RS: Waiting for the Lord's Return (Part 1)
Cross-posted this from DA, just to be on the safe side...
Part 2 is here
Title: Waiting for the Lord's Return
Fandom: RuneScape
Rating: R
Warnings: Lemon/smut; Mahjarrat/human
Summary: Our dear World Guardian has some catching up to do with a good friend. How they catch up, however, might surprise her... Azzy/WG
The purple-haired adventurer stood silently before the restored altar of Zaros, pausing to wring out her pigtails before gazing at the communion portal behind the altar. She stayed like that for a long moment before wringing out her hair again, setting her staff down, and kneeling to pray, shivering a little from being so wet.
Azzanadra watched her pray at a distance, a sense of relief overcoming him. He hadn’t seen the young adventurer since the whole Guthix nonsense had happened, and it had been rather worrisome that she hadn’t come here to pay her respects to the Empty Lord yet since then. What could have kept her? Perhaps she had been assisting Soran? It seemed there had been no need to worry-she had proven herself invaluable and loyal many times, and indeed here she was now.
She slowly rose to her feet, wringing some of the water out of her silvery-blue overcoat before she picked up her staff again. Azzanadra wasn’t sure if she intended to stay awhile or to leave immediately to dry off and sleep, but whichever it was, he did wish to know how she fared.
“Jaina! Wait.”
Jaina turned, startled, towards the sound of the voice. As she caught sight of the Mahjarrat slowly approaching her, her face turned a deep red color, and she smiled rather awkwardly.
“Oh! Good evening, Azzanadra… I… I didn’t see you there…”
She twisted her left pigtail to wring it out further, and Azzanadra noticed that she was standing uncomfortably close to the altar. Before she had a chance to wring out the other pigtail again, he was quick to snatch her hand. “Watch where you do that! You’ll get the altar all wet!”
Jaina hastily moved further away from the altar and tried to pull her hand back. “I-I’m sorry… I… I should’ve paid more attention…”
Azzanadra’s expression softened a little, though he didn’t release her hand. He hadn’t meant to yell at her like that, and it wasn’t her fault she’d had to walk through rain to get here-but there were delicate magicks woven within that altar, and Zaros only knew what might happen if it got wet!
Still rather firmly hanging onto her hand, he motioned for her to follow him. “Come over here.”
Jaina shivered as she followed behind him, trying to keep a bit of a distance. Zaros was likely going to be greatly displeased at her for getting water all over the temple floor, and she really did not want to get on the Empty Lord’s bad side. It was bad enough she’d forgotten to pay a visit until now because she’d been spending all her time on divination lately, in hopes it would take her mind off the accursed battle in Lumbridge. She wasn’t sure she should blame Saradomin and Zamorak for her forgetfulness, however; she should have come sooner-there was no good excuse.
Oh, why did it have to be raining so hard now? Why did Azzanadra of all people have to see her like this? There wasn’t even much she could do about it, either. She hadn’t packed a change of clothes or runes for a fire spell, and it wasn’t like there was anywhere she could change in here. Oh well, at least her dress and overcoat weren’t ruined from the rain.
“So, um…” she finally said, desperately trying to ignore how uncomfortable her wet clothes felt. “Has there been any progress towards Zaros’ glorious return or anything?”
“Not at the moment, but it should happen in due time.” He let her hand go and turned to face her. “I do hope you will be there to witness it when it does happen.”
“I… Me too.” She nodded and averted her gaze, wringing her hands a bit. “I-I tried my best that time-in Guthix’s chambers, I mean…”
“Ah yes, you were a great ally to us there-thank you.” A hint of a smile crossed his face briefly. “I will be sure to tell Zaros of your part in it when I can. But what has kept you?”
“I was looking into the art of divination,” Jaina replied, looking ashamed. “You know those wisps that recently appeared near the ruins up above? There are more like them around the world, and their energies can be harvested to transmute objects or returned to the anima craters nearby to heal the world’s scars. I-I’ve also helped Soran out when I can…” She frowned, biting her lip. “Divination really is fascinating, but… I should be honest with you. It… it was a welcome distraction… Too good of one…”
“What were you trying to distract yourself from?”
“I…” She felt her jaw latch shut, tears welling up in her eyes. No, she shouldn’t cry, not in front of him; he would think she was being foolish and stupid. “My hometown… Saradomin… Zamorak… everyone, everywhere, keeps talking about it constantly, asking me when I’m going to go fight for Saradomin and aren’t I worried about Zamorak destroying Lumbridge…”
She let out a choked sob, unable to hold back the tears. “I don’t want to fight for either of them… I couldn’t; that would be giving them my loyalty… and I could never help them, knowing what they’ve done… I don’t want them anywhere near Lumbridge, but I-I can’t do anything about it!” Covering her face with her hand, she let out a pained wail. “Guthix… what was he thinking? Did he seriously expect me to singlehandedly banish gods or bend them to my will? If he really cared for Gielinor, for mortals, why did he leave it vulnerable like this… when he could have protected it instead?”
Turning away, she sank to her knees, her face buried in her hands as she quietly cried. Azzanadra would likely think her weak now, for breaking down and crying in the face of great adversity instead of facing it bravely and formulating a plan. He might still need to rely on her, since Zaros considered her important to his plans somehow, but that wouldn’t stop him from thinking less of her for making a fool of herself. At least he was one friend she could actually tell the truth to, and she did feel like a weight had come off her shoulders for finally being able to tell it…
Suddenly she could feel strong hands on her waist and shoulder, slowly guiding her back onto her feet. Turning her back around, Azzanadra tilted her chin up so that she was looking directly at him, brushing most of the tears away.
