A/N: This is a bit different to what I have done in the past. Much like A Frozen Revenge and Losing Faith, this will be multiple chapters long and it shows how different the world of Azeroth would have been if my OC didnt stay with Thalina and instead went to fight under the Forsaken Banner once more. (This will be an Alternative Universe story, so if that's not really your cup of tea, I'm sorry. That being said, it will involve Sylvanas a lot more, so if you're sick of seeing the Banshee Queen, I can only apologise in advance).

This chapter is just a rewrite of Chapters 34, 41, 42, 43 and 45 in A Frozen Revenge. (I know, it covers a few of them). The only difference between them is the way Athrodar acts after the end of Chapter 34 and his decisions from there on out. So this is more of a prologue to the actual story, but it still is relevant because you can see what he done differently here compared to what he done in A Frozen Revenge.

At the end of this chapter, it would be really helpful if you could leave a review, telling me if you want more or not. Or even just a follow/fav will be enough to know someone wants more chapters.

Keeping Distance

Icecrown, the heart of Northrend and the Scourge and the last area the denizens of Azeroth were marching through. Spear headed by the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade, the Alliance and Horde had made camp on the outskirts of Ymirheim, a Vrykul town recently taken by the factions as a forward operating base before the final hurdle.

Inside the town was a former agent of the Scourge, now turned ally to the living who was currently having a heated discussion with a Night Elf, one that he has known for half a decade. "Fine, Elaria, you got me, alright? I have been trying to play 'Mr Nice Guy' around her and it's killing me to do so. But I haven't stopped because it makes her happy. Yes, I have been feeling guilty for what I have done to her in the past year, and yes I'm trying to make up for it, but I'm not the same person I was when I was alive."

Elaria watched as he pinched the bridge of his nose, relieving some stress that was building up. "No, you're not the same person."

He turned his head to look at her. "It's not easy getting people to trust you after being impaled by that fucking sword for a second time. They're always on edge around me because they believe I may not have truly been broken out of Arthas' hold. Break free from him once, that's fine, people can trust you. Get enslaved by him a second time and break free from it again? Nobody wants to be around the guy who switches sides that easily."

She saw him curl his fist into a tight ball, turning her gaze to his face and seeing anger and frustration there. "If I may suggest something?"

"What?" He replied, watching as the snow began to fall in the camp.

"Stay away from her." Elaria suggested, straightening her back to show her firmness on it. "After this is all over, leave her, and all those she is close to, alone for good. I don't care where you go, just keep your distance from her. It's for her own good."

Athrodar frowned at her, tilting his head a little. "You want me to stay away? That would crush her."

Elaria shrugged. "Perhaps. But you will be doing her a great favour in the long term. With you gone, it will give her a chance to live a normal life, to fall in love with someone else and be happy. Truly happy."

"You want me to leave her, even though it would crush her? Have you seen how happy she has been recently? I can't do that to her, not again."

"She's only happy because she's addicted to your very presence. The moment you leave her she gets upset, true, but like all things, people will learn to live without their addictions. It will take time, and she will require help from everyone, but she will be able to live without you."

Athrodar sighed, nodding his head slowly. "You're right..." He said, turning his head to look at her. "You're right." He repeated, turning his head once again to look through a small gap towards the elf in question. Thalina was talking to Liadrin, the pair of them smiling though the Magister's smile was just a little brighter. "Look after her." He turned his head around to look at the Night Elf once more. "Promise me you'll do that."

Elaria nodded, smiling a little at him. "I can't promise I will always be there for her, but I will keep continuous updates on her, making sure she is safe and doesn't do anything stupid." She peered over his shoulder and towards the small gap, looking at the Magister and Paladin talking to each other. "She is in safe hands when I'm not there. Liadrin is a tough son of a bitch and will make sure she gets back on the right path." She glanced down at him. "No offence."

Athrodar waved it off. "It's fine." He looked over his shoulder and towards the Horde camp to the east of Ymirheim. "I should check in on the Forsaken, see what needs doing." He returned his gaze to her one last time. "Try to keep her away as well, it will only make things more difficult if she follows me."

"You can count on me, Athrodar."

Deep within Icecrown Citadel, the forces of the Alliance and Horde, partnered with the Argent Crusade and Ebon Blade, had pushed through the Scourge lines and killed many of the monstrosities within. The did however have to split up when it came to a point in the Citadel where they couldn't kill two abominations individually, having to have the undead members kill one that was surrounded in gas whilst the living went against one surrounded by poisonous slime.

