of ability to learn. It's part of who we are. In fact, one of my friends who has no magic at all is considered an aberrant because of it. You have an opportunity, Jaina. To learn, to enjoy your new gifts and your freedom." His lips quirked a little. "You should enjoy it."
"...so I'm allowed to like Dalaran?"
"Yes," Kael said decisively, and decided that something else was in order. I know there was fudge... "In fact, I think you should love Dalaran. Love to study, too. Love magic, love life... love freedom."
"You didn't have any freedom when you were at home, did you?" Jaina said. Kael took a moment to break off a piece of fudge before taking a bite.
"No," Kael said quietly. "I'm going to be a king some day, and people look to me as an example. My father... is in mourning for my mother. He has been since she died, and he's not... well. Shel -- my father's friend, Kylian's father too -- says that he loved my mother very much. So much so that when she died..." He bit into the fudge, ruthlessly eating as much of it as he could stomach, and the sugar hit him in a wave. "It was my fault."
"How was it your fault?"
Jaina's gaze was anxious, and Kael slumped back. "I was born. It sickened her. Father blames me, and I look just like her. If I wasn't here, she'd still be alive."
Jaina punched him in the arm. This time, it did hurt. Kael frowned at her. "It's not your fault. Your da is stupid."
"Jaina--"
"He is stupid," Jaina said fiercely. "It's never a baby's fault for being born. Not ever. Your da is wrong, and if I ever see him, I'm going to punch him right in his stupid gob."
Kael blinked, then laughed, then rubbed the back of his hand against his eyes. "Jaina... do you want me to show you how to levitate things?"
"I'd like that a lot," Jaina said, and touched his sleeve. "Though, aren't you eating a lot of chocolate?"
"I'll be fine. Let's get you started on the basic theory."
~ * ~
The weeks that followed saw Jaina and Kael traveling all over Dalaran. Freed from her guilt, Jaina was incredibly curious about everything. More than once, Kael was forced to admit he didn't know the answer to her question, and so Jaina would drag him around until they found someone who could.
Sweets were a constant third companion as Kael tried new delights, and Jaina was such a distraction that it was only late one night that he noticed that his hands were shaking badly.
"Kael, you're jittering like an arcane dust addict and your house smells like candy. What's the deal?"
"You're observant as always, Kylian," Kael muttered. "Don't you have a lab partner to torment?"
Kylian sighed. "Noah is out on some kind of super-secret 'thing'. I bet it's a date. With a man."
"Just because you find him attractive and want to sleep with him, doesn't mean he's gay," Kael chided him, turning his hand over, observing the shaking with a detached air. "And even if he was, it still doesn't mean he'd sleep with you."
"Who could resist me?" Kylian said, grinning broadly. Kael rolled his eyes.
"The majority of Dalaran's population."
"Harsh," Kylian said, and watched as Kael unwrapped another candy bar. "Seriously, though, I think you've had enough. You've got these weird... things. On your face."
"If this is another joke about my nose, I swear--"
"No, they're like spots." Kylian took Kael by the elbow and steered him towards a mirror. "Look." He pushed Kael's hair back so that his face wasn't shadowed. Kael's reflection showed someone who looked oddly sallow, and there were shadows under his eyes. Dusted across his cheeks were red spots. Kael raised his free hand to poke at them and winced. "Dude, if it hurts, don't poke it."
"It didn't hurt until you pointed it out," Kael grumbled, poking it again. "My face feels oddly numb."
"That's because you're high as a kite on sugar," Kylian said, and reached for the chocolate bar in Kael's hand. "Just stop eating--"
The world became a sudden, violent blur, and Kylian found himself sprawled in the middle of the street, Kael's incoherent roar still ringing in his ears. People crowded around, and Kylian made shooing motions as the door to Kael's residence slammed shut. Kylian stood, and dusted himself off.
That's it, Kylian thought as he headed in the direction of the residence of one Kelnar Goldensword. Kael needs help, and I'm going to get him help. That means going to a little kid. This isn't at all cowardly, Firesong, just keep reminding yourself of that.
The journey was relatively uneventful, and Kylian had spent the first few weeks of their time studying the city's layout and the travel routes, so this knowledge helped him arrive at his destination swiftly. He knocked briskly.
The door opened immediately, and Kylian smiled brightly. "Instructor Goldensword! It's so good to see you, I--"
"No." The door slammed sharply. Kylian sighed, and knocked again. "I said--"
"Wait, wait. Just wait. I'm not here to proposition you for sex. Or your daughter, or anyone else. I need help." Kylian's expression was serious. "I think there's something really wrong with Kael, and I think Jaina can help."
"I'm not sending Jaina over there with you alone."
"Technically, I've spent time with Jaina before, and nothing bad--"
"I mean if the Prince is injured, he shouldn't be left to the tender mercies of a ten year old and a professional slacker."
"Ouch," Kylian muttered. "Alright. Just hurry up."
"Stay here," Kelnar said sternly, and backed away from the door. Immediately, Kylian followed her, wandering into the kitchen. "What did I just say?"
"Hey, Jaina," Kylian said. The girl smiled up at him. He tilted his head. "Look at you, the letters are getting neater every day."
