Hearth of ice
Arthas
'It is done.' Iladin laid on on the ground, blood slowly flowed from his wounds making snow red all around him.
'Maybe I should kill him and enslave to Lich king's will?' I contemplated, weighting value of this kind of decision.
'No, such powerful and ambitious being would far too dangerous, just like Sylvanas was, it is better to allow the cold winds of the North finish what I have started.' I quickly dismissed this foolish idea idea.
'How thing as this even occurred to me?' I chuckled internally.
Finally I have reached the final destination of my journey - the Icecrown.
With haste I entered the cavern, heading the Lich king's call I walked upwards.
'This is culmination of everything that happened have happened since the beginning of the plague. I will be rewarded for all my actions and betrayals... At last.' feelings of triumph bubbled inside me, uplifting the mood.
'I am almost there... ' suddenly I felt something strange.
'What? It cannot be! ' Lich king's grip slightly weakened and the old memories and regrets started entering my mind.
"Remember, Arthas. We are paladins. Vengeance cannot be a part of what we must do. If we allow our passions to turn to bloodlust, then we will become as vile as the orcs." Uther's words said long ago cut deeply into my icy hearth bringing even more shadows of the past.
"Jaina…oh, Jaina…"
"No one can seem to deny you anything, least of all me."
"Don't deny me, Jaina. Don't ever deny me. Please."
"I never would, Arthas. Never."
This memory cut even deeper, but despite that, I continued relentlessly moving forward.
"We know so little—we can't just slaughter them like animals out of our own fear!" purge of Stratholme, even to this day I feel some remnants of sadness and sorrow regarding that event.
'Hypocrite Uther! He claimed to care about his people, but when the time has come to prove it by protecting them from worse fate than death, he fled! Maybe, if he had come to Northrend with me, then I wouldn't have ended up as a death kni...' Frostmourne slightly pulsed and my train of thought stopped right in its tracks.
The visions ceased, but in a few heartbeats they returned.
"This is bad business, lad. Leave it be. Let it stay here, lost and forgotten…. We'll find another way tae save yer people. Let's leave now, go back, and find that way."
'What if I had listened Muradin? Could I had found a way to protect my homeland from the Scourge?' another rebellious idea entered my consciousness as I climbed ever upwards. Like before, the Frostmourne pulsed attempting to assert its' control, though this time to no avail.
Black wings brushed through my memory:
"I will leave you one final prediction. Just remember, the harder you strive to slay your enemies, the faster you'll deliver your people into their hands." with the last stair all those images and sounds stopped torturing me, but were not forgotten.
"He was right... About everything." I thought bitterly while remembering prophet's warning.
'Maybe, if I had listened to Medi...'
"Closer you draw, my champion. My moment of freedom comes…and with it, your ascension to true power. Do not allow spectres of the past sway you away from your path. "
"Spectres? Swaying away from my path? Weren't you the one who did it?" anger, an emotion which I had never felt towards Ner'zhul throughout my existence as an agent of the scourge.
"RETURN THE BLADE." Unbearably loud Lich king's order pierced my very soul, bending to his will. "COMPLETE THE CIRCLE. RELEASE ME FROM THIS PRISON!"
I took a step forward, then another, hesitantly raising Frostmourne.
There, before me stood a huge chunk of ice. In it a set of icy black armour was encased. But Lich king himself was nowhere to be seen.
My blade descended shattering prison, that have been holding Ner'zhul in captivity for years.
Loud cracking resounded throughout the chamber, huge chunks of ice flew in every direction. I lifted my arms to shield myself, but the shards did no harm to me. Pieces of armour fell on snowy floor and the Lich king cried out lifting his arms to the sky. More groans and cracking sounds came from the cavern and the being itself, so noisy that I even had to cover my ears. Suddenly the figure began shattering as the prison itself, turning into nothing almost in an instant.
The prison was empty, no one inside.
Now only Lich king's armour laid near my feet. I intensively stared at it, processing everything that just had happened.
'All this... time I have been chasing a ghost? Had the Lich king ever really been here? If not—who had thrust Frostmourne from the ice? Who had demanded to be freed? Was I, Arthas Menethil, supposed to have been the one encased in the Frozen Throne all along?'
'Had this ghost I'd been chasing…been myself?' questions that will probably won't be answered arose to me, confusing me even further.
I slowly extended my hand towards the helm and touched it.
Without warning a strange sensation flooded my body, I got galvanized, tensed.
'The Lich king...' From feet to head it consumed me whole, crashing like a tidal wave. It stopped my breath, shivered across the veins, but when it reached the hearth something happened... something unforeseen.
Unspeakable pain filled my chest, forcing me on my knees. I screamed loudly, desperately clutching the place where my hearth was in hopes of making the suffering go away somehow.
Cold, burning sensation spread through my body, world began spinning in an insane rate and the head seemed like filled with lead. As the seconds passed everything grew worse and worse, the pain just increased, the dizziness more tiresome. All this torment drained my mental resources quickly, eventually I have gotten fazed out of exhaustion.
'What is happening to m...'
I awoke in a dimly lit hall. Leaning on my hands I examined the surroundings. Behind me was a fireplace with fire burning within it, both floor and wall were made out of wood and in the middle of the this great room stood beautifully carved table, almost as long as the hall itself near which on the opposite sides sat two beings - a boy and an orc.
'It is not real." I figured out instantly, but nonetheless decided to see it through, so I took a seat at the head at the head of the table.
Both orc and child alike were looking at me intensively. I gazed at them back, first focused on the boy on the right side then glared at the orc on the left.
First spoke the elderly, but still powerful orc with a white skull painted on his face.
"There is so much more" he assured.
Images crowded my mind, intermingling, layering on top of each other into glimpses of past and future entangled. An army of humans on horseback, carrying the flag of Stormwind…fighting alongside, not against, a Horde raiding party mounted atop snarling wolves. They were allies, attacking the Scourge together. The scene shifted, changed. Now the humans and orcs were attacking one another—and the undead, some crying out orders and fighting with minds that were clearly their own—were standing shoulder to shoulder with the orcs, strange- looking bull- men, and trolls.
Quel'thalas being rebuilt, though the skar was still present.
Visions started pouring faster into my head chaotic, confusing. Future and past were now indistinguishable. Another image, that of wyverns raining frost down on a orcish city that I had never seen before. And then I saw Stormwind being attacked by the same wyverns.
later I was shown creatures similar to Anub'arak's people, but these instead of frozen wastes of Northrend chose hot deserts as their home. These desert nerubians were accompanied by some kind of chimaeras with bodies of a mammoth and heads of a dog, which probably were their servants. .