The group full of undead managed to down theirs with ease, though by the time they returned to the living, it was too late to aid them, having been locked out by a door that could only be opened from their side.

Athrodar watched the fight go on through a small glass panel on the door, seeing them slowly cut down the abomination inside, though what caught his attention more than anything was the Magister he had kept his distance from ever since Elaria told him to do so.

Thalina had come to talk to him shortly after his conversation with the Night Elf, though he just brushed her away, telling her he had to check on the Forsaken, followed by a quick strategy meeting with the Dark Rangers. Between then and now, he hadn't seen her often, only really noticing her in the crowd of fighters by the crimson hair on her head as well as seeing a gap between Liadrin and Elaria when they grouped up. The Magister was smaller than the rest of them, so what normally looked like a space between the two taller women was actually Thalina, trying her best to see over everyone else and getting frustrated when she couldn't.

During the fight against the abomination known as Rotface, the monstrosity had hit her across the room when he swiped his hand in an arc in front of him, trying to collect anything to stop the assault on him. Athrodar watched on in horror as she hit the wall at the other end of the room, seeing her lift her hand up from her side and noticing the distinct red liquid on it.

It took close to a minute to down the abomination, too much time in Athrodar's opinion to get the door open and give Thalina any aid he could. As soon as the door began to open, Athrodar ducked underneath it and called for Liadrin to heal Thalina the moment he began to run to her, pointing towards the Magister when the Paladin couldn't find her. "Make sure she doesn't die Liadrin." He told her, grabbing hold of Elaria on his way towards the mage. "Apply pressure to her wound and make sure she lives."

Elaria nodded at him. "I'll try my best."

Athrodar grip remained on her upper arm just as she was about to run towards Thalina, stopping her from moving. "You promised me you'd keep her safe."

"I know." She replied, pulling her arm free. "But I can't do that if you're standing here talking to me."

Athrodar watched her run towards the mage and rip a piece of her tunic off just to press it against the wound. The former Prince looked around the room, seeing many exhausted faces, a few of them looking like priests. "You two, come here. Now!"

The two priests began to make their way to him with haste when they saw he was looking at them, standing to attention in front of him. "What is it, Captain?"

Athrodar pointed towards Thalina and Liadrin. "She is critically injured and could use your help. Aid Liadrin in whatever way you can, just make sure she lives. Got it?"

The two of them nodded, making their way over to the Magister to help heal her.

Tirion stood beside Athrodar, looking towards the Magister and the many healers coming to her aid. "Do you think she is going to make it?" Athrodar asked, looking towards the old Paladin.

"I haven't had a chance to assess her wounds." He replied, watching a couple of Tauren druids make their way over to help. "But with the amount of healing she seems to be getting, she may pull through." He looked towards Athrodar who was watching them heal Thalina. "She seems to have a lot of friends here who are looking out for her. She will be fine."

Athrodar's attention returned to Tirion when he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. "I know. But we will need a portal to take her back to Dalaran. Her time here is up." He snapped his fingers and waved over a few mages who looked over to him, telling them to open up a portal to Dalaran the moment they stood to attention in front of him and Tirion.

The healing process took a few more minutes, Thalina dipping in and out of consciousness until finally remaining awake for more than a minute, looking over to Athrodar who was making his way towards her. "What... what are you doing?" She asked him weakly as he put an arm around her.

"I am taking you to Dalaran to recover." He replied, looking over to Liadrin. "And she is coming too."

Liadrin nodded at Thalina when she looked over to her. "I will be there."

The three of them made it through the portal, Athrodar handing Thalina over to Liadrin and a couple of Kirin Tor Guardians who rushed over to help them. "Keep an eye on her, Liadrin." He told her when she handed Thalina off to the Guardians as well. "She needs you now."

The Paladin looked him up and down, realising what was going on. "This is the last time we will see you again, isn't it?"

Athrodar smiled a little. "For now. Though we never know what the future brings."

"Elaria told me you were going to do this, but I didn't believe it." She sighed, patting him on the chest before walking away. "Good luck." Was the last thing she said, walking towards the building Thalina was taken to. Turning on his heel, Athrodar began to make his way back towards the portal he came through, stopping when he heard a familiar voice talk to him.

"Fancy seeing you here."

He turned around to see the Banshee Queen and her entourage of Dark Rangers. "Sylvanas." He said, bowing his head slightly. "I take it your Scarlet problem has been dealt with?"