“Guthix may have been a fool, but you are by no means bound to whatever thoughtless plan he envisioned for you. As for Saradomin and Zamorak, they were foolish to rush into battle as well-we, on the other hand, must plan our path carefully. It will not be long now before Zaros is able to return at last! As for your hometown, you are right-direct action about the situation would not be reasonable, but you are likely not completely powerless. Have you considered sending resources or evacuating the citizens?”
Jaina stared up at him, trembling at the warm touch of his hand. “Soran did suggest I do those sorts of things, yes… I-I don’t know if it will be enough, though…”
“Any assistance is better than none-surely the citizens will appreciate all the help they receive in their time of greatest need.” He brushed away the rest of her tears and looked her over. “Ah, not to trivialize this matter, but something occurs to me… did you get the gift I sent you for your birthday?”
Jaina drew back in surprise, blushing a deep red. That was yet another thing she had foolishly forgotten-she should have worn that lovely shirt, but it would have taken too much time to run and change even if she had thought of it before; besides, she didn’t dare risk getting something so delicate wet. Well, she might be one to talk, given how much her current clothing had cost, but still.
“Yes… it’s so beautiful. I… I don’t know how to thank you…”
“Merely wearing it would be suitable thanks. Any reason you aren’t wearing it at the moment?”
“I didn’t want to damage it.” Jaina looked down at her hands again. “I’d be wearing it now, but it’s been raining too hard for that, and I didn’t want to keep y-I mean, Zaros waiting too long…”
Azzanadra found it hard to hide his disappointment. As pleasing as it was to know that she appreciated his gift, he had been rather looking forward to actually seeing what it looked like on her.
“I would still very much like to see you in it,” he said. “It would suit you well.”
Jaina smiled awkwardly and blushed an even brighter red, staring intently at her hands. “Oh… really? It… it does go well with my hair…”
Such a strange reaction to a compliment… however, Azzanadra was getting sort of used to the odd way she acted around him. Not that he understood it at all-why would she want to shy away from him or look anywhere but at him when she so clearly fancied him? If that was the human way of expressing affection, then it was certainly a wonder that Gielinor was so full of them.
For that matter, why wouldn’t she even admit her feelings? He was certainly well aware how drawn to him she had become-it was painfully obvious to anyone with half a brain. She had nothing to lose by confessing it; what did she think he was going to do, blow her head off with a blood spell? Or was she merely worried that he would spurn her affections? That might be it, but even Enakhra was at least straightforward about her slavering desire for Zamorak, and that was more onesided than a line in the sand. She had told Wahisietel already; if she could tell his brother, why couldn’t she just tell him directly?
He wasn’t going to wonder for much longer-she would confess before they parted ways this evening. She might very well be surprised by what she might learn.
“Oh, speaking of Guthix,” Jaina suddenly spoke up, trying to wring out her skirt a bit, “why… why did Sliske suddenly decide to do that?”
“If I knew the answer to that, I’d tell you,” Azzanadra said, looking thoughtful. “Sliske may have betrayed our trust… but he did at least kill Guthix in the name of Zaros. He did us all a service, even if we would not agree with his methods.”
“So you don’t think he was trying to become a god?” She shivered and looked down at her hands. “Ohhh… I’d hate to think of what he would be like as a god…”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I have known Sliske for my entire life, and I do not believe he would ever strive for that. It would be too much responsibility for him.”
“I-I hope you’re right…” Her voice was shaking just as much as her hands were. “I… Even thinking about him terrifies me… I never want to see him again!”
Azzanadra could certainly understand her fear, and a part of him had been starting to question if Sliske was truly as reliable as he had always been despite his unpredictable ways. There was little point in pondering Sliske and his motives now, however, and she had given him the perfect opportunity to change the subject-if she didn’t want to think about Sliske, she wouldn’t have to.
“Do you feel the same way towards me?”
Jaina blinked, looking confused. “What?”
“Your fear of Sliske is justified, but I can’t help but wonder if you find me intimidating as well.” Azzanadra drew closer to her, and she inched slightly further back. “You keep shying away, staring at the floor, wringing your hands… We’ve been acquainted long enough for you to know I won’t harm you, my dear.”
Jaina turned a deep red and tried to stifle a gasp. He had actually called her “my dear…” Could he really be… could he really see a simple common-born human that way? He had touched her earlier, but comforting someone in their sadness was something any friend would do; it didn’t necessarily mean he was interested in her any further.
“Oh, I… well… I… no!” She wanted to bang her head against the wall; she sounded so stupid. “I mean, I know I wouldn’t want you as my enemy, but if I were afraid of you, I-I certainly wouldn’t keep coming to see you…”
“Well, if you don’t fear me, then you have nothing to fear by saying what you truly think of me.” He drew closer again, his dark garnet eyes meeting her smoke-gray ones, and this time she didn’t have any away to shy to, because she had backed into a wall.
Jaina could feel her mouth go dry as she noticed her position. Being in the presence of the towering Mahjarrat tended to make her feel small, and such close proximity only made her feel even smaller. She was really, really glad he wasn’t her enemy, though she was still extremely nervous.
How in the name of Zaros was she supposed to say how she truly felt? He was probably just going to laugh if she confessed her feelings, and even if he didn’t, the uncertainty of how he might react made her too nervous to admit it. It would hurt if he turned her down, but what else could she expect? He was a Mahjarrat and she was a human, he was several thousands of years old and she was barely eighteen, he was a powerful and revered leader and onetime high priest and she was the daughter of a failed adventurer and a common housewife, he was both physically and magically strong and she was fragile and couldn’t even lift a sword, he was well-spoken and refined and she spoke with an accent that rich people mocked her for.