A symbol materialised, which I recognized very well - the L of Lordaeron, impaled by a sword, but depicted in red, not blue. The symbol changed, became a red flame on a white background. The flame seemed to spark to a life of its own and engulfed the background, burning it away to reveal the silvery waters of a vast expanse of water…a sea…
…Something was roiling just beneath the ocean's surface. Smooth seafloor began to churn wildly, as it from a storm, although the day was clear. A chilling sound that I only barely recognized as laughter assaulted my ears, along with the screaming of a world wrenched from its proper place, hauled upward to face the light of day it had not seen in uncounted centuries….
Green—all was green, shadowy and nightmarish, grotesque images dancing at the corner of my consciousness only to dart away before they could be firmly grasped. There was a brief glimpse, gone now
'antlers? A deer? A man?' It was hard to tell. Hope hung about the figure, but there were forces bent on destroying it….
The mountains themselves came to life, taking giant strides, crushing everything luckless enough to cross their paths. With each mammoth footfall, the world seemed to tremble and shake.
Frostmourne. This at least I knew, very intimately. The sword whirled wildly, as if I threw it into the air. A second sword rose to meet it—long, inelegant but powerful, with the symbol of a skull embedded in its fearsome blade. A name—"Ashbringer," a sword and yet more than a sword, as was Frostmourne. The two clashed—
I blinked and shook my head. Visions chaotic, chilling, disturbing vanished.
Orc chuckled, painted skull on his face stretching with gesture. He was once a proud shaman Ner'zhul gifted with the ability of visioning. I didn't doubt what I saw and knew that if I choose to align with Ner'zhul, then all those events would eventually transpire.
"So much more," The orc repeated, "but only if you continue to walk this path fully."
Slowly, I turned my white head to the boy, who looked exactly like my younger self. Our eyes met. I felt something stir inside me.
'Despite everything what had happened, the boy still lives.'
'And that means.'
The boy smiled a little, and some of the sickness dissipated as I struggled for words. "You…are me." My voice was soft, tinged with wonder and disbelief. "You are the little flame that burns inside me still, that resists the ice. You are the last vestiges of humanity—of compassion, of my ability to love, to grieve…to care. You are my love for Jaina, my love for my father…for all the things that made me what I once was. Somehow Frostmourne didn't take it all. I tried to
turn away from you…and I couldn't. I—can't."
The child's sea green eyes brightened and he gave me a careful smile. His color improved before my eyes, some of the pustules on his skin disappeared.
"You understand, now. Despite all, Arthas, you have not abandoned me." Tears of hope stood in those eyes and his voice, though stronger now than it had been, quavered with emotion. "There must be a reason. Arthas Menethil…much the blade have driven you to do, but there is goodness in you yet. If there was none…I would not exist, not even in your dreams."
The disease now was almost unnoticeable and the child's voice gained some determination.
"Arthas, this your chance to resist the darkness, if you cast down last dregs of your humanity, then...then there will be no hope left for you. " His voice got shaky again, but unlike before it was laced with hope.
" Why should I reject such power? Just to be rewarded with a rope or a cozy prison cell for life. All those that once were precious to me are either dead or despise me to no end... There is no way back. " I shot back harshly, though not without a splinter sadness.
"Everyone will see the truth, they will understand that all that was not your own doing, no... It is Frostmourne. Frostmourme has almost entirely stripped you of your true self, along with it also froze your hearth solid... yes... you were not a perfect paladin, however at the end of day you always remained the defender of your people. Understand, Arthas, this blade was made to enslave it's owner and make him believe that he possess free will at the same time. No matter how much power you will gain, but without freedom, it will be worth nothing. "
"Enslave?" my laughter echoed throughout the ethereal room. " I sincerely doubt Ner'zhul's abilities in keeping me on his leash any longer." I answered with a voice soaked in confidence.
The child stared at men for a few seconds and then he spoke "The blade was not forged by the Ner'zhul, but by Nathrezim, kin to Mal'ganis. As you are already aware, this race is a part of Burning Legion." He paused for a moment. "If you remain on this dark path…whatever action you may take will be in Legion's benefit. In case of your defeat, strength of mortal armies of Azeroth would be severely diminished…but if you ever to succeed in your quest of turning this world into the eternal kingdom of undeath, it will be even worse, far worse…as soon as your conquest would be done, innumerable swarms of demons would flood your newly formed dominion, obliterating everything in their path. There is no doubt that your armies would put up formidable resistance, nevertheless this war would be hopeless for you. Legion cannot be beaten by vast armies nor by abominable monstrosities, Arthas. Only the will of Azeroth's heroes to defend their world and safeguard the life itself can stand against the might of the Legion. After the defeat of scourge, every single soul trapped in Frostmourne, including yours, would be to banished to the Twisting Nether to be tortured until the end of times... Frostmourne does not serve it's owner... real masters are its' creators." boy finished grimly.
Revelation shocked me to the core, I subconsciously realized that the boy is not deceiving me, yet I still questioned him.
"H-how do you know this?"
My younger version gave me a shy smile. "It is the Light. Regardless of all your actions, the Light still loves you, just like all the living beings in the universe. Arthas, salvation is within your reach, all you need to do is to resist the pull of darkness."
'The Light...' I closed my eyes remembering its' warmth, comfort, protective aura.
'Still... loves me?" I was at the loss of words. I got off the chair and began pacing across the room, analyzing everything that I had heard. 'He is truthful... Indeed I didn't feel a thing while I betrayed and slaughtered my people... my family, but I know that I should have experienced something... remorse... shame... anything. Me, before the corruption would be appalled and horrified at everything that I had done... The boy is right, true me would have never even thought of commiting such deeds.' I reluctantly came to conclusion.
He slipped off the chair and slowly walked towards Me. I stood as he approached. For a moment, we regarded each other, the child and the man I had become.
The boy extended his arms, as if he were a living, breathing child asking to be picked up and held by a loving father. "Don't you miss the embrace of life. Don't you want to feel, love and be loved, again?" He said quietly.
I knelt. I gaped right at his eyes, feeling an emotion for the first time in forever - gratitude, not just some glimmer or a shadow, but an actual emotion. Then I wrapped my hands around the blonde child's shoulders and took him in an awkward hug.
'I refuse to be anyone's thrall! Tool in someone's schemes! My will is my own!' determination permeated my very being, inspiring me to break the bondage once and for all.
I immediately turned my attention towards Ner'zhul, engulfed in uncontrollable rage I shouted at him "OUT OF MY HEAD! I decide what will be my destiny, not the Legion and certainly not you!"
