Work Text:
Icecrown Citadel
Sylvanas looked down from the top of the accursed tower after a tough battle with the man that had taken everything from her. She had finally gotten her revenge, for herself and her people. Why do I feel empty? What do we do now? I should be celebrating. What purpose do I have? She asked herself, feeling lost now that her quest for vengeance had been fulfilled. Will the horde still need us? The Alliance still sees us a threat, especially because of that bastard Putress and the dread lord I should have never kept alive! Sylvanas kicked at the ice on the edge as she continued to look out at the snowy landscape. She still held Thori’dal in hand as it pulsed with arcane energy, she almost forgot about the enhanced bow and sword that had been given to her to defeat Arthas once and for all.
The wind howled in her ears as a reminder of where she was when her thoughts drifted again to the magi who gave her the weapons. I am surprised they put their faith in me after I failed to stop the lich king in the first place. She set the magical bow aside and unsheathed Quel’delar, a restored weapon that seemed to have a mind of its own. The blade seemed to know what she wanted and only too enthusiastic to aid her in her quest. “Thank you,” she said in a whisper to the now quiet blade.
She looked back at the lifeless body of Arthas and wanted to stab it again for good measure but resisted when she felt little motivation to walk back over to the centre.
The wind and bracing cold continued to blow as she looked back at the spikes below contemplating what to do next. Her thoughts went to her family and who was gone now and who was left. Loneliness and worthlessness started to set in as she continued to stare unmoving like a statue against the frigid air. “What is the point of me anymore?”
“Sylvanas!” a voice carried on the wind called to her, she ignored it. They have their victory now, they don’t need me.
“Sylvanas!” the voice seemed closer and more insistent, she leaned forward only to feel two gloved hands on her arm. She did not look at the owner of the voice and comforting hands, she said shakily, “you should go and celebrate.”
“You should too, you and your people got your revenge. You also saved many lives,” the woman said and slowly turned the shorter elf to face her.
“Proudmoore?” Sylvanas said a little bitterly, this was the last person she wanted to see. Not the woman who was practically crying over this monster…. ”What do you want? Why waste your time up here with me?”
Jaina took a breath and looked into the angry red eyes, “I wanted to get you to come down and celebrate our victory. I also wanted to look around I guess, I…you were right.”
“Right? About what?” Sylvanas asked incredulously and let the mage move her away from the edge.
“I was blind to the truth, there was nothing left of the man I once loved.” She admitted softly and looked at the lifeless body of the Lich King.
“What made you come to that conclusion? When we were in the halls of reflection you wanted to chase him down with tears in your eyes.” Sylvanas remarked and folded her arms, this should be good.
“The things you said, at first I wanted to deny it but then I talked to more of your dark rangers and forsaken, and when the adventurers came down from the fight they told me Arthas’s true plan. I…he was my childhood friend, it was hard to accept even with the evidence of what he had done.” Jaina calmly explained, “I am sorry.”
Sylvanas sighed and looked out at the cold landscape below and then back at Jaina, “that childhood friend of yours died when he took up the sword and made the decision to listen to the previous lich king.”
Jaina nodded and looked out at the same landscape, “I wanted to tell you that and invite you to—--”
“I have no interest in celebrating with people that only like me now because I saved their asses. They will go right back to trying to kill my people and invalidate their claims to THEIR land and go back to hating me once this all wears off.” Sylvanas turned away, “I have no purpose now.”
Jaina had no response for that as she brought her cloak further over her shoulders, the wind seemed to be blowing harder up here as the two women started to raise their voices over it.
“Then celebrate with me, I do not hate you. I do not trust you that much but I would like to get to know you. It would just be me and pained…maybe khadgar?” Jaina suggested and then added, “I understand feeling like you have no purpose once you have accomplished a goal.”
Sylvanas turned back towards jaina and blonde hair blew into her face, “you have felt lost? Pointless? Worthless?”
Each word hit the mage like an arrow as they were laced with bitterness and sorrow, she thought about her own trials over time. When she led refugees to kalimdor she had feelings of doubt, feelings of guilt when people started dying, and then she felt utterly useless when everything felt like it was falling apart. “Yes, I have felt those things. I sometimes still feel that way when things go wrong and I am helpless to stop it, some days I feel ineffective.” She placed a hand on Sylvanas’s shoulder again and the banshee did not flinch or move away this time.
“You are not ineffective, you have a city that is thriving by the sounds of it.” Sylvanas tried to be reassuring while also feeling the same feeling. I trusted a dread lord and an apothecary who betrayed me, staged a coup, and caused death…and I am supposed to be the ruler.