Even if he did somehow happened to be interested in her back, how was she supposed to actually be with him? She certainly couldn’t do so openly or tell anyone about it. It was obvious how any Saradominist would react, the Zamorakians… well, she didn’t know how they would react, but it certainly wouldn’t be good, and the Guthixians would think she had betrayed Gielinor and was going to start the next God Wars in the name of misguided love. She wasn’t even sure if their fellow Zarosians would approve…
“Go on, Jaina-I don’t bite.” Three simple words; how hard were they to say? It wasn’t like she was confessing to desecrating an altar to Zaros. Humans were so difficult to understand-why would someone so short-lived be so hesitant to express affection anyway? Ah well, he shouldn’t get too impatient.
Jaina swallowed hard and wrung her sweating hands. It appeared she wasn’t going anywhere until she told the truth, and she had already been brave enough to tell him the truth about her absence-she might as well. She took a deep breath and silently prayed to Zaros to grant her the strength to not sound stupid.
“I… I like you, Azzanadra!”
So she had finally confessed, and Azzanadra was slightly astonished at how sweet it sounded to hear it directly from her. However, her word choice didn’t quite seem fitting…
“I presume that’s an understatement?”
Jaina’s face was still bright red. “Well, uh… yes, I-I mean, not a liking in the ordinary sense, more along the lines of as more than merely friends…”
And there she went again, sounding absolutely stupid! She looked down again, still blushing.
Azzanadra chuckled softly and tilted her chin up so she was looking straight at him. “I know what you mean, my dear; you don’t have to over-explain.” He lightly brushed a loose strand of hair off her forehead. “Was that really so hard to say? It certainly took you long enough.”
Jaina couldn’t help but gasp. “You-you knew all along?”
“Oh, it wasn’t hard to tell at all. Particularly those times you were only half listening as I answered your questions about the empire because you were staring at me! Why, you should have seen the way your eyes were lit up!”
Predictably, she blushed at that, and he moved his hand downward to touch her cheek. “I do wonder why you didn’t confess sooner. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“I-I didn’t think you would care,” Jaina said, feeling a shiver go down her spine from his touch. “I mean, as far as almost anything in life goes, you’re way up here-” she held up a hand high above her head-“and I’m all the way down here.” She moved her hand to her waist level. “Isn’t Zaros’ return slightly more important than some simple common-born adventurer’s little crush?”
She certainly had her priorities straight, and her loyalty was to be admired-but how naïve she was if she thought herself that unimportant to him! It seemed there was much she still had to learn.
“On the contrary, Jaina, while our lord’s return is indeed top priority, I do not find you common-and I hardly find your affections to be inconsequential.” Taking her hand in his, he graciously kissed it. “Care to dance?”
Jaina wasn’t sure how to react. Her hand was trembling; she could still feel his kiss there, though she couldn’t quite believe she wasn’t dreaming the whole thing. She wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that, but as for the dancing… well, she hadn’t done so in awhile, but she was at least decent at it, and she could hardly refuse such a request from Zaros’ champion.
She slowly nodded and stretched out her other hand, smiling shakily as she placed it on his shoulder. She could only hope that the height difference between them wouldn’t make things too awkward.
As he proceeded to lead her in a slow dance, Azzanadra noticed that the young mage’s clothing was no longer soaked through, but merely rather damp-the heat from the lava pits in the corners of the temple had likely helped to dry her. Her dress was still clinging rather closely to her figure, though, and he rather appreciated the sight. Human women in general weren’t bad to look at, and Jaina was certainly no exception, but she seemed to grow prettier the more he saw her.
He twirled her around and underneath him, noticing how fluidly and gracefully she moved. She was still shaking a bit, but she was clearly quite agile, and she hadn’t made a single misstep yet.
Her presence had always been uplifting, but she seemed particularly inviting, alluring even, now… her smoky gray eyes lit up as she smiled at him, and for a moment he imagined her in the elegant robes of a priestess, her hair loose and streaming behind her as they danced for all of Senntisten to see.
“Ah!” She had nearly slipped, but she managed to regain her balance without a hitch.
“You dance quite well.” He smiled slightly and brought her to a standstill, though he still kept her hand in his.
“I-I do? Well, I-I’m good at a lot of things,” she said, smiling awkwardly.
“Indeed I’ve noticed.” Drawing closer to her, he held her hand a bit more firmly. “Close your eyes.”
She stared at him and blinked. “Why?”
So she hadn’t cottoned on yet? Even after she had confessed to liking him? How very human of her. “You’ll see, my dear… you’ll see.”
Jaina didn’t know what to expect when she closed her eyes, but she didn’t have long to wonder before Azzanadra lifted her up, twirling her around, and swiftly captured her lips in a searing kiss. She couldn’t help but gasp as her eyes snapped wide open, and almost immediately she felt his tongue glide over her lips, asking for entrance.
She hesitated a moment, still not quite sure what to make of this, and then gave into her curiosity and slowly parted her lips-not too much, just enough to allow him to explore her mouth.
And explore he did, one hand catching in her hair as he deepened the kiss. The height difference did make it harder for her to respond in kind, and she had to rise up on tiptoe, shivering a little as she did so.
