Prologue

Let him who has strength and a brave heart come forth and challenge me. For I fear no one.

If he defeats me, let the world be free from my eternally cold, dark rule. For, as I feel, that the world deserves better than this.

If the hero ceased to live, I believe I was meant to be the Ruler of Azeroth, no less, no more. So let him come forth!

Chapter 1

Thalian-uiel, Death Knight, servant-knight of Arthas Menethil, stood at one of the outer corridors conjoining the large Icecrown Citadel. Tonight was her turn to guard the eastern wing of the citadel, and she didn't love it. Her cloak provides some warmth and strength to her body but the familiar icy cold wind bites through. Her plate armour wasn't helping much either. Every Death Knights' plate armour seems to give off chill to anyone who was not a servant of Arthas, the successor of the last Lich King, Ner'zhul.

Her companion has not arrived for the night's duty, and she was hoping that he would come soon for she does not like doing her duty alone. She rarely does night guard duties but it seems that her companion's companion was on an errand sent by the Lich King. She wondered when was the last time the Lich King wanted her on any errand, official or not.

Not far off she could see the silhouette of an armoured person approaching her. Her hand reached for Voldrethar, her sword. People called it the Dark Blade of Oblivion for it brought much terror and destruction to many during the last epic war. Her father, Nareth, a servant and right hand man of Ner'zhul wielded it during his time. When he died in battle he left the sword to her since that he has no other child. Thalian-uiel never wanted to serve the Lich King. Much less be near the heartless bastard who resides in the cold, cheerless palace. But she has no other choice. Her mother left her father once she learnt of his allegiance to Ner'zhul. Her father, aggrieved and angered had her hounded to her death by his legion of undead army called from the wild depths of the village grave.

Turning her attention back to the present she eyed the approaching newcomer critically. In a place like this every individual were advised to take personal precautions for anything could happen. Especially when doing guard duties at night. She took a burning torch hanging from one of the dark-greenish platforms near her and put it ahead of her, hoping to see a glimpse of the newcomer.

As the newcomer stepped into her ring of light it pulled off its hood revealing the smooth, sleepy face. It was her companion for the night, Sanera, and she gave a sigh of relief. She thought it was some intruder or unwanted company.

"What is it, Elf? Scared that I'll assault you?" he mocked with a sharp leer dancing across his eyes. She would have had gave him a good punch in the face to make it cave in. She knew she was a lot stronger than him since that she had a great deal of training under her father. Swordsmanship, archery, how to fight using axes, the laws of hunting when going on a journey – everything her father knew when he was alive he taught her.

But making Sanera's face cave in would not make things any better, so she let the matter drop. "Come, Sanera. Let's start tonight's duty, shall we?" she said, her voice cool and calm.

Sanera laughed a little. "Yes, Thalian-uiel. As you wish!" he said, dramatically bowing to her majestically. To his biggest mistake, this had pushed Thalian-uiel beyond her maximum annoyance level that she gave him a hard kick in his family jewel and a heavy punch in his face, leaving him with a bloodied broken nose.

"If you want more, just ask. I can always generously give away a good fight like this," Thalian-uiel said with an even greater mockery that none could top, save for her dead father. "Let's go!"

Sanera stumbled after her, clutching his bloodied nose and breathing heavily. "Could you please at least do something to ease the pain of my nose?" the human Death Knight begged pathetically, his eyes almost tearing. A wimp, a sissy who has made his way into Arthas's service without anyone noticing. For once, Thalian-uiel felt sorry for trashing Sanera, so gave him the proper healings he needed for his broken nose.

"I'm sorry, Sanera," she apologized. "Just don't do that again."

He only nodded, looking into the Night Elf's cold, misty eyes under her Sanctified Scourgelord Helmet – a classic type of eyes Nigh Elves were born with. It was once amber coloured, but since that she was under Arthas's rule and was being made into a Death Knight her eye colour changes significantly. As do most other elves who were transformed into Death Knights.

He felt a sense of guilty in him. Elves – especially Night Elves – never took pride in such places as Icecrown. Just as long it inflicts pain to anyone the Elves would go into perpetual sadness and grievances. Thalian-uiel, as he had heard, was forced into being a Death Knight because Arthas saw not just great fighting skills and comradeship but also saw a strong burning will set within her heart.

Standing up, he extended an arm towards her.

She accepted it without grudge. That, at least, he was grateful for.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. As well.

She only nodded.