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31_days2012-02-09 11:22 pm
the--ivorytower.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-02-09 11:22 pm
[Feb 09] [Warcraft] Fire and Ice 9/29
Title: Fire and Ice 9/29
Day/Theme: February 9: Only ice in the blood
Series: Warcraft
Character/Pairing: Kael'thas Sunstrider, Jaina Proudmoore (primarily); Arthas, various minor characters. Kael/Jaina (implied, though not in this chapter)
Rating: G
Previously: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Author's Note: These fics will be primarily unbetaed, and then reposted on my personal journal at the end of the month.
~ * ~
The first letter came seventeen days after Arthas had come to stay in Dalaran. Kael had a ferocious headache, and was trying to hate Kylian to death. It seemed as if since Arthas had shown up, Kael kept stumbling over him making out with young, attractive students, usually male, often human, and when he could make the criteria fit, blond. He's taunting me, I swear it. Finally, Kael simply went to his classes early so he could find a seat and seethe in peace.
I'm going to go insane, Kael thought bitterly, laying against his desk, trying to calm down. Is this what did it to Medivh? Is this why he turned on humanity? I wonder who it was over, I've heard rumours about Lothar and--
"Prince Kael'thas, I have a letter for you," someone called, and Kael raised his head a little.
"Who's sending me letters?" he muttered and thanked the servant absently. The seal on the letter was stamped with red and gold and shaped like a corona of fire. That's Shelemvor's family seal, what could he..? He murmurs softly and put his fingertip on the seal. The corona blazed once and then faded, allowing Kael to slip his finger under the seal and pull it up with little fuss. He tugged the sheet out lightly and opened it. He recognized the writing immediately: the artificially careless loops of the letters were Shelemvor's, and the note itself was short and simple --
Kael'thas --
I need you to return to Quel'Danas immediately. There's an emergency with your father. We need to talk in person.
- S.F.
Kael folded the piece of paper back up, and placed it in its envelope. Once it was secure, Kael held the envelope in two fingers, and it took a mere thought to burn it to ash, and then scatter onto the desk. Kael waved his hand over the desk to clean it, then lay his head back down on the desk. His head was pounding and he had ten minutes before his nap would be interrupted by his regularly scheduled class.
That wasn't worth interrupting sleep for.
~ * ~
Jaina hesitated at the threshold of Kael's door, fiddling with the rune key in her hand. On the one hand, she wanted to see Kael. He was her best friend and her lover and she wanted to be with him. On the other... What if he's sulking because I've been spending time with Arthas? I'm worried about him, but if this is just going to degenerate into another fight... courage, Jaina. He could have fallen off the wagon.
Jaina swiped the key, unlocking the door and letting herself in. "Kael?"
All of the lights in his home were off, but the house didn't feel empty. It felt more like it did when Jaina got up in the middle of the night for water or to make a quick run to relieve herself. It's just before dinner, has he been doing late night research without me? The question made her heart clench suddenly. We should spend more time together, if that's the case. We've always been a research team. She padded towards the bedroom and opened the door a crack. She summoned light: something only as bright as moonlight, hoping not to wake Kael. She heard him groan, and her as her eyes adjusted to the faint light, she could see that he was curled on the bed, writhing in pain. He was half-undressed, and his robes were half-draped on the mattress and half on the floor.
"Kael!" Jaina whispered urgently. She doused the light and went to the bed, climbing into it. The response was immediate as Kael curled into her, burying his face in her lap. She could feel that his cheeks were damp, and he was cool to her touch and shaking. "What's wrong? What's happening?"
"I don't know," Kael whispered back, each word drawn from him in pain. "I don't know what's happening."
"Shh, we'll figure it out," Jaina murmured, stroking his hair. "We will."
"Note," Kael managed. "There was a note."
Jaina felt around on the bed, and her fingers came into contact with a slip of paper. She picked it up and summoned the light again.
Kael --
You have to come. I think he's dying.
-- Shel
Jaina ran her fingers over the note briefly, and noticed that Kael had added something to it in jagged letters, unlike his normal writing.
I don't care.
"Oh, Kael..." Jaina whispered, and cradled him closer. Closing her eyes, she sent out a series of arcane messengers, and waited. "I won't leave you. It's alright. I'm here."
~ * ~
An hour later, Kael had been moved to the hospital wing. The room was dark and cool, and Kael was surrounded by large, person-shaped pillows, and he was clinging to one of them. Jaina's forehead wrinkled in concern.
"I've never observed this phenomenon before," the doctor said, adjusting his glasses. "Prince Kael'thas does not technically have anything wrong with him. He doesn't have mage fever, he doesn't have a mundane illness... I'm not quite sure I understand. We've given him a sedative so he can sleep, and we're keeping him in a dark place, but other than that..."
"I've contacted my father, and he thinks he has an idea of what's going on," Kylian said. Like Jaina, he was frowning in concern, and glanced briefly into Kael's room. "He's been trying to contact Kael about it, but Kael doesn't... get along with his father."