Sylvanas looked away briefly, though it was enough to tell Athrodar it was still there. "They've become a bigger threat than I had first thought." She turned her gaze towards Anya who stood beside her. "I have brought some reinforcements for you. It's not much but it should speed things up."

Athrodar nodded his head at Anya who nodded hers back, walking past him. "Thank you for this." He said, looking at Sylvanas. "We needed something to push the tide back in our favour, and it looks to be happening with the reinforcements you brought." He watched the last of the Dark Rangers walk through the portal. "Don't you need them though? For your fight against the Scarlet Crusade?"

She shook her head. "They're yours for now. Just try not to get them all killed."

"Again, thank you for this." He began to walk towards the portal, being stopped when Sylvanas took hold of his wrist. "What is it?" He asked, turning around to face her once more.

"Are you alright?" She asked back, studying his expression.

He smirked at her in return. "I'm fine. I'll see you once this is over."

"Are you sure? You seem distracted."

Athrodar pulled her closer, kissing her lightly. "I'm fine." He repeated. "Now I need to get going, there's just a few more Scourge Generals left until we're at Arthas."

She kissed him once more, pushing him lightly towards the portal and wishing him good luck before looking over to Icecrown. "And don't die..." She whispered to herself, walking towards the Violet Citadel in the meantime.

The Crimson halls, a place for the Sin'dorei that were twisted into vampyric beings known as the Darkfallen, bound to serve the Lich King as long as he found a use for them. One of them however, was chosen to be their Queen and leader, a being that had strong ties to Athrodar, a being that was currently dying from the last person she thought would stab her.

Lana'thel looked down at the blade in her stomach before looking back up at him. "M...My.. Prince?" She stumbled backwards a couple paces, the blade sliding out of her. Athrodar dropped it onto the floor and caught her before she hit it too. "I'm... I'm dying.. Aren't I?"

Athrodar laid her on the floor, holding onto the wound he had inflicted on her. "I'm sorry... I'm.. I'm sorry." He pressed his head against hers, trying to stop the tears from forming at his eyes. "I.. I didn't..."

She gently placed a hand on his face, trying to stop a few of her tears from forming. "It's not... your fault... My Prince..." She kissed him lightly, placing her other hand on his face as well. "You... You had no other... choice..."

Athrodar shook his head, looking down at the wound and closing his eyes tightly. "I should have got you out a lot sooner. I.. I should have come back for you the moment we were assaulting the Citadel."

She smiled, kissing him once more. "It looks.. like fate... had different plans." Her eyes widened, the smile on her face wiping away as she began to look scared. "I see... nothing but darkness my Prince... where are you?"

Athrodar pulled her into his embrace, hugging her tightly and feeling her try to replicate, though her body was weakening by the second. "I am here, my love. Your Prince is here." He kissed the top of her head, shutting his eyes. "I love you."

Her grip on him loosened so much that she couldn't hold onto him any more, even when she tried to. "I love you... my... Pri..." Her hand fell limp by her side whilst her head fell against him, Athrodar holding onto her tightly, rocking back and forth and screaming out in agony as his heart was ripped from his chest.

In the room below, the fight was raging on between the living and dead against the thee Blood Princes. Though the moment Athrodar's screams reached their halls, the three Princes knew what had happened, dropping their weapons and extinguishing the shadowflames in their hands, knowing they had lost their Queen.

Tirion stepped forward and killed the one that had a blood orb in his hand, watching as the other two fell to the ground the moment the first one died. "Go, upstairs. Quickly! Check out what has happened."

Several of them nodded their heads, including Elaria who was the first to go. When the first group arrived in the room, many of them looked away as soon as they saw Athrodar holding onto a lifeless woman with giant wings, seeing him rock back and forth with her in his arms and hearing the faint sound of crying coming from him.

Elaria stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder whilst the rest of them made it up to the Blood-Queen's chamber. "Athrodar." She began, crouching down by his side. "Athrodar we need to leave."

He shook his head, rolling his shoulder and making Elaria let go of him. "I'm not leaving her here." He told her quietly, stroking Lana'thel's hair.

The Night Elf looked behind her, seeing only a handful of Dark Rangers standing at the entrance to the chamber, the Argent Crusade and Ebon Blade already making their way through the rest of the Citadel. "We need to go now, Athrodar."

Clea stepped forward, making her way towards him and crouching down in front of the former Prince. "Athrodar, listen to me." She glanced over to Elaria who stood up, beginning to make her way towards the rest of the Argent Crusade when Clea continued to stare at her. "We need to get a move on. We will come back for her later and bring her back to Lordaeron to be buried. Okay?"

