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There was nothing Jaina wanted more than to retire with Elsa and hold fast to her for at least an hour. She was so exhausted that her eyes ached and she was certain that the Queen needed rest as well after such a display of power.

But there remained a few more hours of negotiations yet, and that was even before anything formal could be written up.

Using her staff to keep herself upright, Jaina trailed her eyes over the people clustered around the table and the maps. Sylvanas seemed to be noticing everything, her eyes studying Elsa and Anna both in ways that made Jaina's stomach twist. Despite Elsa's steadiness, she was unable to hide her affection for her sister, even here and now.

That made Anna a target and Sylvanas had clearly figured that out about as quickly as Jaina had, and made the same assessment.

Elsa's eyes lingered on Jaina a fraction of a second too long, and if Jaina hadn't already been paying attention to Sylvanas, she would have missed the flicker of realization in her eyes. Damn. Jaina did not like the idea of Sylvanas latching onto possible weaknesses in Elsa.

Edging close to the table and moving to within whispering distance of Sylvanas, Jaina leaned over like she was inspecting the map. In a soft voice, she murmured. "Tread carefully, Sylvanas."

"I would do nothing else," Sylvanas responded, in kind.

At this distance, Sylvanas radiated the coldness of undeath, a sensation that made Jaina feel ill at ease. It was different from the chill that sometimes clung to Elsa like a second skin, though more often than not she was unexpectedly warm. Unlike Sylvanas, Elsa's temperature changed with her moods. "I know where you're looking, and I know what you're thinking. The war is over, there's no need for these kinds of assessments."

Sylvanas leaned over the map as well, just enough that she could meet Jaina's eyes with one of her own. "There is always a need, Proudmoore. The living are fickle, and all it would take is someone deciding my people are monsters and the fires will burn again."

Jaina bit her tongue before she said something she'd regret. Instead, she took a moment, letting Sylvanas's words echo around in her head. Elsa, she thought, would have something to say on the subject of monsters.

The corner of Sylvanas's lip twitched upwards. "You can say it. I know I am a monster."

Rather than engage, Jaina simply asked, "Will you keep the Horde together? Physically, I mean."

The elf raised one long eyebrow. "What are you suggesting?"

Jaina tapped her finger at one spot on the map. "The climate in this area is a little harsher, colder than many other places. The Forsaken would survive well there, and be at less risk of outsiders stumbling across the walking dead. It's not really a thing the people of Earth are familiar with, though I am sure we can find a location that suits everyone. And here, these islands, they would be well suited to the Darkspear and Zandalari Trolls. There will be areas some of us would have to share anyway, that are similar to Nagrand or Elwynn Forest."

Those areas, Jaina knew, would be the most contested, and where the prospect of finding peace between Horde and Alliance without pushing out the people of Earth would be the most difficult.

Sylvanas stared at the map shrewdly, straightening and folding her arms. "Are you seriously suggesting peace will work?"

"I've had time to look at everything," Jaina admitted. "Looking in from out. Seeing my mistakes in a fresh light."

Her voice tightened. "But don't mistake my clarity for pacifism, Warchief. I will defend these people from any and all aggression."

"Indeed," Sylvanas mused, gaze falling on the Queen. "I believe you will."

Jaina stared at Sylvanas for a moment, then stepped away from the table, and towards Elsa. "With your permission, Your Majesty. I would like to set up those portals I was talking about."

Elsa nodded, looking past Jaina at Sylvanas with an expression that was almost quizzical. "Very well. I'm sure my cousin is particularly eager."

❄️

Watching Jaina conjure up anything was always somewhat of a treat for Elsa, but she particularly enjoyed the portals. Jaina created several in the alcoves on the north side of the throne room. One to Corona, another to the Southern Isles, and three more to other allies, including a nation far to the south and east called Tamrac.

She couldn't focus all her attention on Jaina's magic, not with the strange visitors from another world in her throne room. Even her talks with Jaina couldn't prepare her for elves or a woman with horns. And there were other strange beings besides, like what had sounded like a minotaur. She really hoped she got to meet one. Elsa didn't know how well they'd integrate, but she was going to try.

Unable to really keep still any longer, Elsa stepped down from the throne, walking to the map table. She wanted to be more involved in this anyway, to extend her hand in diplomacy and make these people friends of Arendelle. Even the ones that Jaina hated. Elsa didn't miss that Jaina always had one eye on the one called Sylvanas, or the subtle, almost subconscious way the representatives had arranged themselves, with Alexstrasza between Horde and Alliance.

It was probably a wise arrangement, at least for now; Elsa could feel some kind of power slumbering beneath the horned woman's skin. Jaina had told her this was a … dragon. A tall, pretty woman and Elsa wondered if her true form would be even more beautiful.

Elsa could feel Sylvanas's eyes on her as she moved. It was a considering, shrewd gaze, different from the way some might leer at her, or otherwise dismiss her for being young and inexperienced. Or female, in more than one case. Clasping her hands behind her back and straightening regally, Elsa met the Warchief's gaze. "See something you like?"

