A/N: Compared to the other three stories I've written, this one won't be as long and it will involve more perspectives than just the one or two I normally do.

This is based around the Third War. More specifically when Arthas invaded Quel'Thalas and the Amani Trolls leaving Zul'Aman to raid the Elven Kingdom during the chaos. Whilst most of what I will be writing is my interpretation of what happened during this time, some of it will be made up to fit my OC's as well as trying to sync it up with my other stories that are dated later in the timeline.

This will jump straight into the conflict of the Third War in Quel'Thalas as I feel there was no need to explain something that has probably been explained several times in many other stories. Instead it will start as soon as the Scourge are marching towards Southern Quel'Thalas (Now known as the Ghostlands) and the Elf Gate that is sealing off the kingdom.

Without needing to ramble on for too long, I'll just say leave a review on what you think and the direction I am taking this. I am happy to take on criticism if it's constructive and allows me to improve on my writing in the future.

The Invasion of Quel'Thalas

Quel'dorei. That was the name for the elves living in the northern most part of the Eastern Kingdoms. Their history is full of conflict between themselves and the Amani Trolls to their south, natives to the lands their kingdom was founded on and sworn enemies ever since. Though most of this fair race lives on with the Horde and now renamed as Sin'dorei, The Children of Blood, they were almost driven to extinction by the most unlikely of enemies at the time.

Word had spread of a plague that was gripping Lordaeron and its citizens, killing any that came into contact with it, only for them to be resurrected into mindless undead that would serve loyally to the one spreading the plague. The High Elves of Quel'Thalas were preparing their defences when they got word it had spread to the northern most part of Lordaeron and was at their doorstep.

Captain Tahnir Sunblade, had been sent to deal with the Amani Trolls whilst this was happening, accompanied by his son and the rest of his unit. "They seem to be growing restless as of late." He whispered to his son and second, both of them sitting in the trees around Zul'Aman, the Amani Troll's kingdom. "I think it has to do with this plague that's going around in the human kingdom to our south."

"The Ranger-General will hold off any threat coming our way from the south, father. With the Elf Gate standing between our kingdom and the outside, we will be safe."

Tahnir looked over to his son. "I hope you're right, Athrodar."

The two of them sat on the tree for a couple more minutes with the rest of their unit, waiting and listening out for the signal. When it came, it was in the form of a bird call, Tahnir nodding at his son. "That's our signal." Athrodar whistled back to them before they all began to leap gracefully from branch to branch, tree to tree until they were at the entrance to Zul'Aman, meeting up with Ranger-Captain Halduron Brightwing.

"Ahh Tahnir, you're here. Your father and Grandfather have already infiltrated Zul'Aman. We're just waiting for an update before we start this."

Tahnir grasped Halduron's forearm. "Good to see you again, Brightwing." He looked over towards the ancient troll city, remembering his time during the second war. "Let's just hope it's nothing out of the ordinary. We can't afford to start a war with them, not with the recent reports coming from Lordaeron."

Halduron frowned at the elf by his side. "What do you mean, Captain? Forgive me if I'm wrong but I heard they were just rumours."

Tahnir frowned back at him. "When was the last time a runner came by with news?"

The Ranger-Captain stroked his chin, trying to remember that far back. "I'd have to say two weeks ago now."

Tahnir looked back at his son, Athrodar talking with the rest of their company. "We recently got word that the plague is real and it's moving north towards our border. The Ranger-General is setting up defences around the Elf Gate, but we won't know how serious it is until it arrives." He looked back at Zul'Aman, stretching his limbs. "For now, we just have to wait."

They camped outside the troll kingdom for close to an hour before they got any sort of response from the group inside, Tahnir talking to his father's second in command, shaking his hand once they were done. He turned to address his company as well as Halduron's, smiling at the news he was given. "Good news is, we don't have to worry about the Amani Trolls. Nothing out of the ordinary is happening here, though we will keep scouts around just in case something does change. The rest of us will -" He was interrupted by a spear the flew past his head and hit one of his elves in the chest, killing her on the spot.

