Hey, in this fanfic Arthas will not be the Lich King but someone else will. There will be a scourge in Lordaeron and it will start out with the plague as intended.. Also someone else will take the mantle of Lich King. Tirion/Mograine will not get the title Ashbringer but someone will gain the title Ashbringer. Also, The Ashbringer will be forged in a different way along with the story behind it.
'...thoughts...'
"...normal talk..."
Path of Light: Arthas's Redemption
Chapter 1:
Road to Stratholme
The majestic city of Stratholme, a city that shows the power and might of Lordaeron. The city of Stratholme, the largest city stands high and proud over Eastern Lordaeron. Stratholme settles right near the path to Quel'Thalas otherwise known as Thalassian Pass. However, on the path to Stratholme there the Crown Prince of Lordaeron, Arthas Menethil walks. Arthas, son of Terenas Menethil, Heir to the throne of Lordaeron and apprentice of The Lighbringer walked angrily and frustrated towards Stratholme. But as he walk he heard a crow screeching flying overhead. Like any other person he walked off and ignored it but he felt magic emanating from this crow. He stood and watched as the crow landed and transformed into the prophet Mediev. Arthas started eyes wide but gripped his hammer, Light's Vengeance.
"Greetings young prince. We must talk"
Arthas looked at him as if he was crazy
"I don't have time for this"
Mediev quickly spoke out his words in an attempt to sway the prince.
"Listen to me boy, this land is lost. Gather your people, The shadows have already fallen, and nothing you can do will deter it. If you truly wish to save your people, lead them across the sea...the forgotten lands of Kalimdor...only there can you truly save your people"
Mediev starts to walk off but stops when Arthas talks back.
"Flee?, My place is here and my only course is to defend my people"
Mediev turns around and sighs knowing that he will not listen but decides to give him advice.
"Then your choice has been made...just remember young prince, the harder you strive to slay your enemies..the faster you'll deliver your people right into your hands."
With that being said he transforms into his crow and flies off to hide. Arthas looks at the corner where Jaina walks out. Jaina Proudmoore, Daughter of Daelin Proudmoore, Grand Admiral of Kul'Tiras. She is also the apprentice of Lord Antonidas, Ruler of Dalaran.
"Sorry for concealing my self Arthas, It's just that.."
"Don't say it.."
"Arthas, listen for once. That man emanates magic and power far beyond our own. We should listen and at least think about what he has to offer to us."
Arthas looks at Jaina's blue eyes remembering the past he has with her and he sighs as he paces back and forth often sitting down at times.
"Jaina...If I can kill this..Mal'Ganis, Then we would save Lordaeron and there be no need to leave our homeland."
"That may be true but you would require soldiers and if what Lord Uther say is correct then every time your soldiers die..they will rise up again to fight our people."
Arthas stares down the road of Stratholme contemplating on what to do.
"I've seen this man before, back in Dalaran he came to Antonidas to tell him to flee but he would not listen"
Arthas not wanting to hear anymore of it starts his walk back down to Stratholme where his Captain, Falric established a base camp outside. Then he hears his name being called not by Jaina but his third Captain, Luc Valonforth.
"My prince, we fought together in Andorhal all the wall to Hearthglen. We've seen what the undead can do to our people. Do we truly want this, to have our own soldiers kill the people they've worked and lived with their whole life."
Arthas stares at his captain. His friend since he was a little, as he looks up and stares onto the night sky he remembers what he had said and how he has acted. Arthas takes a deep breath and allows himself to bath in the moonlight as he closes his eyes. Reason...finally comes to Arthas.
"Your right...both of you...I...I haven't been thinking straight, the plague and the undead have been stressing me enough. I haven't been thinking clearly..."
Arthas looks at Jaina and Valonforth.
"Alright...Lets head to camp first before we do anything, I'm sure Captain Falric and Lieutenant Marwyn will be wondering where we've been."
The three start their long march to Stratholme once again. This time when they reach the base camp outside most of the soldiers bow their heads or rejoice in the prince's name. Falric walks out of the captains tent and walks to Arthas.
"Milord, we are glad to see that you have come back unharmed. In any case we should wait for Lord Uther to arrive, He send us a letter saying that he will arrive shortly."