Anna made a choking sound behind her.

"I haven't decided yet," Sylvanas responded, eyes roaming up Elsa's body.

Jaina's hands tightened around her staff, but Elsa ignored that. She had the feeling Sylvanas was testing her, testing both of them, and she had no intention of failing. "You are, all of you, welcome to have a tour of my Kingdom, but I think we'll want to alleviate the overcrowding in Dalaran first."

"Preferably before fighting breaks out," Alexstrasza said. "Tensions are high and even with the prospect of freedom and a new world, things are liable to get worse before they get better."

"Everyone cooped up in Dalaran and knowing there are places to go." Anduin shook his head. "We need to get relocation plans in place as soon as possible."

Sylvanas waved her hand in vague agreement, as people started to come through the portals.

A man with a mop of brown hair and scraggly facial hair stumbled out of one and promptly doubled over, holding his mouth. He was followed by an armed brunette woman in loose leather armor and then a girl with absurdly long hair tied into a braid.

"Rapunzel!" Anna sped across the throne room and enveloped the blonde in a huge hug.

"My cousin, Princess Rapunzel of Corona," Elsa said, gesturing to her. "Her boyfriend, Eugene Fitzherbert, and Cassandra, her…"

"Bodyguard," the brunette filled in, eyes moving from person to person as she studied them and the layout of the throne. Her gaze lingered on Alexstrasza and Elsa couldn't blame the momentary stunned look. But Cassandra quickly caught herself as Elsa introduced the Azerothians.

"Anduin Wrynn, King of Stormwind, Sylvanas Windrunner, Warchief of the Horde, Khadgar of the Council of Dalaran, and Alexstrasza, representative for the unaffiliated peoples of Azeroth."

"Nice," Cassandra said, eyeing Alexstrasza again, before quickly adding. "To meet you. I mean."

"And this is Lord Admiral Jaina Proudmoore, who is the go-between for our world and theirs," Elsa finished.

"Lord Admiral," Eugene said, still looking a little queasy from the portaling. "Now that's a fancy title."

Rapunzel's eyes darted between Elsa and Jaina, before she walked with Anna to the map table. She looked at Sylvanas, who scowled at her, and then promptly positioned herself next to the Warchief. "Hello."

"Hello, Princess," Sylvanas said, drawing out the words.

"Call me Rapunzel. Or Raps. Whatever's easiest." She pulled out a scroll and held it up, still a beam of pure sunshine next to the darkness that was Sylvanas. "My father identified lands in a part Corona that are mostly uninhabited except for a bee farm. Which has, I have to tell you, some of the best honey you'll ever eat."

Sylvanas looked over Rapunzel's head, staring directly at Jaina as if this was somehow her fault. "Sounds delightful."

"Looking at the topographical map, that area of Corona does bear a striking resemblance to Tirisfal Glades," Jaina offered. "And the Forsaken have a unique advantage when it comes to handling stinging insects. I'm even willing to offer some support from Kul Tiras, as we had some of the best bee-keepers on Azeroth."

Elsa watched as Sylvanas seemed unable to come up with a retort to Jaina's olive branch. The Warchief sighed heavily as Rapunzel bounced in place, and locked her glare on the princess. "That it does. I will take it under advisement for the Forsaken."

"That's so great!" Rapunzel declared, as if Corona and the Forsaken would somehow be the best of friends.

Cassandra looked less than enthused, staring at Sylvanas as though judging her and finding her wanting. But Elsa was familiar with her cousin's approach to life and knew she'd wear Sylvanas down with good cheer or die trying. And from everything she'd learned from Jaina and from meeting her, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing to attempt. But before they started divvying up lands, Elsa needed to know something. "As I understand it, both the Horde and Alliance are coalitions of disparate peoples, are they not?"

"Basically," Khadgar said. "Though a gross oversimplification."

"I get that, but bear with me here." Elsa looked between the gathered leaders. "Do you plan to keep your peoples together in one area, or will - " She gestured at the map. "Forsaken in Corona, your Tauren somewhere else, and so on?"

"On Azeroth," Alexstrasza said. "The homelands of each of the planet's races were spread far apart. But they remained united within their factions despite this."

"Like some kind of league of nations?" Anna asked, peering over her sister's shoulder at the map.

"A league…" Khadgar nodded. "I like that."

Elsa eyed Jaina's portals. "I suppose you have much better ways to communicate than we do."

"Everything is better with portals," Jaina said. Her hand twitched towards Elsa's arm, but she caught herself. That was going to be a conversation they needed to have, and soon, but Elsa wasn't going to push matters in a situation as delicate as this.

"The rest of the representatives will be arriving shortly," Elsa declared. "Until then, why don't you make a list of what unique needs your peoples have so that we can find the most suitable homes for them, without displacing anyone else in the process."

