Chapter Text
“Jaina,” came Uther’s voice from behind her, “a moment of your time, please?”
Pausing, Jaina looked back to see the Kyrian and his charge standing well away from the rest of the group heading towards the Arbiter. “Can it wait until after?”
Anduin, Thrall, and Baine stopped as well.
“No,” Uther shook his head, “There may not be time after.”
Sighing with irritation, Jaina waved her companions on before walking back to the once paladin. “What is it, Uther?” Jaina asked, glaring unabashed at Sylvanas.
“It has come to my attention that Sylvanas knows the whereabouts of something of great value that may help Anduin recover from what was done to him,” Uther explained quickly.
“What pray tell would that be?” Jaina asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you exactly,” Uther said with a sad shake of his head.
“Why?”
“Because you would kill me if you knew,” Sylvanas spoke up, “and deny those who wish to see me judged and punished.”
“I’m sure they would survive,” Jaina muttered under her breath. “Where might this something be?”
“Torghast,” Sylvanas stated simply.
Outwardly, Jaina only narrowed her eyes as she gave the former banshee queen a dark look. Inwardly, however, she quailed. Torghast? Of all the places in the Shadowlands, it had to be Torghast?! The one place she never ever wanted to return to?
“Why me? Surely someone else is better suited for this,” Jaina asked.
“The only other person who could do this is Anduin,” Sylvanas answered, “and he is in no shape to traverse those halls.”
Jaina clenched her jaw and looked to Uther, “Do you know exactly what this something is?”
“I do,” the Kyrian nodded. “That is why I am asking you to trust me. And besides,” Uther looked darkly at Sylvanas, who had the decency to look sheepish, “What was left behind in the chaos should not be forgotten.”
“Whatever trinket she has left behind can stay lost within those damned halls,” Jaina growled.
“It is no trinket!” Sylvanas snapped, “It’s-”
Uther clapped his hand over her mouth before looking at Jaina with a pleading gaze, “You trusted me before when we faced Anduin in Zereth Mortis. Please, trust me now. I know what I am asking you to do by going into Torghast, but I am certain this is the best option we have for helping Anduin.”
Jaina remained quiet, silently telling him she was unconvinced.
Sighing deeply, Uther reached out and took Jaina’s hands in both of his, “All I can tell you is it’s a piece of Anduin that was taken away from him when it should not have been.” He squeezed her hands gently, “Will you retrieve it for him? Make him whole again?”
The corners of her eyes burned, “Damn you Uther,” she said, voice trembling and heavy with anger and tears, “You’ve already figured out how to use him against me haven’t you?”
“Hopefully in the best way possible,” Uther said with sad kindness.
Jaina squeezed his hands back, hard, her nails digging through her gloves into him. She felt no guilt, she wanted him to know the fear clenching around her chest like an icy vice. “All right, I’ll go.”
“Thank you, Jaina,” Uther’s voice resonated around them with the depths of his gratitude. “I will make arrangements once Sylvanas’s judgment is over. Go, rejoin your friends, I will see you afterward.”
She hesitated, very much needing to wipe her eyes. As if sensing her discomfort, Uther shifted and spread his wings, blocking out Sylvana’s gaze as well as most of the souls nearby. Quickly, Jaina scrubbed her face with her sleeves before turning back towards Tal-’Inara to be transported up to The Crucible.
“The compass will guide you!” Sylvanas shouted behind her.
Pausing, Jaina touched a pocket hidden in her robes that still held Anduin’s compass. Then she continued back to Tal-Inara.
“Everything all right?” Thrall asked as she joined them.
“Nothing is ever ‘all right,’” Jaina answered as she slid next to Anduin and wrapped an arm around him, and he instinctively mirrored the gesture. It was not the most appropriate of actions between them, but ever since he had been freed from Domination, Anduin had been calmer with his adoptive aunt as near as possible. She did not mind.
Uther and Sylvanas arrived shortly after, guarded by the Maw Walker. She watched in quiet contempt as Pelagos kindly, and compassionately, attempted to blame Sylvanas’s behavior on the Jailer’s machinations. The former Ranger General vehemently refused all possibility of manipulation. Instead, she took the consequences of her actions entirely upon herself. It was surprising, and yet it seemed to be very much her at the same time.
All Jaina could do was glare.
Once Sylvanas was handed over to Tyrande, they moved to the Ring of Transference and waited for the High Priestess’s judgment.