He shook his head once more. "No. We won't take her there. We will bury her in Silvermoon, where she would have wanted to have been buried."

Clea nodded her head at his request. "We will make it happen. But first we need to finish this thing, okay? We need to kill Arthas."

This time he nodded his head, picking Lana'thel up as he stood up himself. "Help me put her into bed, I don't want to leave her on the floor like some common beggar."

Clea accepted his request, calling over a couple of Dark Rangers to help Athrodar. Once Lana'thel was placed in the bed, Clea and Anya stood in front of the former Prince, stopping him from leaving with the other Dark Rangers. "Are you fully focused on the task at hand?" Anya asked him.

He continued to nod his head at her questions, opening his mouth to speak but being interrupted by Clea. "We mean it. If you're distracted by the tiniest of things, it may cost us this war."

"I'm focused, don't worry. We just need to finish this and then we can return to Lordaeron."

Clea patted him on the arm, nodding her agreement to him. "Then let's go."

Athrodar stood at the foot of the Violet Citadel, his face illuminating different colours as fireworks exploded all around him. Night had rolled in above the floating city, Athrodar looking up at the sky and the fireworks, turning his gaze to the Citadel in front of him and climbing the steps towards it, looking to speak to Tirion who was inside.

Just as he entered the Citadel, he was met by a familiar looking elf. She had the features of someone he knew, though she was living and the other was undead. "You must be this Prince I've been hearing so much about."

Athrodar looked her up and down, realising who she was. "It's Vereesa, right?"

"Ah, you're sharper than you look. Yes, that is my name." She turned her gaze towards the room Tirion was currently in. "Are you looking for the Highlord, or my husband?" She smiled at him. "I don't suppose it matters, they're in the same room. Come with me."

Athrodar began to climb up more stairs, standing outside the Archmage's office. He glanced over to Vereesa who was watching him closely, raising an eyebrow at her. "Yes?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. It's just, I think I can see why my sister likes you."

Athrodar raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"Don't look so surprised. I may not have spoken to her since before she died, but I do have ears." She leaned closer to him. "And eyes." She leaned a little closer, whispering to him. "Everywhere."

Athrodar chuckled a little. "I didn't think anyone saw that."

"Well it doesn't help you done it in the middle of the city." Vereesa knocked on the office door, looking back at Athrodar. "She was hard to please if you weren't family, I can only guess more so now that she's like she is. So if she likes you, you're clearly doing something right."

Rhonin opened the door, smiling down at Vereesa before looking over to Athrodar, moving out the way and welcoming them both in. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Tirion standing on the balcony, watching over Dalaran from the tower. "Highlord, a word?"

Tirion looked over to Athrodar, nodding slightly at him. "Of course."

Rhonin put an arm around Vereesa who was pulling him out the room. "I will leave you two alone."

As they both left, Tirion looked over to Athrodar once more. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to say thank you, for earlier." Athrodar extended his hand out towards him. "You saved us all from certain defeat, a minute longer and we would have all perished."

Tirion waved it off. "Bah, any one of you would have done the same if given the opportunity. I was just lucky enough to be the one holding the sword."

Athrodar smirked, chuckling a little when he thought about it in finer detail. "I suppose you're right." He took hold of a pitcher of wine, refilling Tirion's cup. "I hear celebrations are happening soon. Do you plan to go?"

Tirion smiled. "I do. It has been a while since I have had time to relax, the party will be a good thing for me." He looked at Athrodar, the former Prince remaining quiet on the matter. "Do you plan to go?"

Athrodar smiled a little, placing the pitcher down on a nearby table. "I'm afraid not. That sort of thing doesn't appeal to me any more." He held up his hand when he saw the Highlord was about to argue. "I just came by to say my thanks, and that this may be the last time we meet."

Tirion placed down his cup, offering him his hand. "I understand. But the world isn't as big as we first thought, perhaps we will run into each other again."

Athrodar took hold of his hand, shaking it. "Perhaps. It was a pleasure fighting by your side, Highlord."

"And yours, Captain."

Athrodar made his way out of the Violet Citadel, making his way through Dalaran, dodging and weaving his way through the crowds of celebrating citizens, stopping a few yards away from the triage centre.

Don't do it. He told himself. She will be better off without you.

He lowered his head slightly, sighing and making his way towards the portal room, not looking back as the building that housed Thalina in grew smaller as he got further away.