South of the camp, near Thalassian path there rides a legion of knights and paladins. Paladins, Warrior of the Light, Those who fight for the sake of others and wield hammers blessed by the Holy Light. Their leader, Uther the Lighbringer, Founder of The Order of Silverhand, and Mentor/Uncle to Arthas rides with them. They fight the undead that just recently arrived on the path to attack the base camp. Meanwhile back at Arthas, he contemplates on the best course of action. Captain Falric and Valonforth along with Lieutenant Marwyn all walk inside the Command tent and Arthas lays out a map of Stratholme and the surrounding terrain along with towns.
"Alright..We have three course of action but I am not sure on what to do."
Falric was the first to speak.
"Sire, Perhaps we should quarantine Stratholme, set up sections of the city where we can isolate the villagers that are not infected and those that are."
Valonforth is the second to talk after Falric.
"We should leave Lordaeron like the prophet spoke of..We should get as much people that are not infected with the plague and leave to the western lands."
Finally Marwyn speaks but his actions are clearly different that those of the others.
"Why should we abandon Lordaeron, Our place is here. In any case Milord we should kill the villagers now and before this...Mal'Ganis has a chance to raise them to fight us."
Arthas looks at the three and he asked them to wait while he takes a horse and rides into Stratholme. As he walks into Stratholme he is greeted by his people and the guards there salute him. When he arrives at the guard's hold he walks in and talks to the captain.
"Greeting Milord, may I help you?"
"Yes...were there any shipments from Andorhal that came in?"
"Well yes but we've only fed half of the Stratholme of the grain."
The guard lays out a map of Stratholme and marks a giant X on where the grain has been distributed
"The top half of Stratholme received the grain. The Crusader's Square along with Market Row, King Square and Festive land have not yet distributed the grain."
"This is bad..But at least we didn't have to quarantine all of Stratholme." Arthas thought as the captain spoke.
"Alright...Captain..I want you to get most of the guards and make sure no one and I mean NO ONE leaves the top half of Stratholme. I'll gather some of my forces to help out"
"Yes, Milord. But May I ask why we have to quarantine them?"
"In due time captain I will explain for now make sure no one enters or leaves do you understand?"
The captain nods and salutes while Arthas walks out he can hear the captain issuing orders to the messengers. He rides back out to base camp while Jaina watches over camp. As he reaches the camp he finally sees Uther arrive just in time.
"Ahhhhh, Uther...Your timing couldn't have been better."
Uther gets off his horse and walks towards Arthas.
"Sorry about that lad, we've been bombarded with undead on the way there. It's good to see you too lad."
Arthas walks up to a hill and he notices guards moving about.
"Uther..there's something you should know, The plague has already hit Stratholme but only the top half..Right now I'm thinking on quarantining it but there's also something else.."
"What!, This is bad..."
Uther looks at the boy and back at the city before listening at what he has to say.
"Jaina and I have decided to leave Lordaeron, Now I know it might sound crazy but can't you feel it Uther?. It's as if the demons are coming again. We don't have the man power to fight back."
Jaina along with his captains and lieutenant, walks up to Uther and Arthas.
Arthas then told Uther of the situation in Stratholme, and the options that his Captains and Lieutenant proposed. Uther looks at Arthas and he places his hands on his shoulder.
"Lad..I'm glad that you are putting the welfare of your people over your needs. You have come a long way. However, Are you sure that you wish to leave Lordaeron at a time like this?" Uther asked
"Uther I don't, and I will not abandon my people, but you must feel it, the coming darkness, this undead Scourge is just the beginning of something far more terrible. I was hoping you would side with me and aide me." Arthas replied.
Jaina walks over to the two of them and watches the interaction. Uther sighs and looks at Arthas and Jaina.
"I won't stop you to from leaving Lordaeron, but I am sworn to your father and to Lordaeron. However, I wish you two the best of luck to your journey over to Lordaeron. I will defend Lordaeron to the very end when you leave"
Arthas nods as Uther walks back to his horse and mounts up.
"I have to reach Tyr's Hand for a bit so you two will have to hold the fort for now, the knights here will stay and protect the camp."
Uther rides off east to the fortress of Tyr's Hand. Arthas walks to his captain and lieutenant. The three of them stand by as they await Arthas's command and order.
"Alright...Falric, I want you to stay here with Jaina to watch over the base camp."
Falric nods and he walks off as he commands some of the troops to their station.