"Don't listen to this frail thing! Together we are capable of destroying demons and their masters!" Orc shaman desperately shouted, yet his lies and delusions fell on deaf ears.
Frostmourne buzzed, gleamed, shrieked but all for naught, too late. Too late to stop me from reclaiming my soul and certainly too late to prevent me from throwing cursed object in the orc's direction.
Frostmourne spinned in mid air still emitting piercing screams.
As soon as the tip of the weapon hit its' target, everything around was swallowed by darkness instantaneously, drowning me as long as I was able to comprehend something...
Freezing chill made me stir up from slumber. It was so cold, both outside and inside.
I managed to push myself up to a sitting position, my legs were completely numb, so I couldn't stand up.
'I am free' I realized, but this brought me no comfort, no solace. Everything that I ever loved, ever valued, ever fought for is gone forever… never to be restored.
Almost mechanically I begun rub numb limbs, my mind empty and hearth cold as chillwind outside.
Finally I got off the ground. I took a few shaky steps, incensation was replaced by feeling of stinging. So I stopped for a moment to massage by frozen muscles again.
As soon as the ache eased down, I proceeded carefully walking onwards. Now, luckilly, the pain didn't return.
I threaded steadily, submerged in my thoughts barely giving any heed to the outside world.
'I am free… I am free… but… but, why… why only now I managed to free myself? Why so late?' emptiness which reigned supreme just seconds ago, got pushed out by shame, grief and guilt.
"My nation…" I whispered as I drew closer towards the edge.
"My people…" I stopped near the ledge.
"My family…" Tears began flowing down my cheeks, only to be turned into little icicles at the end of their journey.
My Breathing steadily intensified. I felt it. I felt my hearth, it was no longer a frozen block of ice. It was alive, beating.
"What have I done?!" After a cry of anguish I collapsed on a snowy surface. Crying, sobbing, I shouted "No! No! Noo!" A flurry of emotions which chained and supressed for so long, hit me with a full force.
Guilt for the deaths I had delivered. Grief for all that I had lost. Shame for my fall. Everything overwhelmed me so suddenly causing unspeakable suffering.
Then came the anger, Rage against all that is wicked, tainted.
I swiftly rose up and rushed towards the Frostmourne, already knowing what to do.
I took the damned blade into my hands, then I stepped before the Plate of the Damned, an armour which I was meant to wear as a Lich king. Glaring at the set fiercely I brought Frostmourne down, then raised it again and repeated until the enchanted armour was completely destroyed.
Plate of the damned had been truly both horrific and marvellous creation. Forged in the depths of Twisting nether by the most skilled Nathrezim craftmen, it was also bolstered with a masterful spellwork, meaning it was nigh indestructible. Luckily, Frostmourne was powerful enough to destroy this dark masterpiece.
Right after the armour plate was no more, my attention shifted to the Helm of domination.
There it was, an artefact which was inhabited by Ner'zhul's soul. I regarded the thing yearning for its destruction.
I positioned myself preparing to strike. The cursed blade went up in the air, but it never went down.
'Without its master's command the Scourge will be an even greater threat to this world. Control must be maintained' A thought which didn't seem to belong to me, entered my mind.
I understood what would have happen if I crushed the artefact which controlled the scourge: Every single creature would be free. Those with simple minds to rampage and the intelligent ones to plot against the living.
I lowered my weapon and letting it to slip away.
'My actions have brought so much loss…'
'No…I cannot let it to continue…this bloodshed must be stopped. That is my duty.' My final decision was made.
I knelt down and extended my hand towards the Helm of domination. When I touched, unlike the last time however, nothing happened. No power rushed in. No one attempted to assert control over me. Nothing.
So I grabbed the damned object, got up and walked towards the Frozen throne.
'This is my punishment…for all my failures…for the evil that I had done.'
'I would rather be tormented for eternity, rather than allow the suffering to continue the suffering which my foolishness had brought.'
With a stronger resolve than ever before, I climbed up the icy stairs.
"For a second time I dabble with the same powers, for the same reasons." I chuckled sadly.
When I reached the top I found the former Lich king's seat of power empty.
'And like then I am taking a great risk.' My mood darkened even further as I turned around placed myself in the throne.
I took the Helm with my both hands, then lowered it onto my head.
Suddenly whispers: incomprehensible, loud, maddening surged in filling my head.
Then a flash of light…
Thousands of crimson red eyes, which belonged to a being of incredible proportions, pierced me. Its form was littered with many horns and gaping maws, also countless of tentacles sprouting from underneath it.
Before this imposing creature… this god I felt less than an ant. Me, a spec levitating in the sky… and this creature taking up the entire horizon…
"Before ancestors of your wreathed kind walked this world, I ruled." It beloved deeply.
I couldn't move a muscle. Such dread, such fear. I have never expected to encounter anything even approaching this.
'Was the Lich king meant to keep in check… this? Did by casting away Ner'zhul's soul, I set free and even greater evil?'
"This was the empire I was a god of." In an instant fog beneath the yeallowish sky dissipated, revealing a city.
Pyramids, obelisks and other minor buildings littered the metropolis, all made out of some ebon material. It was a sprawling capital, terrifying and magnificent at the same time, just as its god.
"You shall serve mortal…" He proclaimed, beginning to wiggle his appendages closer to me "all hope is lost!"
"Not again! Not again!" desperately, I rammed the fingers into the Helm, pushing with all my might and trying to shove it off.
Despite all the efforts, it stayed locked in place.
Distance between me and my damnation shrunk with each hearth beat… it seemed that the Helm was cemented to my head.
"Come on! I cannot fail! I cannot!" My fingernails dug into the ruff metal even harder. I pushed, I pushed and… it flew off…
Illusion vanished, shifted back into the desolate wastes and grey sky. Once more, I was back at the Icecrown.
Carefully, I leaned forward and thrusted myself up. I made it onto my feet, but after just few shaky strides, I dropped on my knees.
"Why it has to be this way?" I angrily clenched my fists "Why?!"
'Over and over again, I try to do something good, there is always an evil mastermind behind?' I contemplated 'Am I destined only to bring harm upon those I wish to protect?'
Out of sheer hopelessness and weakness, my gaze was pointed downwards. I did not want to fight, so tired… I was so tired of losing… so tired of always playing into the hand of my enemy. No matter what I do, result is the same.
"What can be done?" I asked myself with a hollow voice. Then at the corner of my eye I noticed something… Frostmoutne, though as the Helm, cursed blade is now a shadow of a former self, still, it was enough to… get the job done.
I got up and clumsily limped down the staircase.
When the blade was at my grasp, picked it up, regarded it, raised it up in the air and pointed the tip of my blade into my chest.