“Yea, after kul tiran soldiers were taken care of when they rebelled. Some even tried to join their cause because they harboured resentment towards me for what I let happen to their lord admiral. I felt out of control as more and more seemed to be won to their side, I felt out of place. I am just a mage, Sylvanas. I like to read my books and study spells and I even feel like I am failing as a diplomat, I can barely keep Varian in line while he is posturing…” Jaina started to pace and then sat down by the edge.
Sylvanas sat next to her, “that is rough. I have had my share of rebels too, and threats from outside. It is easy to feel ineffective as a leader when that happens. Clearly we are both doing something right if we still have cities to rule.”
Jaina smirked at that, “so how do we find our way when all seems lost?”
The words hung in the air as both women contemplated the future, one without the man who had ruined both of their lives. The forsaken would have to find a new purpose which brought more questions, we were dedicated to vengeance, now what? What do we do now? What do we focus on?
“That is a good question, I have no idea how to lead the forsaken into the future because we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish.” Sylvanas shook her head and watched her feet kick back and forth as they dangled over the edge.
“That is what I had thought once,” Jaina stated, “what do we do now that we are here on this strange continent? I got them away from the scourge…only to lead them into further danger with some of the horde attacking, the legion, the undead, I felt like our problems had followed us.”
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire…” Sylvanas said with a nod, “when I established the forsaken and we took the undercity we had existential questions as well as threats from the alliance, scarlet crusade, the scourge, and feral worgen.”
“Existential?” Jaina asked curiously.
“Yes, like the question I have now. What is my purpose now? Why am I still existing? Many were asking that of themselves because they were no longer under Arthas’s control. I tried to help as much as I could, I told them to pursue what they did in life. That seemed to help and some chose to pursue new skills as well.” Sylvanas replied, she was willing to bet ten gold that this would come up again later.
“I guess I would be asking that of myself too if I were in that position,” Jaina thought about those questions and her brows furrowed as an idea came to her. “So….do what you do best?”
“Kill things? Wound people with words?” the elf chuckled.
“I mean…you were once a ranger general. You are now the dark lady and have set about protecting your people, so…continue to do that. Be there for them, help them get stronger, and continue showing the world why they should not be picked on and why they have a right to their lands and existence as much as we do.” Jaina suggested and wondered if that was the best thing to say.
Sylvanas listened and took in her words carefully, they made sense so far. “I have never heard anyone say something like that when pertaining to the forsaken, usually it's: Get those rotters out of lordaeron!”
Laughter between both women blew into the wind which had died down as they spoke, tension was also lessening as more of an understanding grew. Jaina stood up and held out her hand, “come on, let's continue this conversation in my parlour, I promise it will not be with the people that will celebrate you today and then condemn you tomorrow.”
Sylvanas hesitated and looked down at the spikes below, she looked at Jaina’s hand and closed her eyes as she took it. Maybe there can be a purpose for us, even if the future is uncertain and a little scary.
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Winter's Veil….a few months later….
Sylvanas Windrunner rode alone in Silverpine forest as snow began to fall, she had much to think about after Jaina Proudmoore had sent her a letter. It had been a couple months since they defeated Arthas and had that conversation on the edge of the citadel. The banshee queen had turned to a populace that was celebrating the death of the man who had made them what they were and as expected questions of “What do we do now?” had come up. Sylvanas was not sure how to answer that as she was still asking it herself and just replied with, “we look to the future I guess, something may present itself.”
That statement seemed to calm their nerves for the moment and they turned their focus on other affairs and one of them was this month called: Winter's Veil. A holiday Sylvanas did not celebrate as often as the living or even the forsaken did, she did not see a point to it other than to throw snowballs at unsuspecting rangers.
She slowed her horse to a walk when she opened up the letter again:
Sylvanas,
I know it has been awhile since we last spoke, I guess I was having to deal with similar questions when I got back to Theramore. Anyway, Pained and I wanted to invite you over to celebrate Winter’s Veil. You can say no, I would understand. We are not friends…but I would like to be. If you do decide to come you will have my protection…I know…I know you are very capable of taking care of yourself but I wanted to say it anyway. I guess I want you to know that you do have some living people that are not assholes and that want to know you.
Happy Winter’s veil,
Lady Jaina Proudmoore
Sylvanas could almost hear Jaina’s voice when reading it again, some of her dark rangers encouraged her to go while others were suspicious of the mage’s intentions. The elegant handwriting did not take away from the awkwardness that exuded from the letter and the elf found that she liked that. Should I? She thought and read the letter again until snow started to fall harder. She sighed and placed it back in her inner cloak pocket and started the ride back to the undercity and thought about this invitation.