"Valonforth, I want you to talk a couple of knights and ride to the surrounding towns and warn people of what will happen. Try to save as much people as possible."
Valonforth walks off with a couple of knights as they saddle up and ride off onto the night.
"Marwyn, go to Stratholme and take some soldiers there with you and quarantine Stratholme and separate the infected away from the rest of the citizens."
Marwyn walks off as he rallies the soldiers and marches into Stratholme. Arthas, meanwhile walks off to a horse as he gets on Jaina walks towards him.
"Where are you going to go Arthas?"
"I'm going to inform my father on what's happening and that the two of us will be going to Kalimdor. Stay here Jaina, I'll return fast I promise."
He grabs her hands and kisses it before pulling his hood on as it starts to rain and he rides off to the Capital City of Lordaeron. Jaina walks off towards the camp as Falric walks towards her.
'Milady are you alright?"
"Quite fine, Thank you. Alright...make sure the camp is fortified in case any undead decides to attack"
"Yes Milady."
Falric walks off to the peasants and footman as they walks around with slabs of stone and piles wood as they construct a wall. Meanwhile inside Stratholme, Marwyn, deciding to take matter into his own hands persuades the solders to march into the quarantined area of Stratholme.
"Listen, We must attack them now. Do you truly want them to suffer while they are trapped inside their own homes?. Right now we can end their misery and slay them all before they all turn into the undead."
Marwyn rallies the solders while some of the guards of Stratholme follow him. The others under the captain's orders stay and they look wary as they watch them march into upper levels of Stratholme. They walk by as the villagers look sick and some attend to the sick. They all draw their swords as they walk in, many of the villagers look at the soldiers armed with swords. Marwyn walks to one of them and stares at them. The female villager looks at him and she coughs before saying.
"Have you come to save us?"
Marwyn takes one final breath before saying.
"I'm sorry but the only way to save you...is a clean death."
"Wha.."
That was the last thing she said before having the blade impaled into her stomach before the rest of the villagers scream in terror as they run but the soldiers all slay them before they are able to hide. The rest of the villagers run into alleys to hide but they are soon killed with no way out. The captain, Marcus tells the guards of Stratholme to make sure no one flees outside of the upper levels of Stratholme. He runs out to inform Prince Arthas what is happening. As he reaches the camp, the walls are already half way done. Falric notices the captain and approaches him.
"Is Prince Arthas here?" Marcus asked.
"No..He left to inform his father on what's happening?"
"The lieutenants disobeyed the order...He's killing the citizens"
Falric looks with terror in his eyes as he looks into Stratholme. A lot of the villagers are either dead or turned undead due to the plague. The soldiers are pointing at others to issue orders as villagers are attempting to flee. While other are fighting the ghouls that by passed Marwyn's forces
"Dammit, Marwyn Alright...Ill inform Jaina of this, Right now take your men and round up whatever soldiers you have left..We'll deal with Marwyn later."
Marcus, Captain of Stratholme nods as he runs back inside to warn the rest of the guards. However, deep inside the upper levels the floor is littered with villagers slain and undead ghouls that were killed. Marwyn takes a torch and lights the houses on fire to kill the villagers hiding inside their homes. As they walk forwards more undead burst out of houses. Soon they outnumber the soldiers 5 to 1
"Dammit...Retreat..there's to much Fall back to the Crusader's Square."
They all run away as ghouls and abominations pour down the street. However, standing on top of a building looking at the humans running stands Mal'Ganis as he observes the streets of Stratholme. He lets out a chuckle.
"Soon...Stratholme shall fall and this wretched land shall die"
Jaina and Falric gathers the solders and runs off into burning Stratholme as the knights are left inside the camp to protect it from undead streaming from the valley as they fight. The once mighty proud city of Stratholme is now nothing but a former shadow as the fire burn loudly and powerful. Stratholme now burns as the fire spreads killing villagers and soldier. The once clam skies are now filled with screams of terror.
A/N: Yes Uther is the Adoptive Uncle to Arthas. Also, I decided that rather Arthas killing Stratholme, I'd have Marwyn to do the culling. No he will not be the Lich King but someone else. If you find that I describe things way to much tell or if I do to little tell me. Also I had not a single clue as to what to name it cause I suck with titles other than that. Enjoy.