"It will be all over soon…"
But just before I was able to strike myself down, a portal opened, from it materialized raven-haired elf came, out of surprise I let down a weapon a little.
"Halt, Arthas Menethil, you are about to commit a grave mistake!" A man shouted.
"Who… who are you?" I stuttered, completely confused by this stranger.
"My name is Nozdormu, leader of bronze dragonflight. I am here to propose you an offer you will not refuse."
Anger consumed me, as I realized what person paid me a visit. "So, the ever benevolent dragonflights have finally decided to intervene." I spoke bitterly "Right after two kingdoms, Lordaeron and Qual'thalas were drowned in dust!" I shifted my gaze away and locked the sword in the same position in which it was until bronze dragon appeared. "Too little, too late."
"Least hear me out first." He pleaded.
I chuckled dryly "What lies you are going to spew, master of time? You are going to promise me redemption, which I do not deserve?" With eyes full of resentment, I continued to speak. "To fight for Azeroth and bring more harm than good, upon those whom I defend." Multiple tiny driplets of tears slid down my cheeks. "Far too many had already suffered… just let me die… a very special place in hell awaits me."
"What if I told you that I can help you everything you had lost by choosing to walk the dark path, good name, kingdom and your family of course." Nozdormu implored.
'Does he wants to send me back in time?' I speculated on dragon's reasons for coming here 'Yes, definitely. He is a master matter of time, after all.' I finally agreed to myself internally.
I sheathed my blade "For what reason you want to make me a time traveller?"
A smirk formed on Nozdormu's face "Ahh, you have figured it out. I would expect nothing less from such…" annoyed by his small talk, I cut him off. "Get to the point!"
Leader of bronze dragonflight put up a serious expression, then he explained "Your defiance was completely unexpected. You were meant to become a new Lich king, wage war against the living…and be defeated." He paused for a while, letting me to comprehend this revelation. "When you instead broke the curse and casted out Ner'zhul's soul, you have also opened up the scourge for the subversion, as you yourself have already witnessed. It was Yogg'saron, whom you had confronted. If you had been overpowered, the old god would have taken over the entire army of undead, with its powers and the scourge combined, the God of death would have been far too much even for the united Azeroth." When he finished a silence set in for few long seconds, which seemed almost like minutes.
"So why are you here, if it is no more?" I continued to question Dragon aspect.
Nozdormu sighed "Well, Arthas Menethil, the shockwave had only incapacitated Yogg'saron, not killed it, I am afraid."
"Wait, what shockwave?" I interrupted him again.
"Yogg'saron's unsuccessful attempt to wrest control away from you, resulted in the glyphs getting dispelled, thus releasing all the item's energy. The God of death itself received a brunt of the force, while the rest was distributed among the undead creatures."
"Do we have enough time to do whatever you have planned?"
Nodding his head leader of bronze dragonflight confirmed. "Yes we do, all you need to do is to agree." Then he stretched out his right hand.
I chuckled to myself "I have nothing else to loose anyways." With these words, I shook his hand. "If this will make everything right again, I shall help you clean up the mess, which your schemes had created"
"Thank you friend, you will not regret it." Nozdormu looked delighted.
For no apparent reason, Master of time shut his eyes. From neutral expression he went to concerned, finally to furious. Out of his twitching eyelids, I observed that he is probably received some kind of message, and the news he was getting, were clearly not good.
All of sudden, Nozdormu's body began transforming. He got engulfed by an expanding orange glow. As soon as the light subsided, a dragon of metallic bronze colour emerged.
He crouched and growled. "Get on my back, Menethil! Traitors among my ranks have alerted our enemies."
"Enemies? Who?" I asked.
"Other dragonflights!" Nozdormu outright roared. "Alextrasza and Ysera have rejected my advise! They believe, that Legion, Old gods and the Scourge can be beaten. But they don't understand…refuse to acknowledge the truth. The grand design have been foiled, thus we must start anew." He grabbed me with his claw and planted me on his back.
"Wait, maybe…" I tried to stop him, but he merely huffed at my resistance. "You wish to see your family again, or not?" I did not answer.
Then the bronze dragon stretched out his wings to their full length and began flapping, we ascended swiftly, gaining speed at breathtaking pace.
Soon the Icecrown spire disappeared from my view, hopefully never to be seen again.
Sylvanas
The Mysterious entity first intruded into the minds of the Forsaken weeks ago.
Ever since, it have repeated its attacks, usually fruitless…occasionally however... Those affected revert back to the state of rampaging mindless undead.
Though there was no clear evidence, which would point at any suspects, I knew whose doing such occurrences were. 'It was HIM.'
'With grasp over other undead restored, Arthas Menethil seeks to reaffirm his dominion over the Forsaken.' Perhaps for a thousand time I sat brooding in the throne room, reminiscing that monster.
'But my people are stronger than ever before, we will never be slaves again.' I gleefully smirked.
'None of his…'
Pain. Excruciating pain washed all over my entire body. Fazing, corrupting tides of force penetrated my very being.
These dark energies were not chaotic or uncontrollable, no, someone was cleverly directing them. I felt piece by piece my sanity crumbling and bondages snapped months ago, were being reapplied.
Then a wave of energy hit me, intensifying my suffering even more and after the shockwave…nothing else came.
Sapped, I laid on the ground, unable to move. "THAT BASTARD, ARTHAS!" A banshee scream broke free. 'He came so close.' I angrily gritted my teeth. 'Too close…'
Driven merely by rage, I pulled myself up and began moving towards the entrance.
With each stride my strength returned. By the time doors swung open with a thud, I have already regained all my lost energy. And beyond the room sounds of many skirmishes could be heard.
I navigated the corridors, running forward. A couple minutes passed and I stumbled across five dark rangers fighting a couple dozen undead, who once were citizens of the Undercity.
I swiftly grabbed my bow. I shot arrow after arrow and of course, every single of them reached their intended targets.
After a short fight, all hostiles laid on the floor, roughly third of them felled by me.
"Ranger, report." I addressed squad's highest ranking dark ranger.
"My lady, it is so terrible." The undead woman was visibly shaking.
"The forsaken all across the Undercity, right after that… attack, gone mad." With every single word she was getting more and more fearful. "Me and my squad immediately rushed towards the throne room, unfortunately, this mob intercepted us."
"That bastard…" I gritted my teeth, feeling so powerless.
"How many of us have left?" I asked.
"I am afraid my queen, as far as I am aware, only rangers remained loyal." Captain answered grimly.
I bit my lower lip, also clenched my fists. "We will never be HIS slaves again!"
"You hear me Arthas!" I shrieked. "We will not submit!"
