Chapter Text
Jaina laughed.
She laughed until tears formed at the corners of her eyes, as the rest of the room watched in almost deafening silence. Slowly wiping her eyes with the corner of her sleeve, her gaze began to flicker over the rest of the Alliance Council, who refused to meet her gaze.
“Tides… you’re serious?” Jaina rasped, as her eyes settled on the stern face of Anduin Wrynn.
Taking a deep breath, he finally averted his eyes and reached for her hands, which were almost immediately snatched from his grasp.
"Jaina... I... ."
"You're going to sell me out?" Jaina said in shock, taking a step away from Anduin and the rest of the council. “I miss one meeting and I am being sold to the Horde?”
“Our troops are dying, Jaina! We have lost so much already… this is a chance for peace.”
“Peace?” Jaina scoffed, barely able to keep her eyes from rolling. “You cant really believe that, can you?”
“Its a risk I am willing to take.” Anduin said earnestly, finally looking into Jaina's eyes again.
She let out a bitter laugh before turning away, tears stinging her eyes again. “Ah, I see… So you have all come to a decision then? Apparently my opinion doesn't matter, does it?"
“Jaina! You know it does!” He spoke reassuringly, trying to reach out again, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “If you refuse… I will accept your decision! No one will force you to do something you are not willing to do. This is a chance, a chance we have been fighting for and if that means putting aside our differences for a better world, then I am willing to do so and if I have to find someone else...”
“There is no one else.” Tyrande Whisperwind interrupted sounding almost bored, as if she had iterated this point multiple times before. “Jaina… you are the only one who can do this.”
Anduin shot her a glare, before rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. “I’m sorry we are just dumping this on you, I wished we had more time to do this, to prepare… .”
"A decision must be made, and sooner rather than later, for time is running out and the Horde has already been sighted near our camps. We have no time for these frivolous Pettys."
"Frivolous Pettys?" Jaina breathed out incredulously.
“Tyrande, enough! Out, all of you!” Anduin shouted, his face red with anger as he turned on the night elf.
“As you wish” Tyrande drawled, almost bored as she made her way outside, giving Jaina one last meaningful glance.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, to keep her tears at bay, she slowly shook her head, not believing the situation she had been put into.
“Jaina… I … .”
“What happens if I refuse?” Jaina asked almost shyly, searching Anduin’s eyes for answers she knew she didn’t want. “What happens to us? To the Alliance?”
Taking in a long breath, to give himself some time, he finally answered. “Considering… I mean… if you refuse … we … Our resources are...”
“Anduin?”
“The Alliance will probably fall! As will the Horde, depending on who is left standing to pick up the pieces, if there is anyone left to pick up the pieces. We are almost out of resources, our lands are scourged, people are dying not only from the war, but from hunger... we are running out of money to pay our soldiers... plagues will spread... I..." Anduin caught himself, choking on his own words as he took another deep breath. "I know I'm not making this easy for you ... believe me, if there was a way, I would make myself Sylvanas' pet, but ... ."
“I would never let that happen!”
Collecting her thoughts for a moment, Jaina took another deep breath and ran her hands through her braided hair. "How... how do we even know the Horde would agree to this?"
“They made the offer!” Greymane sneered before Anduin was able to speak up.
“Didnt I tell you to get out?” Anduin questioned, mildly annoyed. Not waiting for an answer he turned back towards the mage. “But it is true. The letter was signed by Sylvanas herself, along with the rest of the Horde leadership.
“I don’t know… I still think we should make a move on them now. We already know they are vulnerable, why else would they make such a peace offering? I see it this way, either we take them now, or wait it out… but this... this marriage... .”
“Enough Greymane!” Anduin growled. “We have all agreed. Now it is up to you to decide, Jaina.”
Jaina scoffed, it was easy enough for them to agree to something that did not effect them personally. She wondered who else would be so selfless as to become a prisoner of war so that the rest of them could enjoy their lives in comfort and peace.
Seeing Anduin, the High King,- her friend, like this, she knew there was only one answer she could give. An answer that would doom her for the rest of her life, if she were to give it.
“If I agree to marry her...No, if I'm condemned to a life next to Sylvanas Windrunner for the rest of my life, you better be ready to visit me every damn week! And I swear I will not kiss that woman, you hear! This marriage will be strictly political! And I want a separate bedroom! And to visit Stormwind whenever I please!” Jaina rambled on, feeling more and more dizzy the more she thought about this arrangement.
Anduin finally released the breath he had been holding ever since the question had been dropped. Then his eyes finally found Jaina’s blue ones, and with a nod of his head he gave her a shy smile.
“Thank you, Jaina! And who knows? You might end up enjoying each other's company.” Anduin tried to reassure, earning an incredulous look from the mage.
“Probably about as much as I enjoy to be standing in a hot pile of lava.”
“At least she is easy on the eyes.” Anduin tried again, only to have Jaina blink at him.
“You did not just say that.”
“I’m just trying to.. help.”
“I think I’d prefer it, if you didn’t.”