—---------------------------
Theramore…a few days later…
Jaina,
I have put a lot of thought into this and yes, for once I will celebrate this holiday that seems more fit for the living and families that are still whole than the undead. I have been proven wrong…(I do not admit this lightly) when Belmont told me that we are a family of sorts now. He said I have nothing to worry about with you but be warned he will send spies. My dark rangers have also encouraged me to accept this invitation as it's likely the only one I will get from a living person other than Thrall.
Also I am very capable, thank you for acknowledging that, so are you. Thank you for not being another asshole that wants us dead for merely existing.
Happy Winter’s Veil,
Sylvanas Windrunner.
Jaina chuckled at the letter as she almost heard the echoed tones of the banshee in every word. She did not say no to friendship but she did not say yes either as she continued to reread the letter that was delivered by raven. She found herself standing at the docks waiting for the looming forsaken ship even if it would take a few days because of choppy seas and colder weather.
“You know Proudmoore, there's a thing called portals?” a voice from behind spoke and startled the mage out of her reverie.
“Syl-Sylvanas?” Jaina spun around and saw the undead elf with a large box with a bow and flowers on top.
“J-jaina?” Sylvanas smirked playfully, “I am not taking a ship with storms like the ones the shaman predicted yesterday. So I used a portal and was told you were here.” She looked around and added, “I am glad you upheld your promise that I would not be attacked upon arrival.”
Jaina was still stunned and dropped the letter she had been reading for the fourth time, “Uh…Happy Winter’s Veil?”
“Right, Velanora said you give presents so…here.” Sylvanas pressed the box into Jaina’s arms along with the bouquet of black roses. “I wasn’t sure if you liked red or black roses.” She added and looked away for a moment.
“Oh…thank you! I have a present for you too!” Jaina said, finally processing the fact that she would not have to wait until the new year for the banshee to arrive. She shook the box a little and walked ahead, “follow me!”
Sylvanas followed and looked at the human dockmaster who had been glaring at her since she was spotted entering the docks. She shook her head and ignored the typical look she would get from humans or even living horde members who still did not trust her after the wrathgate incident.
The two women walked past the fountain where a gnome bard played a winter’s veil song to a few half elves sitting in the grass. The large pine tree in the centre of the city was fully decorated with presents and mages using frost magic to make it feel more like winter instead of a hot and humid coastal city. Sylvanas could see the tower and other buildings decorated with wreaths, lights, and red ribbons. The undercity and brill had undergone similar transformation during this holiday and it seemed to put her people in better spirits.
As long as they are in better spirits, she had thought and let her thoughts drift as Jaina led her into the tower that she lived in. She stopped at the door when she smelled fresh baked cookies, hot chocolate, and a few student mages singing a winter’s veil song. Sylvanas suddenly felt out of place and could not enter. I do not belong here, not with this cheerful atmosphere and food and life. I should have stayed in my room until the—-
“Come on, Windrunner. You are welcome here, at least by us.” The night elf sentinel said as she pulled Sylvanas through the door and into the festive tower. Pained looked at the uncertainty in the banshee’s eyes, “second thoughts?”
“A little, this still feels like it is more for the living and not for me.” Sylvanas protested and felt the strong desire to find that forsaken mage that had portalled her here and send her back.
“Winter’s Veil is for everyone, even the forsaken. I may not like your people that much but Jaina likes you and that is enough for me.” Pained said and gently pushed Sylvanas up the stairs.
Sylvanas tried to protest again but when she heard Jaina’s excitement upstairs she closed her eyes and walked up the stairs to celebrate a holiday she felt she had no business celebrating.
“Close your eyes!” Jaina called out to Sylvanas, “I have a present for you!”
Sylvanas did as instructed out of curiosity mostly as she wondered what the mage would have gotten her since they did not know each other very well. She was guided by pained until she reached the top with her eyes closed, she could smell herbs and hear boiling water close by. She also heard a gasp and her ears twitched at the sound, “Jaina?”
“It is ok Sylvanas, just step forward.” Jaina said, hoping this present wouldn’t come back to bite her.
Sylvanas stepped forward and opened her eyes, she gasped herself as she saw the taller elven woman standing in front of her with blue and silver armour. “Li-little moon?”
“Lady moon?” Vereesa’s voice broke as she stood as still as stone, she knew now why Jaina had only asked for her and not Rhonin and the boys like last year. What happened to you sister?
Tears welled in her eyes as she took a step forward and was taken aback when Sylvanas moved away from her. “It's ok, sister.”
“You brought my sister?” Sylvanas demanded and looked at Jaina, shock in her gaze. The one sister she knew was still alive but had been afraid to contact because of the possible rejection as all forsaken had experienced.
“I wanted to bring you two together, I…” Jaina suddenly regretted this decision she had made. She had vereesa here since she got the letter a couple days ago and had avoided questions from her elven friend because she was not sure of the reaction.