Soldiers were taken ahead by my sudden outburst of emotion.
Merely within few blinks of an eye, I pulled myself together and formulated beginnings for a plan of action. "Ranger, search for the survivors and bring them near the Royal quarters."
"Yes, my lady!" They answered in unison, then left to fulfil their task.
And I myself set off to the aforementioned place, intending to do what I must.
Arthas
I had been absorbing every single bit of information, Nozdormu blessed me with. He told me in what manner the events of the world were originally meant to play out. How he had tried to prove, that our world is doomed. How his concerns were met with dismissal of other dragonflights. And how he had decided to utilize an ancient time travelling device, Astrolaby, without the consent from Alextrasza, Malygos and Ysera.
"Those arrogant imbeciles think of themselves as all knowing gods!" Bronze dragon growled in his wroth.
It greatly surprised me, but it looked like Nozdormu shared some grievances with me, when it came to other dragon aspects.
"Have they forgotten who is the aspect of time?" Don't they realize, that I have more knowledge about the nature of time, than three of them combined?" He broke into an outright rant.
"Thus I will no longer kowtow, nor try to appease them anymore!" He didn't utter a single sentence afterwards, still, even despite the loud gusts of Northern breeze, I could hear him huffing angrily.
Neither of us dared or wished to break this solitude until we will have reached destination.
"We have arrived, Menethil." After hours of silence, Nozdormu announced the end of journey.
We landed near the cave, carved in glacier, which didn't appeared to be special in any conceivable way.
Just right after bronze aspect took shape of a humanoid, together, we entered the cave. As its exterior, there was nothing of note. Only ice, snow, rocks and more ice: this was everything I noticed, as we navigated the tunnels.
Down and down into deep, we descendent. Though mundane, this cavern was truly massive.
Finally we halted before the grey metal doors. Undoubtedly, it was very old construct, as it was evident from the blurred out markings, which once probably had been engravings of some kind.
Glyph lightened on Nozdormu's palm, opening the entry.
Extravagantly, leader of bronze dragonflight announced. "Behold, the Astrolaby!"
In the middle of the oval hall, encircled by colossal columns the devise was located.
Above the dark panel, inlaid with purplish alloy, levitated neon crystal. Chaotic magics of all imaginable varieties, twirled upwards towards the complex machinery, which were fitted on the ceiling. The last details that caught my attention were six circles, with purple outlines, surrounding the Astrolaby.
We drew closer towards the device. "Before us lies the salvation." Both of us gazed at it, admiring Astrolaby's magnificence.
"Why this is called so? I thought that by this name goes an entirely different device?" I asked.
"Astrolaby, not astrolabe." Bronze dragon in elf form corrected me. "These are two different things, but similar in certain aspects. One is made for leading a ship, another for an entire timeline." He enlightened me about the differences between the two.
"Is it possible, that its original creator knew more than he was supposed to?"
My observation made him giggle. "Astrolabe was my gift to the night elves, through highborne exiles it reached other mortal races."
"So, how far back I will have to travel?" Keeping my glare onto ancient structure I got down to business. Time was too precious for wasting on pointless banter.
"The more you will have, the better you will be able to prepare for the storm. Sadly you must go alone, else the results could be undesirable." At this exact moment he looked so calm, cold even. "Any minute now, my loyal children will arrive."
"The preparations will last five hours at most. They will gather all the heroes from across the world, rally their forces. Our foes will be powerful and numerous, but I believe that we will hold. For Azeroth…"
Jaina
Former guardian of Tirisfal and I, Jaina Proudmore in my personal chambers, were having a discussion over the nature of the surge of dark energy, which have occured recently.
"What was that?" I wondered, stroking my chin.
"I don't know, but one thing is clear, it originates from Northrend." Aegwynn answered.
My hearth started beating faster. "Could it be... somehow connected to Arthas?"
"It is possible." She agreed. "Likely even."
Both dread and hope arose within me "So that means that he is either free or..."
"Lich king." Finished white-haired sorceresess.
This idea chilled me to the core, so many months have passed, I still couldn't accept the fact, that my beloved prince got twisted into such monstrosity.
"Jaina, I don't want to upset you but... I sincerely doubt that it is possible for Arthas to defeat a being of such immense power. " Aegwyn said in a sympathetic tone as she began caressing my cheek. "It is time to... let go. "
I immediatly backed away as if i was struck by lightning. "Not true!" I refused to believe her. "My prince shall vanguish all the evil!" I sensed tears forming in my eyes. "And then he will return..." I broke into uncontrollable sob.
Aegwynn tried to pull me into an embrace, I pushed myself even further away from the platinum haired mage.
"You will see... You will see..." Aegwyn wrapped her hands around me, a crying mess when my back pressed itself against the wall.
"Calm down, calm down." She whispered into my ear.
A low humming sound echoed throughout the chamber. "Kalecgos, what are you doing here? " my eyes widened as soon as I recognized my friend, who has just stepped out of the portal, withouthout even saying 'hello' took me by my wrists and pulled me towards the gateway.
"It is a matter of upmost urgency! you have to come with me now!"
"What matter could so be so urgent, to just waltz in, so rudely! " Aegwynn freed my arm from the man's grasp and stepped in between.
"Don't really know, I have only heard that it is somehow connected to Nozdormu and Arthas." Kalec answered briefly.
"Arthas..." I had to get the answers about my prince, the fate has doomed me to endure this painful ignorance for an entire year. At last, I will be able to know what had happened to him and maybe see him... or possibly...
Without pondering any longer, I lunged forward, leaving my two closest friends behind.
At the other side I emerged near the wyrmnest temple and the first thing I noticed was a messy camp encircling the blueish tower. From both the alliance and the horde, numberring in hundreads. In the skies dragons, green, back, red, blue, patrolled the skies. from the shortest gnome to a largests drake, every single of the seemed to be preparing for battle. It was not the time to gawk however, getting to know what happened to my love was above everything else.
I hastily made into the building,after that scaled the stairs. Atop of tower, I discovered that the gathering of leaders was being held. Ambassadors of dragonflights, most faction leaders also many other officials were present. "Hmmm, strange. Not a single bronze drake... Kalec mentioned that this fuss, got raised because of Arthas and Nozdormu. Was the master of time corrupted? Or it is Arthas, who has been turned into a pawn?" I closed the remaining distance and stopped in the middle of the field.
Glaring at Alextrasza, whom I pressumed to be the one in charge, proclaimed. "I demand to be informed about the fate of Arthas Menethil! "I stood resolute and courageous.
Gravely solitude set in, all the banter, all discusion, died down. Every single attendant on the field focused their blank stares on me. Clearly, nobody was expecting me.