When he reached the portals, he made his way through the one that took him to Undercity, making his way out of the Mage's quarter and towards the Throne Room. Walking through the long corridor taking him to the Throne room, he saw several forsaken making their way past him, followed by a couple of Dark Rangers who bowed their heads to him.

As he arrived at the Throne Room, he saw the doors were closed, opening one slowly and walking into the room, spotting Clea and Anya talking to Sylvanas. Just as the door closed behind him, it attracted the attention of the three elves, all of them looking towards him. "Am I interrupting something important?" He asked, climbing the steps of the dais.

Sylvanas waved him over. "You're not interrupting. In fact, we could use your input on a few things."

Athrodar continued to make his way towards them, unsheathing his sword and kneeling down behind it, bowing his head to her. Clea and Anya looked at each, confused on what was happening. "Uh.. my Queen?" Clea began looking towards Sylvanas.

The Banshee Queen held up her hand, standing up from her throne and placing a hand under his chin, lifting his head a little. "What are you doing?" She asked him, not quite understanding herself.

"I am pledging myself to you, my Queen. To fight by your side in the wars to come and to protect you and the Forsaken with my life." He lifted his head up a little to look at her. "If you'd accept me into your ranks."

Sylvanas' hand remained under his chin, lifting him up until he stood on his own two feet, staring into his eyes. "I accept your pledge, so long as you promise to fulfil it." She saw him nod, looking over to Clea and nodding at her slightly, watching her Dark Ranger-General take hold of Anya and slowly push her out the room. The two of them closed the doors behind them and stood on guard, making sure nobody was going to enter.

The Banshee Queen stepped a little closer to him, pulling on his cloak a little to get him to stand closer too. "What made you decide to come back here? I have to admit, I thought you were going to go to that Magister of yours."

Athrodar sheathed his sword, pulling down his hood and stepping closer to her. "I no longer have a place with the living. I am better off with like minded company." He placed his hands around her waist, pulling her closer. "What does my Queen need of me?"

She put her arms around his neck, kissing him lightly on the lips. "Tell me everything that happened in that citadel." She pulled him towards her throne, pushing him onto it and climbing on his lap, listening to him tell her everything that happened.

"We were winning, decisively." He began, taking off his swords and bow, followed by his quiver. He placed them all down by the throne, looking up at Sylvanas. "The first three Generals were killed relatively quickly, though after the third we lost the Alliance and Horde armies."

"You're lucky I found you in Dalaran." She said, taking off her cloak. "How helpful were my Dark Rangers?"

"Very." He replied, kissing her neck before continuing. "Afterwards we were in the plague wing, taking out two new abominations Arthas had his chief professor working on. Once we downed them, that's when I ran into you and Anya in Dalaran."

"I have been told the rest by both Clea and Anya." She told him, placing a hand on his face to grab his attention when he began to unclip his cloak. "There is one thing I need to know."

"What is it?"

"Who is this Blood-Queen they were telling me about?" She asked, watching him drop his eyes from her. "She sounded like someone important to you, considering the state my Dark Ranger-General found you in."

He returned his gaze to her, looking a little annoyed at Clea's report. "She shouldn't have told you that."

"She tells me everything. You will learn that soon enough." She brushed a thumb across his bottom lip. "Tell me."

He sighed, looking away from her. "She was what that Magister and I were in life." He looked at her once more. "What you want us to be now."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And what do you think I want us to be?"

"The exact thing you think I'm thinking it will be. You want us to be very close." He moved his hands around her waist and slowly up her back, untying her breastplate. "It's either that, or you want me to be your attack dog that you can send anywhere in the world to get the dirty jobs done for you." He smirked when the straps of her breastplate loosened. "Which one is more accurate?"

She took off her breastplate, dropping it behind her and leaning her chest on him. "Definitely the first one." She whispered, locking lips with him whilst pulling up his tunic. Dropping it on her breastplate, she pulled away from him slightly. "I need you to do something for me later."

"And what does my Queen require of me?"

Sylvanas grinned, hearing the two words she needed to hear from him and not realising it until they left his mouth. "I need you to scout out the Scarlet Monastery to our North-East. Tell me how many of them are camped up there and if we can exploit any weaknesses to our advantage."

"So soon after the Northrend campaign?" Athrodar asked.

"We can't show weakness. Whilst everyone is trying to replenish their troops, we should start securing our land." She smirked at him, placing a hand on his face. "Something that is easily done with you by my side."

"Consider it done, my Queen."