❄️

Beyond Rapunzel somehow managing to convince Sylvanas of the benefits of Corona, this first day had resulted in very little headway. Jaina still had a migraine from all the arguing and the posturing. It wasn't just the Azerothian representatives, most of the people on Earth were just as stubborn and it seemed like everyone was angling for the best possible solution for themselves alone. It was understandable, of course, but the only way any of this was going to work was through compromise.

Jaina put aside her notes for tomorrow and picked up the rolled up scroll that she'd been dreading looking at. It had been magically enchanted by Khadgar, and all she had to do was unroll it and think of the names she wanted to see. If a name showed up in black, it meant the person was alive and on Dalaran somewhere. Blue, missing. If it showed up in red…

Letting out a breath, she unrolled it and stared at the blank parchment. Names started to fill it as her mind shot in almost every direction it could. Vereesa Windrunner and her sons were in black, as was Alleria Windrunner. Go'el's name stared at her in bloody red, as did Malfurion Stormrage, and Genn Greymane.

There were many more names in red or blue than in black, and as she skimmed through them Jaina took a conscious effort not to look for her family, and for others from Kul Tiras that she was close to. She didn't want to know. If she didn't see their names in blue or red ink, then she didn't have to know that they were gone.

But unwanted, her eye caught it, the curve of a red K and she unwillingly followed the name as it spelled out Katherine Proudmoore. Above it in blue was Tandred, her brother.

Jaina's hands started to shake, and she dropped the scroll onto the desk before burying her face in her hands. Tears stung her eyes and burned her cheeks and it was so fucking unfair. At least before, she could have pretended they were okay, lived in ignorance of their fate and cut off from Azeroth.

But her family, and so many of her friends, were gone. The scroll couldn't even tell her how, or when or why. Their names just sat there in silent judgement on the enchanted parchment.

If she'd been there … if she hadn't been so foolish and angry…

A sob broke the silence in the room, and Jaina's throat clenched as she fought the storm that was threatening to breach all her defenses and spill out. But after that first sob came a keening sound and Jaina doubled over, hands in her hair.

She could count two times in the past two years that she'd been able to cry, and both of those had been after coming to Arendelle. But the last time she'd wept for herself; these tears were for her family and all that had been lost or destroyed while she'd been away.

Jaina was wracked by guilt and grief as she slid to the ground and curled up, sobbing like a lost child. And maybe, in a few key ways, she was. It didn't matter that she'd led armies, fought demons and worse; her family was dead, her people splintered and even her worst enemies had suffered unspeakable horrors.

She must have fallen asleep at some point, because she woke to find her head cushioned on warm, soft fabric, and a hand in her hair.

Elsa cupped her cheek, stroking her lip with her thumb. "Hey…"

"Hey," Jaina said, feeling like there was gravel in her throat and aching like she'd run a marathon. She made no attempt to sit up; Elsa's lap was too comforting a pillow. "When did you…?"

"I came to check on you, and found you on the ground," Elsa replied. "I … thought that maybe you needed to sleep through it a bit. That was a couple of hours ago."

"…You've been sitting here for hours?" At that, Jaina did try to sit up, but Elsa pushed her firmly back down.

"Talk to me," Elsa said, a request and not a command.

Jaina squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the ache behind them though she could find no more tears to cry. "I saw the casualty list. I wasn't … I wasn't ready for that."

"No one is ready for that." Elsa's face was so kind, so understanding that Jaina felt an irrational anger at the sight.

But of course Elsa would understand, and Jaina didn't reply until she was sure she wouldn't bite the Queen's head off. "A part of me had hoped, even if the odds weren't great. That out of millions, my mother or brother might have made it. That in the crowded chaos on Dalaran, they were there. But my mother is dead, and my brother is among the missing. Which at this point is as good as dead."

"I'm sorry." Elsa seemed like she was going to say something more, but she said nothing further. Jaina was grateful; the last thing she wanted to hear now was any kind of hope about Tandred.

This time, Elsa let Jaina sit up, and Jaina scooted until her back was to the bed, before she reached over and pulled Elsa into her arms. Holding her tight, Jaina pressed her face into Elsa's chest and inhaled her scent until she felt calm again.

Silently, Elsa stroked her hair, her shoulders, her back, letting Jaina work through her thoughts. But the silence started to bother Jaina, and she lifted her head. "You must have a million questions about the discussions today."

"You're supposed to be the go-between," Elsa pointed out. "Would this be a bias?"

"Maybe," she admitted, before cupping Elsa's face and kissing her lightly. "But I've lost too much in my life to want to let you go while you still want me."

Elsa kissed her back, deftly undoing Jaina's braid as she did so. She threaded her fingers through the silver and gold, untangling knots and smoothing the locks out, the fingers on her scalp almost better than sex. Elsa's mouth parted when Jaina did the same to her and Jaina flicked her tongue against Elsa's lower lip before nipping it lightly.

She pulled her head back, gazing into Elsa's eyes as her own brimmed over once again. "Do you think I can beg the Queen's presence in my bed tonight? I don't want to sleep alone."

"No," Elsa replied, smile soft and kind. "But you can share mine."