Dumbfounded life-binder only managed to mutter. "Jaina...who told you?"
From the back two people sprinted in. It was Kalecgos and Aegwynn of course. Gasping for the air, my two best friends leaned their knees.
As soon as they straightened themselves, queen of dragons spoke to ambassador of blue dragonflight in a stern voice."you dared to disobey my direct order? " Confusion Alextrasza radiated moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.
Kalecgos paled. "What order, m'lady?"
"Jaina Proudmore was not meant be involved in the fight against the madness of Nozdormu." she explained.
Ashamed and looking down, Kalecgos tried excuse himself. "I didn't..."
"And for what reason, you have sought to keep me in the dark?" Abruptly, I cut off my friend. "Why would you deny me the right to at least see Arthas?" rage was bubbling inside me. "Is it because, that I wouldn't act the way you would wish?"
"Jaina, I am not going lie to you." Alextrasza spoke calmly, compationately, almost motherly. "Yes, we believe that your actions...might potentially be not entirely rational."
"Oh really?" I snorted wildly. "You fear, that I will try to save Arthas, not to outright murder him!". These self-a proclaimed heroes repulsed me, while calling themselves noble, they refuse to help a person who is being controlled by all sorts of demons and dark spirits.
Varyan moved forth, closer to me. "Calm down, Jaina." He interjected. "Nobody is going to kill Arthas. "
Despite his assurances, I wasn't convinced. "No, you won't trick me!" I began pulling myself away from them.
"Arthas Menethil has freed himself from the curse." Alextrasza's revelation caught me completely offguard.
Locked inplace, with wide eyes I couldn't help myself, but stare into nothingness. 'Could it be? Or they are just manipulating me? ' Ever since his fall, I dreamed of this day... a day when I would get him, my prince back. Reality didn't seem to be real anymore, instead it was like tale from children's book, in which happy endings are possible.
"I must see him... help him." I blurted out subconsciously, my attention set only on one goal - saving Arthas.
"And you will." She assured. "But first you must promise to listen to follow my lead." Her tone of voice still remained tender.
"Yes... I swear, I will do whatever you say as long as that helps my prince. " I agreed instantaneously.
"I too, pledge myself to the cause, assuming you are going to grant me a little bit of magical power." It was Aegwynn the one who spoke. Now, the few who had actually knew of knew her in her previous, were now giving contemtious glares. Her past actions had certainly earned her many enemies.
Any semblence of emotion dissipated from Alextrasza's facial expression. "Her ladyship Magna Aegwynn has finnally left her hidding place. I am sure, that years spent in solitude were especially amusing. " Leader's of red dragonflight antagonism was apparent.
Former guardian of Tirisfal merely sighted at such reaction. "I am also pleased to see you all."
Alextrasza gave it a moment of thought and answered. "So be it, any assistance is vital if we wish to succed." Then she raised her hand and transfered a no small ammount of power to sorceresses.
This made made her giggle. "My, my! You must be in a really dire position!"
"It is true." Queen of dragons did not hide. "After Arthas Menethil resisted pull of darkness and banished Ner'zhul's soul away, an old god, Yogg'saron attempted to subvert the Scourge for its own vile ends. " I was trembling from both the fear and from the joy. "Fortunately, Menethil has proven himself to be far more adamant than most mortals. While unraveling the spellwork, Yogg'saron had his most attention set on Arthas Menethil. Harsh resistance from the former prince caused the old god to make a mistake, leading to a breaking of the spellwork and releasing all the contained magical power. "
Her words casted all the horror away from my hearth. 'After what seemed to be a lifetime of torment, now he is a slave no more.'
"Altough threats from outside were dealt with, the traitor from our midst filled this void. " Alextrasza proceeded her explanation. "Nozdormu, has convinced himself, that the entire timeline is disrupted and there is no alternative, but to travel back in time... Old gods, the legion and the scourge: his paranoe convinced him of dilusion, that the defenders of Azeroth are incapable of standing against these threats." Ruler of red dragonflight talked confidently.
"Since he couldn't do this himself, he needed..." Queen of dragons falterred.
"Thus he needed a mortal champion. " I finished her sentence, already understanding who exactly was Nozdormu's chosen one.
Alextrasza adressed on the crowd. "As we speak, our forces are assaulting blue dragonflight's positions." This declaration conveyed urgency. "Nozdormu's warriors will stand until the very bitter end. They know of their master's plan, of the stakes." Being an experienced leader, Alextraza was fully capable of captivating the listeners. "So shall we, spill the blood of foe and our own alike, for what we believe and hold dear." dragons on the tower abandoned their human form, also more landed from the skies. All combat capable officials spurred into action, mounting as fast as they were able to.
"This madman will not unmake our reality, through blood and steel we shall claim our triumph! For Azeroth! " to Alextrasza's inspiring speech, was answered with a thundering agreement. "For Azeroth! "
I was already turning to join the others, however the Alextraza stopped me. "Jaina you shall fly with me. "
Arthas
Soon after Nozdormu's flight arived, which have also brought many now free deathknights, other flights with their allies showed up.
A coalition of four flights, aliance and the horde: it was a force to be reckoned with.
Jaina
Twenty minutes of flight and I was there, before the entrance of some tunnel. Remnants of battle litered the entire imediate area. Weapons, pieces of armor and bodies...far more than I had expected to see.
Like field outside the cave, the inside was also tainted by the ravages of war. 'So much death...Arthas, please be okay.' Despite me being involved in various conflicts before, it schocked me. The struggle was not against the forces of evil and forces of good. It was a conflict between those who considered eachother allies yesterday, while now they were spilling eachother's blood. Friend against friend.
"The quicker we put an end to Nozdormu's insanity, the sooner this senseless murder will end." Alextrasza probably noticed me overlooking the area with sorrowful expression, so she tried to motivate me a bit.
I knew, that I will see much more… and will do.
I stepped in the cave alongside the strongest champions this world had to offer. From what Alextraxza told me, I gathered that this contingency will have to break through enemy ranks, then eliminate the Aspect himself.
'I will save you Arthas, I swear by my father's grave.'
Most upper parts were clear, when regiment led by Alextraza joined in. The vanguard belonging to coalition made a quick work of the mercenaries and the similar ilk, guarding these positions. It seemed, that Nozdomu preferred to throw away the expendables up-front, while saving his actual soldiers for later.
Saying, that the cave system's mid-section is huge, was an understatement. In these tunnels dragons could fly freely!
Dragons in our group changed their forms. "We are going to have an aerial battle underneath the ground. It looks like the end of the world is here for real!" Jest of some random adventure lightened the mood of those present, but just for a short moment.