“It is alright Jaina, I understand.” Vereesa sniffed as memories of her childhood with her siblings came rushing back and the grief she felt when she heard of what happened to Silvermoon. She stepped towards her sister again and pulled her into a hug, “I missed you, Lady Moon.”
Sylvanas struggled to understand what was happening, was this real? Was her sister really hugging her and not feeling disgusted? She slowly put her arms around her and waited for the inevitable rejection and repulsion, when she didn’t get it she relaxed in her sister’s arms. “Why didn’t you reach out to me sooner?” She asked after several thoughts went through her head.
“I—I did not think you would reply, I also was not sure what to believe with so many rumours of what happened to you going around.” Vereesa said tearfully and hugged her sister tighter, “some said you were dead, some said you were a ghost wandering the ghostlands mindlessly, and one drunk gnome suggested that maybe you had somehow survived and was living in booty bay as a pirate captain with no memory.”
Sylvanas chuckled at that and pulled away to look at Vereesa, “so the pirate myth lives on?...Nice job Lenara.”
“What?” Vereesa looked confused and looked at Jaina and then back at Sylvanas.
“Someone was asking about me so one of my dark rangers got a little sarcastic and started saying I was really alive and had no memory so I had become a pirate.” Sylvanas shrugged, “never thought anyone would believe it.”
“I heard that rumour, but the sailors here said they encountered no such pirate.” Jaina smirked and felt relief course through her, maybe they can heal now. I know there is alot unresolved but Sylvanas has someone now.
Sylvanas nodded, “it was just an offhand comment that was never supposed to get that far but it did. I am sorry that it caused further confusion, little moon.”
Vereesa smiled a little, “thank you. I am just glad to know for sure, I spent years wondering if the dark lady was you and as I said, I was afraid to reach out in case it was someone else. I also wondered if you were truly dead, if you were I could mourn you properly. If you were alive I would have found you.” She took a breath and added, “I know we have matters that are unresolved, can we talk about those later and celebrate this holiday together? With friends?”
Sylvanas felt overwhelmed by this information, she could understand it as she too had been afraid to reach out. She accepted me? Jaina wants to be my friend, pained doesn't really like me, and my sister has not rejected me? Am I imagining all of this and I am really in my chambers daydreaming?
She let the silence linger for a few more minutes before finally responding, “since I am here on Jaina’s invitation, yes.”
Jaina looked the most relieved of all four women because this could have been worse and it would have left her with an angry banshee queen and an angry ranger general. You took a big risk there, Jaina…tides you are lucky it went the way it did.
—-----------------------
The four women enjoyed the festivities of Winter's Veil the rest of the day and into the night when fireworks were set off, music was played, and dancing ensued. Vereesa pushed Sylvanas into Jaina who took her out on the dance floor for a few songs that were mostly known in Kul Tiran taverns with a call and response. Sylvanas moved gracefully once she got the hang of the steps involved and let herself be guided by the taller mage in her arms. She had not danced like this since she lived and wondered if they ever would do this again beyond a holiday she had previously avoided.
Pained and Vereesa also danced together with wine glasses in hand and continued to giggle at the banshee and mage they had pushed onto the dance floor
The dancing lasted well into midnight when songs became more incoherent and the steps became sloppy by those who had one too much ale or wine. Sylvanas helped a tired Jaina back to her tower and then to her room. As soon as her head hit the pillow Jaina mumbled, “thank you, Sylvanas. Happy Winter’s Veil.”
“Happy Winter’s Veil to you too,” Sylvanas said quietly and left the room. She saw a sleeping Vereesa and Pained when she went to check on them; it seemed like the entire tower had gone to bed except her.
“I guess this holiday is not too bad,” she said to herself as she looked out at the harbour from one of the windows. Drunken singing could still be heard along with bugs starting to stir and calm waves crashing against the rocky beach. She thought about leaving when doubt crept into her mind and even darker thoughts emerged when continued to dwell on them. She sighed as she headed to the room that had been given to her and found a note on the bed.
Sylvanas,
Thank you for coming along, sorry for the shock I gave you. I should have just given you a regular gift and asked if you wanted to see your sister again. Anyway, tomorrow would you like to help with a hunt? I am planning something for the lunar festival next month, I know you won’t be here for that but your help and hunting skills would be welcome.
I hope you can consider me a friend, even you need a friend.
Happy Winter’s Veil,
Jaina.
Sylvanas sighed and smiled as she laid down on the bed and read the note, surprisingly she had not felt angry about the surprise, just surprised. It was a risk that could pay off and there was a small spark within that hoped it would.
Friend…I guess I can have one or two…
She drifted off in her thoughts about Jaina, Vereesa, and Winter’s Veil and how it didn’t bring her any pain like other days did.
Happy Winter’s Veil Jaina and Thank you.