When they came up for air, she stood there quietly, gazing up at him with wide eyes. Part of her was still greatly shocked-it was still hard to wrap her head around the idea of him actually being interested in her-but the more curious side of her was wondering if they could do that again.
“I-I-what? Dear Zaros…” she finally managed to say, still staring wide-eyed.
“Were you surprised?”
She merely nodded, and Azzanadra shook his head. “You’re a worthy and intelligent one, my dear, but you really should have seen that one coming.”
He was still puzzled as to why the purple-haired girl had reacted that way. She shouldn’t be so shocked; she was smart enough to put the pieces together. Contact with Zaros wasn’t the only thing she had restored; he could feel a growing urge, one he normally ignored and kept at bay. Jaina might be human-extraordinary for her kind, but still human-however, she was still an interested, available female, and quite within reach. He knew he would not be her first, either-she had once had a human husband-and it was better that way, as any Mahjarrat would almost certainly be too much for a human to handle as a first lover.
Dear Zaros, how inviting she looked now, even without the ground shaking! How he wished to kiss her again-and how he wished to touch her further, loosen her hair from those pigtails, free her from that closely clinging dress! The experience would be new, different, just as much so for her as it would be for him…
“Jaina, might I ask a favor of you? Not one for Zaros this time, but for me, personally.”
“A personal favor?” Jaina frowned and glanced down at her hands again. “Does it involve anything dangerous?”
She looked back up, feeling his gaze straying over her and seeming to go straight through her. “Oh… or does it have anything to do with the way you’re looking at me now?”
His dark eyes were still traveling up and down her figure. “A little slow, aren’t you?”
She blinked rapidly in confusion, her face flushing deep red again. “Oh, I… well… Why did you kiss me?”
Did she truly still not get it? This was more than just a little slow on the uptake, and Azzanadra was feeling his patience being tested. How in Zaros’ name did she not see what was right in front of her?
“You really do not know? My dear, do you still think your affection is onesided?”
“I-No! I... don’t understand, is all…” Jaina sighed, mentally cursing herself for sounding so stupid. “Wait, wait, no, what I mean is… I… Why me? I’m a common-born human from a small town, I can’t lift a blade or shoot a bow or defeat creatures that resist magic, I could never hope to match your strength and majesty… I couldn’t even stop Lucien, let alone Sliske… and you probably don’t even find human women attractive…” She decided to shut up before she could make a fool of herself any further.
“It seems I still have much to show you,” Azzanadra said, taking her hand again. “You do realize that none of the progress towards our lord’s return, none of this-” he motioned to the surrounding temple- “would be here now if not for you? That I would still be in that blasted pyramid to this day if not for you? That you are still going to be instrumental in Zaros’ great plan?”
“I know all that,” said Jaina, blushing slightly, “but I’m still just an adventurer, not at all worthy of Zaros’ champion himself…”
At this Azzanadra couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Oh, Jaina, quite the contrary-you’ve more than proven your worth! As for not finding you attractive, well, you’re wrong about that as well.”
“I-I am?” She shifted nervously in place, blinking in confusion.
“Very wrong indeed. Your human beauty might be unconventional and different from that of a Mahjarrat, but that does not make you any less so.” He proceeded to lightly caress her hand, reveling in how sleek and soft it felt to the touch. “Ever since you released me, you have fascinated me… you have accomplished far more than any mere adventurer, and the way you wield magic so fluidly and naturally… You freely embraced the ways of Zaros, have proven yourself loyal to our cause time and again, and have also proven yourself a true friend… Is it, therefore, any wonder that I have come to desire you?”
Her mind had come to terms with the fact that he definitely liked her that way, possibly more than she had ever liked him, but she didn’t quite understand what he was getting at. “Oh, Azzanadra… Wh-what exactly are you saying?”
“I am saying that I very much wish to claim you as my own. Zaros has promised that my loyalty will not go unrewarded… perhaps that reward will be you.” Smiling, Azzanadra leaned forward to kiss her once more. “That is, if you’ll have me.”
Jaina turned pale as she realized exactly what he meant. “What?”
“I promise to be gentle.” Tilting her chin up so that her gaze met his again, he slowly held out a hand. “Jaina, will you give yourself over to me?”
Jaina stared nervously into his eyes, her mind racing. What was she supposed to do? What should she say? She had always thought him so far out of her league that she had never even considered the possibility of that kind of thing at all. She didn’t even normally have any interest whatsoever in sexual relations anyway, not when there was a whole world full of much more exciting things to do-and if she had to think about that, she would remember her wedding night, and then remember the grief of losing Brand all over again.
It was also one thing to sleep with a human, but this would open up whole new cans of worms. Would she even be able to handle him? It wasn’t even just his sheer power that was daunting; she was so small by comparison-and he’d promised to be gentle, but “gentle” by Mahjarrat standards might very well mean “only leave you slightly black and blue.” And if anyone else ever found out what she’d done…
On the other hand… should she really say no? She would feel terrible about turning him down, and he had done so much for her. If she and he really did feel the same… well, she was sure the Mahjarrat didn’t marry, and it’d be foolish to expect that of him. Besides, her curious side was itching to know more… even though he could turn her into paste or shatter her bones, that didn’t mean he would. The thought of being with someone like that, who had great power but wouldn’t misuse it, was starting to seem thrilling, adventurous even. That’s what this would be-another adventure, and a new and unusual one at that.
She shut her eyes tight, her thoughts turning into a quick prayer. Oh, Zaros… I’m so nervous, I don’t know what to expect… but if this was meant to happen, then I submit my fate to you… Please watch over me!