"He told me about it, a long time ago," Jaina said. "But even if his father's sick, why would it be affecting him?"
"I don't think it's precisely his father," Kylian said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We need to get him back to Silvermoon, talk to my father and bring him to a more experienced doctor. With all due respect." He nodded to the human doctor who waved it off.
"I found a note, it said--"
"Not here," Kylian warned. Jaina had seen Kylian truly serious a half-dozen times, and while he was serious now, he was also different. Frightened. Angry.
"Then let's go to Silvermoon," Jaina insisted. "Why wait?"
"I was hoping to hear more from Dad, but he's probably busy with Anasterian. Let's get going."
"I'll have someone help you move him onto a stretcher, and you can take that with you," the doctor said. "Just have it sent back when all of this is resolved."
"Thank you for your help, Doctor Judkins," Jaina said, smiling. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, Miss Proudmoore." The man nodded back, and went to find some nurses. Jaina turned to Kylian.
"You know something."
"Of course I know something," Kylian replied. "Look, you and Kael are close, and that's fine. It's more than fine, he's blossomed here, but there are still rules and protocols. I will tell you, because I think you can help, but not here. Once we get into the warded areas, yes. Do you still have the note?"
Jaina nodded and pulled her sleeve open to reveal it. "Do you need it?"
"No, just make sure you don't lose it." Kylian sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "He's too proud, sometimes, you know? Once he makes his mind up, that's it. He's so stubborn."
Jaina reached out and touched his arm. "Kael's going to be okay. We'll help him. You don't have to worry."
"I appreciate that, Jaina. Though you know what I'd really appreciate--"
"No."
"Damnit."
~ * ~
Jaina had never been to Silvermoon before. Her brief glimpse before she'd been taken inside had shown her huge spires, gold and red, pointing towards the sky. Quel'thalas was warmer than Dalaran, and Kael had -- derisively -- described it as trapped in eternal summer.
Several attendants were wheeling Kael through the hallway, flanked by four Spellbreaker guards, clad in gold and scarlet. Their expressions were stony and grave. Jaina walked at the side of the stretcher, holding Kael's hand. He had awoken, if one could describe it as such, and had begun to rave. He had called out for Jaina and Kylian, and spoke of being watched, of a thousand watching eyes. Holding Jaina's hand had calmed him, and Kylian murmured to him softly.
"We're almost there," Kylian was saying. "Just a little longer."
"...she watches... she always watches..." Kael whispered.
"Just a little longer, buddy," Kylian said tensely. "Just wait..."
Jaina squeezed Kael's hand tightly, and kept walking. They eventually reached a large wound, and Jaina winced at the magic coming from the wards.
[Feb 10]
Day/Theme: February 9: Only ice in the blood
Series: Warcraft
Character/Pairing: Kael'thas Sunstrider, Jaina Proudmoore (primarily); Arthas, various minor characters. Kael/Jaina (implied, though not in this chapter)
Rating: G
Previously: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Author's Note: These fics will be primarily unbetaed, and then reposted on my personal journal at the end of the month.
~ * ~
The first letter came seventeen days after Arthas had come to stay in Dalaran. Kael had a ferocious headache, and was trying to hate Kylian to death. It seemed as if since Arthas had shown up, Kael kept stumbling over him making out with young, attractive students, usually male, often human, and when he could make the criteria fit, blond. He's taunting me, I swear it. Finally, Kael simply went to his classes early so he could find a seat and seethe in peace.
I'm going to go insane, Kael thought bitterly, laying against his desk, trying to calm down. Is this what did it to Medivh? Is this why he turned on humanity? I wonder who it was over, I've heard rumours about Lothar and--
"Prince Kael'thas, I have a letter for you," someone called, and Kael raised his head a little.
"Who's sending me letters?" he muttered and thanked the servant absently. The seal on the letter was stamped with red and gold and shaped like a corona of fire. That's Shelemvor's family seal, what could he..? He murmurs softly and put his fingertip on the seal. The corona blazed once and then faded, allowing Kael to slip his finger under the seal and pull it up with little fuss. He tugged the sheet out lightly and opened it. He recognized the writing immediately: the artificially careless loops of the letters were Shelemvor's, and the note itself was short and simple --
Kael'thas --
I need you to return to Quel'Danas immediately. There's an emergency with your father. We need to talk in person.
- S.F.
Kael folded the piece of paper back up, and placed it in its envelope. Once it was secure, Kael held the envelope in two fingers, and it took a mere thought to burn it to ash, and then scatter onto the desk. Kael waved his hand over the desk to clean it, then lay his head back down on the desk. His head was pounding and he had ten minutes before his nap would be interrupted by his regularly scheduled class.
That wasn't worth interrupting sleep for.
~ * ~
Jaina hesitated at the threshold of Kael's door, fiddling with the rune key in her hand. On the one hand, she wanted to see Kael. He was her best friend and her lover and she wanted to be with him. On the other... What if he's sulking because I've been spending time with Arthas? I'm worried about him, but if this is just going to degenerate into another fight... courage, Jaina. He could have fallen off the wagon.