There was a brief moment of silence before the war chanting of the Trolls kicked in, followed by the thundering war drums that echoed throughout the kingdom. "I think we have to start worrying about the Amani Trolls, Tahnir." Halduron informed, nocking an arrow into his bow and scanning the walls of Zul'Aman, the rest of them following soon after.

"Keep an eye out for any ambushers." Tahnir looked over to his son who was in charge of his vanguard. "Athrodar, take a group in close and try to weed out any trolls lurking nearby. We will join you when the coast is clear." Ranger-Captain Tahnir turned to face Ranger-Captain Brightwing. "Halduron, take a group and try to find a back entrance. Inform my father on what's going on here. We're going to need all the help we can get if it's what I think."

Deep within Amani territory, the entire tribe had gathered in the middle of their stronghold, setting up illusions around the whole place to fool Tahnir's father and grandfather. "Da elves be standing at our gates!" One of the commanding trolls yelled to the army standing in front of him. "Gathah your weapons, sharpen your spears! Let us show dese elves what it means to face da Amani!" The army erupted into cheers and war cries, the commanding troll standing over all of them pointed towards the entrance of Zul'Aman. "Claim da Elven Kingdom for Zul'jin! For da Amani!"

Before Halduron could set off, they all heard the war chants of the trolls, halting the Ranger-Captain as he gathered his group. "Tahnir, if that's what it sounds like, we're not going to be able to hold them all back."

The other Ranger-Captain let out a frustrated sigh, calling back his troops, holding onto the arm of a nearby Outrunner. "Alarion, I need you to move south as quickly as you can and inform the Ranger-General what is happening here. She needs to know the Amani are forming a war party and are getting ready to leave." When she was about to run off, he pulled on her arm once more to keep her there. "Return with news from the south. We need to make sure our rear is guarded if and when the Amani do decide to attack."

Alarion nodded, taking a couple of Outrunners with her and heading south towards the Elf Gate. Athrodar returned with his unit when he heard the war chants, knowing all too well what that meant from his time during the second war. "Captain, we need to move."

Tahnir withdrew his bow, patting his son on the arm. "Take your group west, meet up with the forces at Tranquillien and prepare a defence. If we're not there within two hours, go to Dawnstrider Village and evacuate the Grand Magister and his family."

Athrodar called back several of his men, looking towards his father when the last Farstrider made it past him. "Where will you be in the meantime?"

"We're heading further north to evacuate some of the closest villages to Zul'Aman whilst gathering as many Farstriders as we can before setting up an ambush close by." He gripped his son's forearm, pulling him in for a quick hug. "Stay safe, son. And remember what I told you."

He nodded at his father and Captain. "Evacuate the Grand Magister and his family if you've not arrived at Tranquillien after two hours."

Tahnir smiled a little. "Good, now get going."

Halduron watched the young Sunblade leave for Tranquillien, turning to face Tahnir when Athrodar was in the distance. "Tahnir, we're going to need to hold them here for as long as possible if we have any chance of evacuating everyone to Silvermoon."

"What do you have in mind?"

"It's going to be a tough decision, but we could leave a handful of rangers here to hold them off long enough so we can gather our forces. Ranger Lord Lor'themar is nearby and your father and grandfather are still in Zul'Aman. If we gather them whilst we evacuate, we can hit the trolls from either side and stop them before they even start raiding."

Tahnir called over a nearby Farstrider. "Lath'aris. I need you to hold this position for as long as you can. Set up traps, ambushes, the lot. We're going to need you to buy us enough time whilst we evacuate the surrounding villages. Can you do that?"

The young elf nodded. He had recently been promoted to Scout-Captain and still had years until he was ready to be near the rank of Lieutenant-Ranger, a title donned by Tahnir's son. "I can do that for you, Captain. For Quel'Thalas."

Tahnir nodded at the Scout-Captain, placing a hand on his shoulder. "For Quel'Thalas."

Outrunner Alarion had made it all the way south and towards the Thalassian pass before she reached the Ranger-General, only to find the force that was meant to be defending the Elven Gate were running away from it. "Where's the General? I have an important message from Ranger-Captain Sunblade and Brightwing that she needs to hear."

Lieutenant-Ranger Anya Eversong stopped by the Outrunner, taking hold of her and pulling her away from the retreating elves. "What is it?"