Eternity in the Maw, rescuing and returning every soul within back to Pelagos for proper placement within the Shadowlands.
Jaina found it both appropriate and also somewhat disappointing. Sylvanas’s death, while temporarily satisfying, would have been a hollow victory overall. Pelagos would have found her a proper place within the Shadowlands while the souls within the Maw would be lost.
Once that was over, she excused herself to make ready for her journey to Torghast. She didn’t pack much, only the most essential reagents and plenty of potions. During her time there, when she had been able to escape her bonds, she found being unencumbered was the best way of travel. Once geared, she sought out Uther again. She would do this, but she needed something from him in return.
He was waiting for her back in the Ring of Transference, Kleia at his side.
“I’m still waiting on one last thing for your journey, Jaina,” Uther said as she approached.
“I am in no rush to go to Torghast,” she admitted lowly, “While we wait, there is something I must ask of you.”
“I know the danger you’re about to face. Ask, and I shall do my very best to see it done,” Uther said.
“It isn’t for me,” Jaina said, “It’s for Anduin. I want you to take him to Bastion. He is… not ready to return to Stormwind. He’s too broken inside to be what his people need him to be.” She held Uther’s gaze, “I know what he’s going through. I wanted to be there to help him through it, and now I will not be.” Jaina looked away, gaze distant, “I wandered aimlessly when I was so broken that I did not know myself anymore. I sought out death many times, though it never came to me.” She looked back at the Kyrian, “I do not want him as lost and alone as I was. Will you keep him safe for me, Uther?”
“I will do my very best for him,” Uther nodded. “In a way, this may be some redemption for me after my failure with Arthas.”
“Had we reached him then… I don’t think any of this would have happened,” Jaina frowned, remembering the day outside Stratholme, what felt like a lifetime ago. “Do you… ever wonder?”
“All the time,” Uther admitted, then waved his hand harshly, “But we could lose our minds in ‘what ifs’ and ‘should haves.’ Let us now focus on the present.’
As if on cue, Anduin appeared on the transporter pad nearby and hurried over to her, slowing as he neared and studied her appearance.
“You’re leaving,” he realized, suddenly looking much like the young ten-year-old boy he had once been.
“Only for a short while,” Jaina promised, her heart breaking at the pain in his eyes. “I’m coming back.”
“But,” Anduin started, but Uther’s hand dropped onto his shoulder.
“You’ll be coming with me to Bastion,” Uther said. “There are people there who will be able to help you work through what Sylvanas did to you.”
“Bastion… but I nearly killed Kyrestia, she wouldn’t let me in her realm!” Anduin protested.
“Zovaal stabbed Kyrestia,” Uther corrected, “You were merely an extension of his hand. She knows this and lays none of the blame for his actions upon your shoulders. You are a victim as much as the rest of us.”
“But,” he did not look convinced, and looked back at Jaina, “Can’t I go with you?”
“Absolutely not,” Jaina shook her head, then leveled him with a motherly look, “Where I’m headed is going to require all of my focus. That will be much easier if I know you are safe and sound in Bastion, receiving the best care they can supply.” She knew it was cheating, but if it kept him there, she would use it, “Would you do that for me, Anduin? Please?”
The young king was quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly. He knew how hard and desperately she had fought to free him from the Jailer.
“Thank you,” she said, genuinely relieved, even though she could still see in his eyes that he worried she would not return. Perhaps leaving a piece of her with him would give him peace of mind. “Here, hold onto this for me,” Jaina said, holding her staff out to him. “I expect you to keep it safe and unharmed while I’m gone.”
“But… don’t you need this?” Anduin asked.
“It is a focus and an anchor when I need it,” Jaina admitted. “I will not need it where I am going, I promise.”
Hesitantly, Anduin reached out and took the polished wood, looking at it sadly before transferring it to his left hand and reaching behind him, drawing Shalamayne. A little sheepishly, he held it out to her, “Please take this with you.”
Jaina stared down at Shalamayne, “Anduin, I-.”
“If you’re going to leave me with a piece of you, then it’s only right that I give you a piece of me,” Anduin smiled gently. “Besides, it has not felt right in my hands since they bound Arthas’s soul to it.” It sat, dull and lifeless in his grip. “It came to me when I needed it, much like Fearbreaker did from Magni. But now I think it’s time I pass it on once more.” He held it out to her again, “I hope it will serve you as well as it served me… and my father.”