Slowly opening her eyes again, she made her decision.
Part 2 is here
Title: Waiting for the Lord's Return
Fandom: RuneScape
Rating: R
Warnings: Lemon/smut; Mahjarrat/human
Summary: Our dear World Guardian has some catching up to do with a good friend. How they catch up, however, might surprise her... Azzy/WG
The purple-haired adventurer stood silently before the restored altar of Zaros, pausing to wring out her pigtails before gazing at the communion portal behind the altar. She stayed like that for a long moment before wringing out her hair again, setting her staff down, and kneeling to pray, shivering a little from being so wet.
Azzanadra watched her pray at a distance, a sense of relief overcoming him. He hadn’t seen the young adventurer since the whole Guthix nonsense had happened, and it had been rather worrisome that she hadn’t come here to pay her respects to the Empty Lord yet since then. What could have kept her? Perhaps she had been assisting Soran? It seemed there had been no need to worry-she had proven herself invaluable and loyal many times, and indeed here she was now.
She slowly rose to her feet, wringing some of the water out of her silvery-blue overcoat before she picked up her staff again. Azzanadra wasn’t sure if she intended to stay awhile or to leave immediately to dry off and sleep, but whichever it was, he did wish to know how she fared.
“Jaina! Wait.”
Jaina turned, startled, towards the sound of the voice. As she caught sight of the Mahjarrat slowly approaching her, her face turned a deep red color, and she smiled rather awkwardly.
“Oh! Good evening, Azzanadra… I… I didn’t see you there…”
She twisted her left pigtail to wring it out further, and Azzanadra noticed that she was standing uncomfortably close to the altar. Before she had a chance to wring out the other pigtail again, he was quick to snatch her hand. “Watch where you do that! You’ll get the altar all wet!”
Jaina hastily moved further away from the altar and tried to pull her hand back. “I-I’m sorry… I… I should’ve paid more attention…”
Azzanadra’s expression softened a little, though he didn’t release her hand. He hadn’t meant to yell at her like that, and it wasn’t her fault she’d had to walk through rain to get here-but there were delicate magicks woven within that altar, and Zaros only knew what might happen if it got wet!
Still rather firmly hanging onto her hand, he motioned for her to follow him. “Come over here.”
Jaina shivered as she followed behind him, trying to keep a bit of a distance. Zaros was likely going to be greatly displeased at her for getting water all over the temple floor, and she really did not want to get on the Empty Lord’s bad side. It was bad enough she’d forgotten to pay a visit until now because she’d been spending all her time on divination lately, in hopes it would take her mind off the accursed battle in Lumbridge. She wasn’t sure she should blame Saradomin and Zamorak for her forgetfulness, however; she should have come sooner-there was no good excuse.
Oh, why did it have to be raining so hard now? Why did Azzanadra of all people have to see her like this? There wasn’t even much she could do about it, either. She hadn’t packed a change of clothes or runes for a fire spell, and it wasn’t like there was anywhere she could change in here. Oh well, at least her dress and overcoat weren’t ruined from the rain.
“So, um…” she finally said, desperately trying to ignore how uncomfortable her wet clothes felt. “Has there been any progress towards Zaros’ glorious return or anything?”
“Not at the moment, but it should happen in due time.” He let her hand go and turned to face her. “I do hope you will be there to witness it when it does happen.”
“I… Me too.” She nodded and averted her gaze, wringing her hands a bit. “I-I tried my best that time-in Guthix’s chambers, I mean…”
“Ah yes, you were a great ally to us there-thank you.” A hint of a smile crossed his face briefly. “I will be sure to tell Zaros of your part in it when I can. But what has kept you?”
“I was looking into the art of divination,” Jaina replied, looking ashamed. “You know those wisps that recently appeared near the ruins up above? There are more like them around the world, and their energies can be harvested to transmute objects or returned to the anima craters nearby to heal the world’s scars. I-I’ve also helped Soran out when I can…” She frowned, biting her lip. “Divination really is fascinating, but… I should be honest with you. It… it was a welcome distraction… Too good of one…”
“What were you trying to distract yourself from?”
“I…” She felt her jaw latch shut, tears welling up in her eyes. No, she shouldn’t cry, not in front of him; he would think she was being foolish and stupid. “My hometown… Saradomin… Zamorak… everyone, everywhere, keeps talking about it constantly, asking me when I’m going to go fight for Saradomin and aren’t I worried about Zamorak destroying Lumbridge…”
She let out a choked sob, unable to hold back the tears. “I don’t want to fight for either of them… I couldn’t; that would be giving them my loyalty… and I could never help them, knowing what they’ve done… I don’t want them anywhere near Lumbridge, but I-I can’t do anything about it!” Covering her face with her hand, she let out a pained wail. “Guthix… what was he thinking? Did he seriously expect me to singlehandedly banish gods or bend them to my will? If he really cared for Gielinor, for mortals, why did he leave it vulnerable like this… when he could have protected it instead?”
Turning away, she sank to her knees, her face buried in her hands as she quietly cried. Azzanadra would likely think her weak now, for breaking down and crying in the face of great adversity instead of facing it bravely and formulating a plan. He might still need to rely on her, since Zaros considered her important to his plans somehow, but that wouldn’t stop him from thinking less of her for making a fool of herself. At least he was one friend she could actually tell the truth to, and she did feel like a weight had come off her shoulders for finally being able to tell it…
Suddenly she could feel strong hands on her waist and shoulder, slowly guiding her back onto her feet. Turning her back around, Azzanadra tilted her chin up so that she was looking directly at him, brushing most of the tears away.