Some drakes were not in the air, when the forces of Bronze flight ambushed us. Clouds of yellow drakes, spewing flames upon their confused enemies. We were aware of the dangers, but the reports from the scouts assured, that this area was empty.
From the burns, from the claws, or simply falling into the abyss my allies died in droves. Like lighting bolts bronze drakes maneuvered among us, sowing chaos and taking lives.
We finally stirred from the daze and rushed into action. Spellcasters fired magical projectiles of all varieties. Marksmen showered bronze dragons with arrows. And our dragons gave their own fiery answer.
I took out one bronze dragon by tearing its wings off with arcane barrage. Another one got its' chest pierced by my ice lance
Casualties on our side plummeted, instead it began racking up among the Nozdormu's children.
The tides of battle turned in our favour, thus bronze dragons saw no point in carrying on the offensive.
As abruptly as they came, so did they scattered and then disappeared into the tunnels in a similar manner.
The carnage has passed. Yes, we forced Nozdormu's dragons to retreat, nevertheless we have lost a sizeable amount of our regiment.
"Champions, from now on everybody must stay vigilant, for our foe is far more treacherous than we had thought."
As we went deeper, the attacks were getting more frequent and intense. Yet they were deflected successfully, with minimal loses among our ranks.
Eventually we made to the final levels. There, the tunnels were roughly as big as in the upper section, so the dragons could no longer remain in their true forms.
"Adventurers, I am sorry to say this, but you will have to stay behind to secure our rear from any would-be ambushers." This Alextrasza's command was met with disagreements.
"We were promised a glorious fight!" Heroes of Azeroth protested in unison.
"This task will be as complicated and as important as taking on Nozdormu himself." Such shortsighteness made red aspect sigh, but she clarified her intentions anyways. "Caverns behind us are filled with bronze dragons, immediately after they discover us, they will strike in full force. Is preventing an enemy from surrounding us from all sides is of no concern to you?"
"No, your highness." Adventurers obeyed at once, feeling like idiots for even daring to doubt Alextrasza.
The rest of the group, including me, marched forth. A few minutes of hike and we came into contact with the first group. Mages of the flight and…death knights.
"Death knights? How?" I couldn't comprehend why servants of darkness would aid Nozdormu.
"I think, when they regained their free will, death knights joined Arthas for the promise of being restored to their former selves." Aegwynn speculated.
Any further theorizing had to be put aside for now, currently getting through the defenders was our primary concern.
This group we were clashing with, was not very large, but even few death knights were pain in the arse to deal with! Natural undead toughness, ability to drain life force from the living, heavy armour and besides great defensive capabilities, frost magic and necromancy allows them to also excel in offence.
So it was a long and painful mess. We shot spells at them, they absorbed those and fired their own magics. Because both sides were not lacking when it came to healing, no one was forced to quit the fight for any type of injury, only a sudden death was able to eliminate the combatant.
When we took down our last enemy, nobody cheered. This grind will have to be repeated over and over again.
As I had predicted, my regiment had to plough through these dank and cold caves, fighting more death knights at every turn. It took hours, which seemed like days, to be done with it.
Finally, the doors to Astrolaby were ahead of us. Between us and our objective were perhaps the last troops Nozdormu had, beside those inside the vault.
Most infamous death knights, oldest and most powerful members of bronze flight, led by Arthas' former captain Luc Valonforth and Sorodormi, primary Nozdormu's mate.
We were the first ones to attack. A volley arcane misiles, firebolts, ice lances flew from our side. It didn't do that much to death knights nor spell casters, they dodged or counterspelled the projectiles.
In a relatively small space we couldn't overwhelm our foe, everything came down to individual duels. Previous skirmishes happened in wider tunnels, so the aggressive tactics weren't really that effective, orderly defensive formations were beneficial in those instances.
My foe was Luc Valonforth. He rushed into me, bashing me with his shield down to the ground. He would have cut me to ribbons if I didn't push him back with arcane explosion. This gave me a window of opportunity to get on my feet and follow up previous spell with arcane missiles. Each of those hit him, driving the riling man further away.
"Not bad." Said Luc, readying himself to charge again.
"Luc, Nozdormu is using you!" I froze death knight in place with frost nova. This bought me8 some more time to drink a few mana potions.
"Don't care why he is helping us." Former captain shattered the ice, then resumed. He didn't even wanted to listen to what I have to say.
Still, I refused to give up. "How can you be so blind! You regained your free will, now that the chains of one dark lord are no more, another madman manipulated you into service!" I fired a frostbolt, which bounced off his pauldron harmlessly.
"What we, death knights are supposed to do?" Luc countered. "Our home is turned into a graveyard." I sidestepped swipe of his rune blade. "Everyone we loved are dead." I blinked behind him, avoiding his attempt to grab me with a death grip.
Faster than it is humanly possible, Luc spun around, delivering a sweeping blow. Wound across my chest was not very painful, but it was more than enough for me to get distracted and trip on one of the bodies.
Bleeding, shaken no spell came to my head, which I could use. He aimed his sword at my neck. "We are dead."
A huge ball of fire hit death knight's back. Swearing, he fell on one knee. Luc Valonforth was finished off with an ice lance to his skull. 'May he find peace in the afterlife.'
Aegwynn came to me and helped to stand up. She was the one who saved me from a certain demise. "Be more careful, Jaina. You are a mage, not a warrior." White-haired sorceresess said.
"Thank you."
It was a short, however far more brutal fight that the rest, despite reinforcements from the outside, we couldn't achieve an easy victory. Our foe was too determined, too unyielding. Taking down one of them cost two lives for us. The total death of this clash alone was one hundread and fifty.
"Champions, the time has come to put an end to Nozdormu's insanity!" Alextrasza rallied us to challange the aspect of time himself.
"Astrolaby is fully charged, my lord." One of the mages, who had been powering the device informed the aspect of time.
"Step in one of the circles, Menethil." Nozdormu commanded.
I did as I was told. Occasional eruptions of magical energy around the crystal, were now replaced by a swirling vortex. Defenders did their job, thus we might have enough time left to activate the contraption. Even if the attackers breached the gate and flooded the vault, they would still have to defeat its' guardians also get through the barrier, which was erected by the mages loyal to Nozdormu, as the last line of defence.
"Do not forget to contact my operative in the capital city, Shaline Freeguard. She has a store selling charms, talismans, scrolls and other items like these." Aspect of time reminded this again.
"Of course. I will remember this." Even though I found it annoying, I tolerated him drilling the same information in my head over and over again, considering I failed to recall something, then it would be lost forever.
