Challenge #4 Goodbye

Inspired somewhat by SH and Celestine both. And with a tip of the hat to SHarp I have an image that I found I absolutely loved. And fit the ending. I feel I actually did rather terrible on this, but I hope I got over a small fraction of what it must have been like for her to go through what she did. Erm, she being Jaina Proudmoore.

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
**********

?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.

Truely a sad parting

Loved this fic Kellen, the last bit was the best in my opinion.
And your use of that pic was also well timed, the words you used to describe the view and it, match perfectly.
And it was also good to see the constant Prophet interjections throughout the story.

Just out of curiosity, even though Arthas butchered alot of his people in Stratholme, wouldn't a part of her still be regretting losing him as she left the lands she calls home?

Still, I think you did an excellent job at illustrating the relationship between Jania and Antonidis, and also making sure he has a bit of that arrogance and pride that most of the Alliance characters possessed in WCIII.
So in other words, its excellent.

And if time's on your side, I look foward to seeing that Immy fic you were working on more than you know.

Lovely picture, Kellen. The story is good, the relationship between Jaina and Antonidas is convincing, and portrayed in a convincing manner. And yeah, sad ending... Did Antonidas die? I can't remember if he did or escaped that battle against the Scourge.

So, finish the Immy one quickly, you have like 2 more days to the next challenge.

Lovely picture, Kellen. The story is good, the relationship between Jaina and Antonidas is convincing, and portrayed in a convincing manner. And yeah, sad ending... Did Antonidas die? I can't remember if he did or escaped that battle against the Scourge.

Yes he died at Arthas's hand. Kel'Thuzard was also present, suprising he did not say anything about his old friend dying. Must be an effect of his undeath, or maybe he resents the old fella now.

He appears later at a lower level as a ghost of sorts, Kael'thas has a hand in ending that curse if so chosen due to unlike with his death in life, it is soley an optional quest to kill him again.

Still, some characters have died before only to mysteriously reappear alive and healthy in the WC series, and I would rule out eternal life, you can only resurect someone so many times at an altar of some sort.

Ah, thanks for the info, Solar. He was like a minor powerful character.

Truely a sad parting

Indeed it is.

Loved this fic Kellen, the last bit was the best in my opinion.

The last was the best because I spent a half hour trying to rewrite it, since the original was rather lacking in feeling.

And your use of that pic was also well timed, the words you used to describe the view and it, match perfectly.
And it was also good to see the constant Prophet interjections throughout the story.

Yep. Planned to use that pic at the end from the beginning, so had to mix the words into it.

Just out of curiosity, even though Arthas butchered alot of his people in Stratholme, wouldn't a part of her still be regretting losing him as she left the lands she calls home?

A very good point, but he had already left. But "Your young prince will find only death in the cold north." Perhaps she still would have worried over him. I don't know for sure. She's a character they didn't give us enough time with, not like I would have loved.

Still, I think you did an excellent job at illustrating the relationship between Jania and Antonidis, and also making sure he has a bit of that arrogance and pride that most of the Alliance characters possessed in WCIII.
So in other words, its excellent.

Yes, they were not the perfect people they were in the previous games. However I believe it only made it better.

And if time's on your side, I look foward to seeing that Immy fic you were working on more than you know.

Here's hoping. August ends Friday. And I've got to rewrite about half of it. (The hardest part is figuring out her traveling companions at the moment.)

Lovely picture, Kellen. The story is good, the relationship between Jaina and Antonidas is convincing, and portrayed in a convincing manner. And yeah, sad ending... Did Antonidas die? I can't remember if he did or escaped that battle against the Scourge.

Yeah as Solar said, he died in the defense of Dalaran from the first hit of the Scourge. Then Archimonde finished off the city. And by picture, do you mean picture or picture?

Glad you liked. And glad that it turned out better than I thought.

So, finish the Immy one quickly, you have like 2 more days to the next challenge.

I'll try.