“Guthix may have been a fool, but you are by no means bound to whatever thoughtless plan he envisioned for you. As for Saradomin and Zamorak, they were foolish to rush into battle as well-we, on the other hand, must plan our path carefully. It will not be long now before Zaros is able to return at last! As for your hometown, you are right-direct action about the situation would not be reasonable, but you are likely not completely powerless. Have you considered sending resources or evacuating the citizens?”
Jaina stared up at him, trembling at the warm touch of his hand. “Soran did suggest I do those sorts of things, yes… I-I don’t know if it will be enough, though…”
“Any assistance is better than none-surely the citizens will appreciate all the help they receive in their time of greatest need.” He brushed away the rest of her tears and looked her over. “Ah, not to trivialize this matter, but something occurs to me… did you get the gift I sent you for your birthday?”
Jaina drew back in surprise, blushing a deep red. That was yet another thing she had foolishly forgotten-she should have worn that lovely shirt, but it would have taken too much time to run and change even if she had thought of it before; besides, she didn’t dare risk getting something so delicate wet. Well, she might be one to talk, given how much her current clothing had cost, but still.
“Yes… it’s so beautiful. I… I don’t know how to thank you…”
“Merely wearing it would be suitable thanks. Any reason you aren’t wearing it at the moment?”
“I didn’t want to damage it.” Jaina looked down at her hands again. “I’d be wearing it now, but it’s been raining too hard for that, and I didn’t want to keep y-I mean, Zaros waiting too long…”
Azzanadra found it hard to hide his disappointment. As pleasing as it was to know that she appreciated his gift, he had been rather looking forward to actually seeing what it looked like on her.
“I would still very much like to see you in it,” he said. “It would suit you well.”
Jaina smiled awkwardly and blushed an even brighter red, staring intently at her hands. “Oh… really? It… it does go well with my hair…”
Such a strange reaction to a compliment… however, Azzanadra was getting sort of used to the odd way she acted around him. Not that he understood it at all-why would she want to shy away from him or look anywhere but at him when she so clearly fancied him? If that was the human way of expressing affection, then it was certainly a wonder that Gielinor was so full of them.
For that matter, why wouldn’t she even admit her feelings? He was certainly well aware how drawn to him she had become-it was painfully obvious to anyone with half a brain. She had nothing to lose by confessing it; what did she think he was going to do, blow her head off with a blood spell? Or was she merely worried that he would spurn her affections? That might be it, but even Enakhra was at least straightforward about her slavering desire for Zamorak, and that was more onesided than a line in the sand. She had told Wahisietel already; if she could tell his brother, why couldn’t she just tell him directly?
He wasn’t going to wonder for much longer-she would confess before they parted ways this evening. She might very well be surprised by what she might learn.
“Oh, speaking of Guthix,” Jaina suddenly spoke up, trying to wring out her skirt a bit, “why… why did Sliske suddenly decide to do that?”
“If I knew the answer to that, I’d tell you,” Azzanadra said, looking thoughtful. “Sliske may have betrayed our trust… but he did at least kill Guthix in the name of Zaros. He did us all a service, even if we would not agree with his methods.”
“So you don’t think he was trying to become a god?” She shivered and looked down at her hands. “Ohhh… I’d hate to think of what he would be like as a god…”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I have known Sliske for my entire life, and I do not believe he would ever strive for that. It would be too much responsibility for him.”
“I-I hope you’re right…” Her voice was shaking just as much as her hands were. “I… Even thinking about him terrifies me… I never want to see him again!”
Azzanadra could certainly understand her fear, and a part of him had been starting to question if Sliske was truly as reliable as he had always been despite his unpredictable ways. There was little point in pondering Sliske and his motives now, however, and she had given him the perfect opportunity to change the subject-if she didn’t want to think about Sliske, she wouldn’t have to.
“Do you feel the same way towards me?”
Jaina blinked, looking confused. “What?”
“Your fear of Sliske is justified, but I can’t help but wonder if you find me intimidating as well.” Azzanadra drew closer to her, and she inched slightly further back. “You keep shying away, staring at the floor, wringing your hands… We’ve been acquainted long enough for you to know I won’t harm you, my dear.”
Jaina turned a deep red and tried to stifle a gasp. He had actually called her “my dear…” Could he really be… could he really see a simple common-born human that way? He had touched her earlier, but comforting someone in their sadness was something any friend would do; it didn’t necessarily mean he was interested in her any further.
“Oh, I… well… I… no!” She wanted to bang her head against the wall; she sounded so stupid. “I mean, I know I wouldn’t want you as my enemy, but if I were afraid of you, I-I certainly wouldn’t keep coming to see you…”
“Well, if you don’t fear me, then you have nothing to fear by saying what you truly think of me.” He drew closer again, his dark garnet eyes meeting her smoke-gray ones, and this time she didn’t have any away to shy to, because she had backed into a wall.
Jaina could feel her mouth go dry as she noticed her position. Being in the presence of the towering Mahjarrat tended to make her feel small, and such close proximity only made her feel even smaller. She was really, really glad he wasn’t her enemy, though she was still extremely nervous.
How in the name of Zaros was she supposed to say how she truly felt? He was probably just going to laugh if she confessed her feelings, and even if he didn’t, the uncertainty of how he might react made her too nervous to admit it. It would hurt if he turned her down, but what else could she expect? He was a Mahjarrat and she was a human, he was several thousands of years old and she was barely eighteen, he was a powerful and revered leader and onetime high priest and she was the daughter of a failed adventurer and a common housewife, he was both physically and magically strong and she was fragile and couldn’t even lift a sword, he was well-spoken and refined and she spoke with an accent that rich people mocked her for.