"Arthas, I put my faith in you." He shook my hand and patting me on my back. "Harsh trials are ahead - demons, undead. You shall experience your life anew, but be wary. Astrolaby is unpredictable and full of surprises. You might repeat everything you did to the tinniest detail, yet the timeline could become unrecognizable. This is why you mustn't hold on to the past, trust only in your hearth…and those around you." He was smiling, I answered with a grin of my own.
"May you be triumphant, prince Arthas!" Marwynn said. "And rip the Lich king a new one!" Falric added. His humorous comment made me crack a smile, also think of the good old times.
My soldiers, who accompanied me to Northrend, were still willing to come to my aid. If not for them, opposing forces would have already stormed this hall. 'If had trusted my men the same way, they devoted themselves to me…'
Machinery above, activated. Hundreads of tiny mirrors and prism in the centre extruded from there. The pedestal underneath the crystal, began absorbing magical energy, then beaming it afterwards.
White ray passed through the neon crystal without any interaction whatsoever. When it hit the prism however, it got split into many tiny beams, coloured in dark green, light green, dark purple, light purple, yellow and grey.
Each of those beams respectively, were reflected downwardly, back into the direction of glowing crystal.
Once emissions connected with the massive gemstone, it started spinning straightaway.
An abrupt explosion resounded from behind. No doubt, they have gotten through the remaining defenders beyond this vault.
Like everyone else, alarmed I looked at the entrance, only to witness other aspects and heroes of Azeroth swarming in.
Red haired elf with horns, whom I assumed to be Life-binder herself exclaimed. "It is the end of your insanity Nozdormu! Surrender now or we will be forced to kill you!"
"No, the Astrolaby has to be used else the continuation of time itself will unravel." Aspect of time refused to relent.
"You leave me no choice." She casted a fire blast at Nozdormu, which he deflected. With this the skirmish, that will determine the fate of the universe, ensued.
Thirty against a hundred, a precarious situation it is, luckily all they needed to do was to delay for just a little longer.
Our forces did everything what they could to fight back. Casted many complex spell at quick succession, no matter the cost to their bodies. Not a single of them surrendered. Nor they showed any mercy to opposition, despite the fact, that the people they were killing might have been their close friends before the conflict.
Mages of the bronze flight held their ground fiercely, valiantly…and they were falling like wheat before the scythe. The dragon queen's soldiers outmatched the Bronze flight, not only in numbers, but in the quality of troops as well. What could had been done against three aspects and dozens of Azeroth's finest adventurers?
Out of thirty, just three remained: Nozdormu, Falric and Marwyn. Almost all of my allies were dead, the barrier was under heavy barrage of spells and will surely be dispelled soon. I knew, that I had to do something…anything.
Suddenly, it occurred to me. 'The light still loves me…maybe it will give me a helping hand during the darkest hour?'
And my palm, then focused. Like during my paladin days, I called for its protective aura, hoping that my cry for help wouldn't be ignored. 'Please, let me undo the evil, which I had inflicted. Please.'
And it was not. At first a flickering orb lightened up and expanded instantaneously into a divine shield, separating the rest of beings in this hall.
'Light is with me.'
Jaina
"Incredible." I watched with awe at Arthas creating a massive divine shield, engulfing him, me and Astrolaby. Right after upon hearing about Arthas, my sole goal had become to save my prince from a crazed dragon. 'What if truth is not as it seems?' I thought. 'Maybe, the Nozdormu is the one who is correct here…' More doubts arose within me. 'Could Arthas have regained the ability to call upon the light, in case of him, even unknowingly, benefiting the evil?'
All my life I always chose, what I saw was moral. Disregarding the plights of my hearth in the process. 'I abandoned Arthas. I stood aside when orcs murdered my father. For what!?' Resentment, hidden underneath the good girl's mask forced itself out. 'To watch the world burn! To see people turn against me?' I no longer wanted to listen to anyone, I yearned for freedom, to do as I wish, not what I am told is "good".
'Dragonflights, horde and alliance be damned! I shall follow my prince wherever he goes!'
Arthas
In place of warmth, there was scorching pain, comfort was replaced by suffering. This did not matter to me however, I would have gladly experienced this a thousand times over for the grace, which the light had bestowed upon me, unworthy sinner.
"Jaina…" I got stunned. 'She had probably somehow slipped through the previous barrier.'
Our eyes met. "Arthas!" She called out, beginning to close the distance between us.
All I could do was to gaze at the blonde mage…woman whom I once loved…still love.
She slammed into me, wrapping her slender arms around my shoulders. I thought, that she would tell me how I am manipulated and I need to come with her. unexpectedly, she created dome of her own, alongside my divine shield.
"I am coming with you, Arthas." I refused to believe my ears, good girl Jaina was betraying her allies.
I deeply desired to do this together, with Jaina, nevertheless Nozdormu clearly stated, that sending more than a single person is risky.
Gently stroking her chin I said. "Jaina, Astrolaby is calibrated only for a one person. I am really sorry." Then removed her from the neon circle.
Unfortunately, she relented. "I will never you leave you!" Jaina jumped back into the ring.
Her teary eyes, sweet voice tempted me to agree. 'No, I must remain strong! Entire planet is in danger.' Unwillingly I forced myself to grab her and by stroke of bad luck or by the will of the light, I accidentally unleashed a burst of holy shock, which sent her flying into the nearby circle.
At this stage, the crystal was spinning at breakneck speeds. 'Couple seconds at most before the device activates.' There was nothing I could to move Jaina out of that undesirable place in time, inevitably she will be transported to the past alongside me.
Walls, pillars, astrolaby, divine shield: the world got painted in pitch-black colour. Yet, the rotating crystal lingered bright as ever. Swifter and swifter it whirled, brighter and brighter it glowed.
"If fail again, may I burn in hell for rest of eternity."
Sylvanas
I managed to barricade myself with the survivors in the royal apothecary. Remaining dark rangers held the mindless ones at bay to the best of their abilities. It is clear as the summer sky, that the undead will overrun us and turn into HIS slaves.
Cornered like animals, there was no hope of escape or victory. No alternative, except one. The plague.
"Are all preparation are done?" I asked one of the apothecaries.
"Yes, my lady. The blight is ready to be released on your command." He answered.
"goo.." World all around me sunk into to darkness and purple, spinning purple orb appeared. As the orb spun I felt my soul being ripped from my body.
"No! Nooooo! I am too late!"
When I began writing this fanfic, I didn't really know to which direction it will go. After many hours thought and rewriting I finnally planned out the plot and I am going to update this story at the pace of one chapter each two or three weeks.