"Thanks, I want Kael to think my handwriting is good enough to be a mage," Jaina said. "Is he with you?"
"No, and that's what I want to talk to you about," Kylian said, and he squatted down, so he was looking up at her, his gaze serious. "He kicked me out of the house because I tried to take his chocolate away."
"He eats too much of it," Jaina said. "He said he'd never had it before."
"He's right, he hasn't," Kylian said. "Since he isn't a professional slacker, he didn't think to get me to sneak him any when we were kids. He's got things, too, on his face."
"Pimples," Jaina said with authority. "Tandred had them when he was growing up. There are good ointments for it, we can find some here, but if Kael is getting them, it's because of all the candy and sugar. He said he was having headaches."
Well, someone's unseated me from best friend position, Kylian thought, only a little bitterly. Kael doesn't tell me what's going on any more. Dad's going to wonder what the hell I've been doing all this time. "That's no good at all. We need to help him, but he got pretty mad at me when I tried to help him. I thought he might listen to you."
Jaina nodded and closed her book carefully. "Kael's my friend, I want to help him."
"Yeah, so do I," Kylian murmured, and then blinked. Jaina's fist impacted with his shoulder.
"We'll help him together, that's what friends do. We stick together like syrupy pancakes."
Kylian smiled and then stood, offering his hand. "I've heard that saying before, about waffles."
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Pancakes are better."
"I'll duel you to prove you're wrong."
"You're on."
Kelnar stood at the kitchen doorway, hands on hips. "Not in my house, you won't."
Jaina and Kylian heaved identical, exaggerated sighs. "Yes, Mom."
~ * ~
Kael curled in the corner of his room, shaking and rocking. I blasted my best friend. I blasted him right out the door. What if he's hurt? What if I killed him? Asoleil help me, I don't know what to do, I don't--
Chocolate would help him. Sweet, delightful oblivion. I need... I need...
"Kael?"
Jaina, Kael thought. Her name was a bastion of a calm in a swirling sea of cacao and sugar, because while Jaina herself wasn't someone he'd consider to be calm or restful, there was something utterly solid about her practicality and her logical processes. She really is such a good--
"Kael!"
"What?" he mumbled, curling in the corner, hugging his candy to his chest, even as it melted to his robes. "No... no..."
Jaina knelt down and took his hands. "It's okay, there's more." She looked into his eyes. "The first thing you need to do is get cleaned up, okay? Kylian will help you."
"Kylian!" Kael's eyes widened. "I attacked him, is he hurt?!"
"I'm fine," Kylian assured him as he came into view. "I was just sur-- urk!"
Kael hugged him frantically. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it." Kael rambled on for a few more seconds as Kylian patted his back and smiled.
"Hey, you're getting chocolate all over me, and you're not allowed to lick it off with kids and teachers hanging around," he replied. "Jaina said to get you cleaned up, so let's do that."
Kael nodded, and Kylian led him into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Jaina went through Kael's sacks of chocolate. Kelnar watched as the human girl sorted them into piles, though the piles weren't particularly even. "What are you doing, Jaina?"
"We can't just take all of his candy away," Jaina said. "He'll get all shaky and sick, but he can't keep eating more and more either. So I'm dividing up what's left to ease him off of it."
"Weaning," Kelnar said. "Not a bad idea, where did you learn about this?"
Jaina looked up at her. "I heard Uncle Revilgaz talk about it. A lot of people who go to Booty Bay need to sober up. His Bruisers know how to help people."
Kelnar blinked, and found this hard to resolve with the fact that Jaina's Light's Guardian was one of the most notorious "professional businessmen" in all of the Eastern Lands. "That's very... generous of him."
"Yeah..." Jaina said, and went back to sorting. "But there's no harbour here to throw Kael in, so I hope the shower works."
Ah.
Ten minutes later, Kael and Kylian returned from the bathroom, cleaner and dressed in simple robes. Jaina had finished sorting out the candy and placing them in bags. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better," Kael said, and smiled at Kylian. Kylian blew on his nails and buffed them on his robes. "What are you doing?"
"We're going to ease you off of candy," Jaina said. "This is the one you can eat tomorrow." She pointed to one of the bags. "The rest are coming with me. I'll give you one bag a day, and it has to last for the whole day. You're going to concentrate on getting better. Give Kylian your credit rune."
"Oh, I like you," Kylian said. "I am going to have so much fun."
Jaina put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Your responsibility is to make sure Kael can't buy his own candy. Not to buy hookers and blow."
"Jaina--"
"You really are the best little kid ever," Kylian said, and offered her an elaborate bow. "I'll give it back when we're sure Kael is clean."
"Good," Jaina said decisively. "We need to work together to take care of Kael."
Kael looked over at Kelnar, who was smiling and shaking her head in amusement. Kael smiled too. He still felt shaky, and he wasn't at all certain this was going to be fun, but there was something comforting about being taken care of, by being teased by Kylian and bossed around by Jaina.
I could get used to this, being comforted and inspired by someone like Jaina. She's happy to be in Dalaran, and so am I. He remembered her words from earlier. I'm happier to be me, too, thanks to a little muse of fire...
[Feb 04]