Even if he did somehow happened to be interested in her back, how was she supposed to actually be with him? She certainly couldn’t do so openly or tell anyone about it. It was obvious how any Saradominist would react, the Zamorakians… well, she didn’t know how they would react, but it certainly wouldn’t be good, and the Guthixians would think she had betrayed Gielinor and was going to start the next God Wars in the name of misguided love. She wasn’t even sure if their fellow Zarosians would approve…
“Go on, Jaina-I don’t bite.” Three simple words; how hard were they to say? It wasn’t like she was confessing to desecrating an altar to Zaros. Humans were so difficult to understand-why would someone so short-lived be so hesitant to express affection anyway? Ah well, he shouldn’t get too impatient.
Jaina swallowed hard and wrung her sweating hands. It appeared she wasn’t going anywhere until she told the truth, and she had already been brave enough to tell him the truth about her absence-she might as well. She took a deep breath and silently prayed to Zaros to grant her the strength to not sound stupid.
“I… I like you, Azzanadra!”
So she had finally confessed, and Azzanadra was slightly astonished at how sweet it sounded to hear it directly from her. However, her word choice didn’t quite seem fitting…
“I presume that’s an understatement?”
Jaina’s face was still bright red. “Well, uh… yes, I-I mean, not a liking in the ordinary sense, more along the lines of as more than merely friends…”
And there she went again, sounding absolutely stupid! She looked down again, still blushing.
Azzanadra chuckled softly and tilted her chin up so she was looking straight at him. “I know what you mean, my dear; you don’t have to over-explain.” He lightly brushed a loose strand of hair off her forehead. “Was that really so hard to say? It certainly took you long enough.”
Jaina couldn’t help but gasp. “You-you knew all along?”
“Oh, it wasn’t hard to tell at all. Particularly those times you were only half listening as I answered your questions about the empire because you were staring at me! Why, you should have seen the way your eyes were lit up!”
Predictably, she blushed at that, and he moved his hand downward to touch her cheek. “I do wonder why you didn’t confess sooner. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“I-I didn’t think you would care,” Jaina said, feeling a shiver go down her spine from his touch. “I mean, as far as almost anything in life goes, you’re way up here-” she held up a hand high above her head-“and I’m all the way down here.” She moved her hand to her waist level. “Isn’t Zaros’ return slightly more important than some simple common-born adventurer’s little crush?”
She certainly had her priorities straight, and her loyalty was to be admired-but how naïve she was if she thought herself that unimportant to him! It seemed there was much she still had to learn.
“On the contrary, Jaina, while our lord’s return is indeed top priority, I do not find you common-and I hardly find your affections to be inconsequential.” Taking her hand in his, he graciously kissed it. “Care to dance?”
Jaina wasn’t sure how to react. Her hand was trembling; she could still feel his kiss there, though she couldn’t quite believe she wasn’t dreaming the whole thing. She wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that, but as for the dancing… well, she hadn’t done so in awhile, but she was at least decent at it, and she could hardly refuse such a request from Zaros’ champion.
She slowly nodded and stretched out her other hand, smiling shakily as she placed it on his shoulder. She could only hope that the height difference between them wouldn’t make things too awkward.
As he proceeded to lead her in a slow dance, Azzanadra noticed that the young mage’s clothing was no longer soaked through, but merely rather damp-the heat from the lava pits in the corners of the temple had likely helped to dry her. Her dress was still clinging rather closely to her figure, though, and he rather appreciated the sight. Human women in general weren’t bad to look at, and Jaina was certainly no exception, but she seemed to grow prettier the more he saw her.
He twirled her around and underneath him, noticing how fluidly and gracefully she moved. She was still shaking a bit, but she was clearly quite agile, and she hadn’t made a single misstep yet.
Her presence had always been uplifting, but she seemed particularly inviting, alluring even, now… her smoky gray eyes lit up as she smiled at him, and for a moment he imagined her in the elegant robes of a priestess, her hair loose and streaming behind her as they danced for all of Senntisten to see.
“Ah!” She had nearly slipped, but she managed to regain her balance without a hitch.
“You dance quite well.” He smiled slightly and brought her to a standstill, though he still kept her hand in his.
“I-I do? Well, I-I’m good at a lot of things,” she said, smiling awkwardly.
“Indeed I’ve noticed.” Drawing closer to her, he held her hand a bit more firmly. “Close your eyes.”
She stared at him and blinked. “Why?”
So she hadn’t cottoned on yet? Even after she had confessed to liking him? How very human of her. “You’ll see, my dear… you’ll see.”
Jaina didn’t know what to expect when she closed her eyes, but she didn’t have long to wonder before Azzanadra lifted her up, twirling her around, and swiftly captured her lips in a searing kiss. She couldn’t help but gasp as her eyes snapped wide open, and almost immediately she felt his tongue glide over her lips, asking for entrance.
She hesitated a moment, still not quite sure what to make of this, and then gave into her curiosity and slowly parted her lips-not too much, just enough to allow him to explore her mouth.
And explore he did, one hand catching in her hair as he deepened the kiss. The height difference did make it harder for her to respond in kind, and she had to rise up on tiptoe, shivering a little as she did so.
When they came up for air, she stood there quietly, gazing up at him with wide eyes. Part of her was still greatly shocked-it was still hard to wrap her head around the idea of him actually being interested in her-but the more curious side of her was wondering if they could do that again.