Reaching out, Jaina took the sword in both hands. It was heavy, but not as much as she expected it would be. The longer she held it, the lighter it became, until it was comfortable within her grasp.
In a flash that made them both jump in surprise, Shalamayne began to glow a steady icy blue. Frosty air and snowflakes sloughed from the blade as it was held between them. The lacy lines across the surface now had a lattice of frost-like engravings weaved between them, acting as links between the base blade and Anduin’s later addition.
“I think it likes you,” Anduin rasped with a smile, tears in his eyes.
Jaina’s chest tightened as she bowed her head, tears threatening. Shalamayne thrummed with power, steady and strong.
Anduin was suddenly hugging her tightly, armor digging painfully into parts of her. She did not care and hugged him back with equal fervor.
“Please be careful,” he whispered, his tears hot and wet against the side of her neck.
“I will,” she promised.
“Please come back,” he said, his voice small and pleading.
“I will,” she rasped, tears of her own streaming down her cheeks.
Those around them said nothing when they finally parted, and Anduin handed Jaina Shalamayne’s scabbard. He helped her get it situated and comfortable on her back before stepping away to stand with Uther.
“Kleia, please remain here with Jaina and make sure she gets the last of what she needs for her journey,” Uther said, not wanting Anduin to see her jump into the Maw.
“Certainly,” Kleia nodded, “Fly safely. I will catch up with you soon.”
Anduin stole one last goodbye hug from his aunt before allowing Uther to lead him away towards the flight master.
When he was far enough away, Jaina spoke, “Kleia, will you please keep an extra eye on him when you return to Bastion?”
“Of course, I will watch over your son as if he were my own soulbind,” Kleia said with a reassuring smile.
Jaina felt her cheeks pink, “I do not have that honor. His mother died when he was an infant. I met him when he was a young boy, and did my best to give him support when he and his father were at odds. I became ‘Auntie’ at some point. He is the closest I’ll ever come to having children of my own.”
“I see, my apologies for the assumption,” Kleia said.
“I have heard worse assumptions,” She chuckled ruefully, “What is a soulbind? I’ve heard the term used a few times,” Jaina asked, allowing her curiosity to the better of her.
“Oh, a soulbind is a soul you have a very special connection with. Soulbinds know each other's pasts, their memories for as long as they persist, their dreams, their hopes, and their fears. You know each other deeply, and that bond is felt no matter where they are.”
Jaina gave another little chuckle, “That sounds like ‘soulmates’ on Azeroth.”
“Oh, soulmates are that and more here in the Shadowlands,” Kleia smiled brightly. “Soulmates always find each other, no matter the length of time between their deaths, or the difference in their placements within the Shadowlands. One will always find the other, crossing planes of existence to be with them if necessary.”
“That sounds nice,” Jaina smiled sadly.
“Have little fear for your heart’s son,” Kleia put a comforting hand on Jaina’s shoulder. “Uther and I will see to his healing and safety while you are away.” She looked up at a sound and smiled, “Oh! There they are! Maw Walker, over here!” Kleia called, waving the dark-clad figure over. “You have our deepest thanks for coming so quickly. Are you prepared?”
The Maw Walker was joining her? That made her feel somewhat better. It had been the Maw Walker who rescued her from her imprisonment in Torghast after all. Who better than to help her roam those dreaded halls than one who seemed destined to do it? Even if they couldn’t find whatever it was Sylvanas had left in Torghast, the Maw Walker would at least be able to get them back out again.
“Yes,” they answered simply, their voice nothing more than a rough, harsh whisper from beneath their armor.
“Very well,” Kleia turned to Jaina, “Uther did not tell me exactly what you were looking for down there, only that it was deeply important to Anduin. I wish you a safe journey, and best of luck in your search.”
“Thank you,” Jaina said, rolling her shoulders a little, getting used to Shalamayne’s weight on her back. Together, she and the Maw Walker stepped up to the edge of the drop. It was quiet now. Souls no longer funneled unchecked into the Maw. She watched the Maw Walker, who merely leaned backward, arms spread wide, as they fell down the shaft, flipping once to reorient themselves with their feet facing downwards.
Taking a deep breath, Jaina allowed herself to lose control of her balance and fell forwards into darkness.