Jaina swiped the key, unlocking the door and letting herself in. "Kael?"
All of the lights in his home were off, but the house didn't feel empty. It felt more like it did when Jaina got up in the middle of the night for water or to make a quick run to relieve herself. It's just before dinner, has he been doing late night research without me? The question made her heart clench suddenly. We should spend more time together, if that's the case. We've always been a research team. She padded towards the bedroom and opened the door a crack. She summoned light: something only as bright as moonlight, hoping not to wake Kael. She heard him groan, and her as her eyes adjusted to the faint light, she could see that he was curled on the bed, writhing in pain. He was half-undressed, and his robes were half-draped on the mattress and half on the floor.
"Kael!" Jaina whispered urgently. She doused the light and went to the bed, climbing into it. The response was immediate as Kael curled into her, burying his face in her lap. She could feel that his cheeks were damp, and he was cool to her touch and shaking. "What's wrong? What's happening?"
"I don't know," Kael whispered back, each word drawn from him in pain. "I don't know what's happening."
"Shh, we'll figure it out," Jaina murmured, stroking his hair. "We will."
"Note," Kael managed. "There was a note."
Jaina felt around on the bed, and her fingers came into contact with a slip of paper. She picked it up and summoned the light again.
Kael --
You have to come. I think he's dying.
-- Shel
Jaina ran her fingers over the note briefly, and noticed that Kael had added something to it in jagged letters, unlike his normal writing.
I don't care.
"Oh, Kael..." Jaina whispered, and cradled him closer. Closing her eyes, she sent out a series of arcane messengers, and waited. "I won't leave you. It's alright. I'm here."
~ * ~
An hour later, Kael had been moved to the hospital wing. The room was dark and cool, and Kael was surrounded by large, person-shaped pillows, and he was clinging to one of them. Jaina's forehead wrinkled in concern.
"I've never observed this phenomenon before," the doctor said, adjusting his glasses. "Prince Kael'thas does not technically have anything wrong with him. He doesn't have mage fever, he doesn't have a mundane illness... I'm not quite sure I understand. We've given him a sedative so he can sleep, and we're keeping him in a dark place, but other than that..."
"I've contacted my father, and he thinks he has an idea of what's going on," Kylian said. Like Jaina, he was frowning in concern, and glanced briefly into Kael's room. "He's been trying to contact Kael about it, but Kael doesn't... get along with his father."
"He told me about it, a long time ago," Jaina said. "But even if his father's sick, why would it be affecting him?"
"I don't think it's precisely his father," Kylian said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We need to get him back to Silvermoon, talk to my father and bring him to a more experienced doctor. With all due respect." He nodded to the human doctor who waved it off.
"I found a note, it said--"
"Not here," Kylian warned. Jaina had seen Kylian truly serious a half-dozen times, and while he was serious now, he was also different. Frightened. Angry.
"Then let's go to Silvermoon," Jaina insisted. "Why wait?"
"I was hoping to hear more from Dad, but he's probably busy with Anasterian. Let's get going."
"I'll have someone help you move him onto a stretcher, and you can take that with you," the doctor said. "Just have it sent back when all of this is resolved."
"Thank you for your help, Doctor Judkins," Jaina said, smiling. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, Miss Proudmoore." The man nodded back, and went to find some nurses. Jaina turned to Kylian.
"You know something."
"Of course I know something," Kylian replied. "Look, you and Kael are close, and that's fine. It's more than fine, he's blossomed here, but there are still rules and protocols. I will tell you, because I think you can help, but not here. Once we get into the warded areas, yes. Do you still have the note?"
Jaina nodded and pulled her sleeve open to reveal it. "Do you need it?"
"No, just make sure you don't lose it." Kylian sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "He's too proud, sometimes, you know? Once he makes his mind up, that's it. He's so stubborn."
Jaina reached out and touched his arm. "Kael's going to be okay. We'll help him. You don't have to worry."
"I appreciate that, Jaina. Though you know what I'd really appreciate--"
"No."
"Damnit."
~ * ~
Jaina had never been to Silvermoon before. Her brief glimpse before she'd been taken inside had shown her huge spires, gold and red, pointing towards the sky. Quel'thalas was warmer than Dalaran, and Kael had -- derisively -- described it as trapped in eternal summer.
Several attendants were wheeling Kael through the hallway, flanked by four Spellbreaker guards, clad in gold and scarlet. Their expressions were stony and grave. Jaina walked at the side of the stretcher, holding Kael's hand. He had awoken, if one could describe it as such, and had begun to rave. He had called out for Jaina and Kylian, and spoke of being watched, of a thousand watching eyes. Holding Jaina's hand had calmed him, and Kylian murmured to him softly.
"We're almost there," Kylian was saying. "Just a little longer."
"...she watches... she always watches..." Kael whispered.
"Just a little longer, buddy," Kylian said tensely. "Just wait..."
Jaina squeezed Kael's hand tightly, and kept walking. They eventually reached a large wound, and Jaina winced at the magic coming from the wards.
[Feb 10]