“I-I-what? Dear Zaros…” she finally managed to say, still staring wide-eyed.
“Were you surprised?”
She merely nodded, and Azzanadra shook his head. “You’re a worthy and intelligent one, my dear, but you really should have seen that one coming.”
He was still puzzled as to why the purple-haired girl had reacted that way. She shouldn’t be so shocked; she was smart enough to put the pieces together. Contact with Zaros wasn’t the only thing she had restored; he could feel a growing urge, one he normally ignored and kept at bay. Jaina might be human-extraordinary for her kind, but still human-however, she was still an interested, available female, and quite within reach. He knew he would not be her first, either-she had once had a human husband-and it was better that way, as any Mahjarrat would almost certainly be too much for a human to handle as a first lover.
Dear Zaros, how inviting she looked now, even without the ground shaking! How he wished to kiss her again-and how he wished to touch her further, loosen her hair from those pigtails, free her from that closely clinging dress! The experience would be new, different, just as much so for her as it would be for him…
“Jaina, might I ask a favor of you? Not one for Zaros this time, but for me, personally.”
“A personal favor?” Jaina frowned and glanced down at her hands again. “Does it involve anything dangerous?”
She looked back up, feeling his gaze straying over her and seeming to go straight through her. “Oh… or does it have anything to do with the way you’re looking at me now?”
His dark eyes were still traveling up and down her figure. “A little slow, aren’t you?”
She blinked rapidly in confusion, her face flushing deep red again. “Oh, I… well… Why did you kiss me?”
Did she truly still not get it? This was more than just a little slow on the uptake, and Azzanadra was feeling his patience being tested. How in Zaros’ name did she not see what was right in front of her?
“You really do not know? My dear, do you still think your affection is onesided?”
“I-No! I... don’t understand, is all…” Jaina sighed, mentally cursing herself for sounding so stupid. “Wait, wait, no, what I mean is… I… Why me? I’m a common-born human from a small town, I can’t lift a blade or shoot a bow or defeat creatures that resist magic, I could never hope to match your strength and majesty… I couldn’t even stop Lucien, let alone Sliske… and you probably don’t even find human women attractive…” She decided to shut up before she could make a fool of herself any further.
“It seems I still have much to show you,” Azzanadra said, taking her hand again. “You do realize that none of the progress towards our lord’s return, none of this-” he motioned to the surrounding temple- “would be here now if not for you? That I would still be in that blasted pyramid to this day if not for you? That you are still going to be instrumental in Zaros’ great plan?”
“I know all that,” said Jaina, blushing slightly, “but I’m still just an adventurer, not at all worthy of Zaros’ champion himself…”
At this Azzanadra couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Oh, Jaina, quite the contrary-you’ve more than proven your worth! As for not finding you attractive, well, you’re wrong about that as well.”
“I-I am?” She shifted nervously in place, blinking in confusion.
“Very wrong indeed. Your human beauty might be unconventional and different from that of a Mahjarrat, but that does not make you any less so.” He proceeded to lightly caress her hand, reveling in how sleek and soft it felt to the touch. “Ever since you released me, you have fascinated me… you have accomplished far more than any mere adventurer, and the way you wield magic so fluidly and naturally… You freely embraced the ways of Zaros, have proven yourself loyal to our cause time and again, and have also proven yourself a true friend… Is it, therefore, any wonder that I have come to desire you?”
Her mind had come to terms with the fact that he definitely liked her that way, possibly more than she had ever liked him, but she didn’t quite understand what he was getting at. “Oh, Azzanadra… Wh-what exactly are you saying?”
“I am saying that I very much wish to claim you as my own. Zaros has promised that my loyalty will not go unrewarded… perhaps that reward will be you.” Smiling, Azzanadra leaned forward to kiss her once more. “That is, if you’ll have me.”
Jaina turned pale as she realized exactly what he meant. “What?”
“I promise to be gentle.” Tilting her chin up so that her gaze met his again, he slowly held out a hand. “Jaina, will you give yourself over to me?”
Jaina stared nervously into his eyes, her mind racing. What was she supposed to do? What should she say? She had always thought him so far out of her league that she had never even considered the possibility of that kind of thing at all. She didn’t even normally have any interest whatsoever in sexual relations anyway, not when there was a whole world full of much more exciting things to do-and if she had to think about that, she would remember her wedding night, and then remember the grief of losing Brand all over again.
It was also one thing to sleep with a human, but this would open up whole new cans of worms. Would she even be able to handle him? It wasn’t even just his sheer power that was daunting; she was so small by comparison-and he’d promised to be gentle, but “gentle” by Mahjarrat standards might very well mean “only leave you slightly black and blue.” And if anyone else ever found out what she’d done…
On the other hand… should she really say no? She would feel terrible about turning him down, and he had done so much for her. If she and he really did feel the same… well, she was sure the Mahjarrat didn’t marry, and it’d be foolish to expect that of him. Besides, her curious side was itching to know more… even though he could turn her into paste or shatter her bones, that didn’t mean he would. The thought of being with someone like that, who had great power but wouldn’t misuse it, was starting to seem thrilling, adventurous even. That’s what this would be-another adventure, and a new and unusual one at that.
She shut her eyes tight, her thoughts turning into a quick prayer. Oh, Zaros… I’m so nervous, I don’t know what to expect… but if this was meant to happen, then I submit my fate to you… Please watch over me!
Slowly opening her eyes again, she made her decision.