EDIT: And yes I am going to get to reviewing the entries. And if I have the time I'll also put in another entry I found that I'd started last month. About Immy.
Goodbye
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?But Master?? Jaina Proudmoore, special agent of the Kirin Tor, and perhaps the most gifted archmage in the land, began again.
?That is quite enough, child.? Jaina flinched. Antonidas only called her child when he was praising her youth, or criticizing it. There was no praise now, and the disapproval in his voice hurt more than any blade, spell, or undead monster. ?I?ve already listened to the babblings of this... prophet. I?ve told you, I?m not interested in his nonsense. If you must take yourself on this fool?s errand then go, though I weep for you and those who will follow you.?
She opened her mouth to respond, but there was really nothing she could say. It was a dismissal. And she supposed, a goodbye. Already many of the kingdom of Azeroth were preparing their ships to sail, while Jaina prepared what ships she could of Kul?Tiras. This was the final farewell.
She felt she should say something lasting, or some final word to convince the great archmage that she was not fleeing the upcoming battle, or listening to the ravings of a madman, but she had already tried. Antonidas was a powerful and intelligent mage. He had proven himself to be a caring man during her studies.
Yet his pride would condemn him to die alone against the undead that she was sure would again sweep across the land. Jaina hated it.
But maybe the prophet had been wrong. With all the powers of Dalaran and the Paladins of the Silver Hand, the Elves of Quel?Thalas and the Dwarves of Khaz Modan surely they could overcome this new foe, as they had all the others that had plagued the world. The Orcs that her father hated so.
But none of them had listened. Her father was away scouring the seas for the ships that had vanished not more than a few months before.
No, even if they stayed they could not hold against the dead. Antonidas could not hold; King Terenas could not hold. The Elves would fall, and the Dwarves would taste death before the war ended.
And so this was farewell, to Antonidas, to Dalaran, and to her home. Farewell seemed a hollow thing in face of what was to come. After a long silence she finally found her voice again. ?I?m sorry, Master. Goodbye, Antonidas.?
You must lead your people west to the ancient lands of Kalimdor. Only there can you combat the shadow and save this world from the flame. The old prophet?s words passed through her mind again.
Antonidas gave her a hard look for a moment, before nodding gravely. ?Goodbye, Jaina.? He said, somewhat stiffly, though she could see the tear in his eye. His eyes met hers for a moment so brief she was barely sure it had happened, and the next thing she knew he was riding back into the city.
She stood for a long time staring at the city she had come to love, and the man who had been almost a father to her, riding away. Lead your people west to Kalimdor.
As the sands blew about the city of Dalaran and sunset painted the sky in shades of red and orange, Jaina Proudmoore turned to the west, to the sea, to Kalimdor.
Edited by Kellen, 28 August 2007 - 08:02 PM.