Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Whatifthiswasreal?Whatifhereallywasinlovewithher,andshewithhim?Whatifhewasabadhusband,abadking—whatif—

           "I’mnotready,"heblurted.

           Herbrowfurrowed."Well,wedonothavetohavelittleonesrightaway."Shesqueezedhishandinwhatwasclearlyintendedtobeagestureofreassurance.

           Arthassuddenlydroppedherhandandtookastepbackward.Herfrowndeepenedinconfusion.

           "Arthas?What’swrong?"

           "Jaina—we’retooyoung,"hesaid,speakingrapidly,hisvoicerisingslightly."I’mtooyoung.There’sstill—Ican’t—I’mnotready."

           Shepaled."Youaren’t—Ithought—"

           Guiltrackedhim.She’daskedhimthis,thenighttheybecamelovers.Areyoureadyforthis?shehadwhispered.Iamifyouare,hehadreplied,andhe’dmeantit....Hereallyhadthoughthe’dmeantit....

           Arthasreachedoutandgrabbedherhands,tryingdesperatelytoarticulatetheemotionsracingthroughhim."Istillhavesomuchtolearn.Somuchtrainingtocomplete.AndFatherneedsme.Uther’sgotsomuchheneedstoteachand—Jaina,we’vealwaysbeenfriends.You’vealwaysunderstoodmesowell.Can’tyouunderstandmenow?Can’twestillbefriends?"

           Herbloodlesslipsopenedbutnowordscameoutatfirst.Herhandswerelimpinhis.Almostfranticallyhesqueezedthem.

           Jaina,please.Pleaseunderstand—evenifIdon’t.