"The Amani Trolls, Lieutenant, they're gathering in Zul'Aman and look to be preparing for an attack." She looked down the Thalassian pass, smelling the scent of death and decay yet not being able to see anything. "What happened? Why are you all retreating?"

Anya flinched when she thought back to events that only happened minutes go, looking towards the Thalassian Pass. "The undead, they've broken through the Elf Gate and are marching north towards the Sunwell." She looked back at the Outrunner who looked back at her wide eyed. "Report back to Tahnir, tell him what has happened and I will inform the Ranger-General of the Amani gathering."

Just as Alarion looked back towards the Thalassian Pass, she saw and heard the stone bats flying towards them, flexing their claws and screeching their songs of war the closer they got to the retreating elves. "What is that?"

Anya widened her eyes at the approaching bats and shambling corpses coming their way, pushing the Outrunner when she wouldn't move. "Go, now!"

Near the mountains of Zul'Aman, Lor'themar and his company were patrolling the outskirts of the troll stronghold as well as defending the hidden mountain pass. They were the first to be informed of the plague moving north and towards their kingdom, the Ranger Lord keeping an eye out for anything that wasn't normal.

They had made it halfway through their patrol when Lor'themar began to notice hints of an invasion. He crouched down next to several tracks that he hadn't recognised before, seeing they were heading into Quel'Thalas instead of away from it. "I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Ranger Lord, there are more over here. They seem to be heading towards Quel'Thalas as well."

Lor'themar stood up, looking down the mountain pass and towards the dense forestry. "Something about this doesn't feel right." He looked over to his unit, seeing them all standing behind him, prepared for whatever it was they were about to face. "We need to get to An'owyn."

His second spoke up, raising the concerns of the group. "You think the mooncrystals are under threat?"

The Ranger Lord looked towards the forestry once again. "There's only one way to find out. Let's get moving."

Athrodar arrived at Tranquillien half an hour after leaving Zul'Aman, informing the Captain of the guard on the situation and helping with the evacuation when it got under way. "This can't be all of you? Surely there are more coming to protect Tranquillien, Lieutenant."

"I'm afraid we're all you've got until my father arrives." He helped pack a few things for a nearby family, pushing them along when they lingered in the village for too long. "We're the vanguard unit for my father's company. We're used to heading in first and getting our hands dirty. We're your best bet at protective Tranquillien with the numbers we have."

The Captain pulled him off to one side, looking to talk to him alone and away from his men. "Have you faced the Amani before Lieutenant? Because I have and they're not an easy foe."

Athrodar placed a hand on the Captain's shoulder. "I've guarded these forests since before the Second War. I know how they fight and I know what they're capable of." He removed his hand from the Captain's shoulder, calling over his second. "Maloneera, I need you to take half our unit and secure the southern and western parts of Tranquillien, I will cover the Northern and Eastern."

She nodded her head at him. "Will do, Lieutenant."

The Captain on Tranquillien watched as she took half the unit and set up their defences in the South and West, looking over to the Lieutenant-Ranger in front of him. "Are you sure splitting up is the best tactic? There's not a lot of you to begin with."

"We need to cover as much ground as possible and in order to do that we need to split our forces." Athrodar looked towards the main building in the village. "We need to use this building as a last defence if it comes to it. Are there any secret doors or passages that could see us safe and away from here if we get overrun?"

"Nothing like that Lieutenant, I'm sorry."

Athrodar sighed, looking around Tranquillien and seeing most of the civilian population had already left. "Then we best sit tight and hope reinforcements arrive in time." He turned his gaze towards where he knew Zul'Aman to be. "And let's hope they arrive before the trolls."

"If there's anything I can help you with, Lieutenant, I am happy to help."

"Actually," He began, looking around the village. "I need a couple of scouts to keep an eye out for the trolls and at the very least, some reinforcements." He looked towards the Captain standing next to him. "Think you can do that?"

He nodded his head once. "I think I've got a few spare guards who can do that."

Athrodar smiled a little, getting further than he thought he would with the limited amount of troops he had. "Good. Now this is more of a personal request."

The Captain frowned. "What is it?"

"I need a place to rest my eyes." He grinned a little at the Captains reaction. "I know, poor timing, but I've been awake for two days straight and I could really use a quick rest."

He blinked slowly, not quite believing what he was hearing. "S-sure. Let me take you to the barracks."

Alarion returned to Tahnir twenty minutes after leaving the Elf Gate, looking terrified and drawing the attention of everyone she ran past, finding Ranger-Captain Tahnir Sunblade in talks with Halduron Brightwing and both Ranger-Captain Aerinan Sunblade and Ranger Lord Dael'Thaelas Sunblade. Both Aerinan and Dael'Thaelas managed to escape Zul'Aman with their companies in time to avoid the raiding parties, meeting up with Tahnir and Halduron outside the Farstrider Enclave.

As Outrunner Alarion neared them, they hadn't noticed her presence until she stood right by their side, Ranger Lord Dael'Thaelas listening to what she had to say. "It's the Ranger-General, my Lord, she's called for a retreat. The dead have breached the first Elf Gate and are heading north towards the Sunwell."

All four officers stared at the Outrunner who had told them something they thought impossible. "They've made it through the Elf Gate?" Tahnir asked, hoping he had misheard her.

"Y-yes. The dead are moving north as we speak."

Dael'Thaelas took hold of the Outrunner, looking into her eyes to try and find the truth. "Are you sure about this?"

"Positive, Ranger Lord. The smell of the dead marching through the Thalassian pass is something I will never forget..." She looked off into the distance, remembering the images of the dead marching towards the retreating elves. "They... they were raising the dead. Our dead."

Tahnir rubbed his chin whilst the other three officers talked amongst themselves about this new threat that were invading their kingdom. "North..." He was trying to remember the roads from the Thalassian pass all the way to the Sunwell, widening his eyes when he realised what two villages were going to be the first to go. "Tranquillien. I need to get to Tranquillien."

Aerinan looked towards his son, seeing him gather his forces. "Tahnir, where are you going?"

"Athrodar is in Tranquillien with a small force of elves. He needs our help if he is to stand any chance against the tide of death coming his way." He looked towards the west when the second village crossed him mind. "Grand Magister Dawnstrider and his family are in danger. Their village is going to be the second on their list of villages they need to pass through."

Halduron spoke up since the Outrunner's arrival, not quite figuring out how the dead broke into their lands. "I need to make my way to An'daroth."

Dael'Thaelas frowned at him. "The resting place of one of our mooncrystals? Why?"

"I've got a bad feeling, Ranger Lord. If I'm correct on this however, this may keep Silvermoon protected from the tide of death approaching from the south."

The Ranger Lord thought about it, nodding a few seconds later. "Go with haste, Brightwing. Let's hope you get there and find everything to be safe and secure." He looked towards his grandson Tahnir, placing a hand on his shoulder. "And you, Tahnir. I need you to bring reinforcements to Tranquillien and to make sure you hold the dead back for as long as possible so we can bring in our Magi units."

Tahnir nodded. "I'll get going. Stay safe Ranger Lord."

Dael'Thaelas grasped his grandsons arm. "You too, Captain."

Lor'themar had arrived at An'owyn, yet when he looked at the surroundings, he realised that the invisibility ward over the mooncrystal had worn off and the crystal in question was stolen. "Lord Theron, what does this mean?" Asked one of his Farstriders who had a mask of worry on their face. "Is Silvermoon still safe without the mooncrystals in place?"

"It's hard to say..." Lor'themar crouched down, inspecting some tracks around An'owyn that were heading further up north and towards the second mooncrystal location, An'dorath. "We need to get moving to the next location. The Magi of Silvermoon could still power Ban'dinoriel themselves, but we will need to check An'dorath in the meantime."

He had a growing presence in the back of his mind however that something was amiss with the crystals. The timing of the plague arriving at their borders and the tracks leading to the different mooncrystals didn't sit well with the Ranger Lord, giving him some suspicions that there was treachery at work, yet he couldn't prove it.

"Keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary." He looked around An'owyn when he realised something was off. "The guardians seem to be missing as well as the mooncrystal." He looked towards his second who was standing by his side. "We should head to An'dorath right now."

His second bowed his head. "As you command, Ranger Lord."