My Life for My Prince
(Disclaimer: This story is based upon a game called World of Warcraft. Therefore, I do not claim any rights to their story, or game.)
Tempted by a magical addiction, his overwhelming sorrow, powerful anger, and The Betrayer, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider has one last chance to redeem himself. Redemption has arrived at the Black Temple in the form of a woman Bloodknight named Saturna Whiteblade. Can their love put an end to the suffering of Blood Elves, people of all races in Outland, and beyond? Or, is the power of The Betrayer far stronger than even Masters of the Light?
Prologue:
Saturna Whiteblade loosened the sword called Ashbringer from across her back and dismounted. The other three Bloodknights watched her with grudging patience. They held their tongues, held everything back while she took consciously graceful strides. This is what their commander did when she had terrible news. Saturna placed both hands on the enormous sword. The delicate seductive walk of a female Blood Elf and the intense mean of a Bloodknight caused her to look like a fairy wielding death. The laughing skull that bore itself into the perfect blade belched putrid green fel magic in silent open jowls. It trailed down the hilt Saturna's sword and up her arms… but somehow the woman was not affected by the evil. As always, Saturna was more beautiful than even her blades.
"We are going to him." She announced to the men in her party.
Sunthraze the Sly cocked an irritated fiery eyebrow. Even for an elf, his hair was a comical orange, like rancid apple cider. "We have not only heard rumors, but now have seen that Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider is consorting with demons… first from travelers in Hellfire Peninsula, then in Zangarmarsh and it was on every tongue in Shatthrath City—how many duels did we start with Scryers that resulted in our banishment—and now we can see The Black Temple in the distance, the black demons flying about the turrets where we know our monarch is holding up… and we're doing WHAT?"
Saturna stopped pacing. She hefted the corrupted Ashbringer up onto her shoulder. The sharp edge shone melancholy in the sallow light of Shadowmoon Valley.
"That is our mission, to protect him."
Pyorin, who always carried a shield, indicated that he would speak next with a reluctant sigh. He was the loyal one with a heart made of steel as unbreakable as the shield he used. When they first set out from Azeroth, he was using a crest inlaid with a fiery flaming skull. They'd been traveling for some months now. These days, he'd picked up a frightening aegis with three petals—like a club found in a deck of Darkmoon Faire cards—and a sharpened spike that ripped up from the center of the shield where the three pieces joined. Pyorin wouldn't look at their commander but settled his concerned gaze on her Thalassian charger instead. Scourgebane lowered its head as if to graze, then perked up abruptly. Ears turned to one of many noises in the forest that chilled one's bones.
"Our mission seems exceptionally bleak." Pyorin respectfully disagreed. "It is clearly not what we first set out to do… what Lady Liadrin bade us to do when we were called together in Silvermoon City. If the Prince does in fact work for The Betrayer Illidan, then we can't possibly woo him on behalf of our Order. The courtly conversations we prepared to have, the demonstration of Bloodknight strength… are now irrelevant. It is not just about Silvermoon politics now."
"But it is our sworn duty as Bloodknights to safeguard the Prince no matter what—"
"You cannot seduce a man enslaved to demons! It would be madness to try, Saturna, and we've already risked our necks too far, learned too much."
Saturna's pale green eyes flared and she turned on Sunthraze immediately. "How dare you speak to your commander thus—"
"Mistress, please." Fennore was a priest before he became a Bloodknight a few years ago. Though he wore plate and rode a Bloodknight's war mount like the rest of them, he rarely spoke save to counsel someone. He still felt to the others like a priest. "Certainly you aren't naïve. I'm sure Lady Liadrin asked you to take full advantage of all your assets in the Prince's presence." Then, he hesitated awkwardly. "That is to say… you are a very beautiful woman, sexy even…" he stumbled along further, "I mean that you are an exceptional fighter, a clever tactician, the very best of Lady Liadrin's handpicked pupils. Of course you would…" he blushed, then blurt out, "Why would you spare anything to displace the Rangers, or worse the Magisters in the Sunspire? Clearly, Rommath is corrupt and favoring his own. Bloodknights are the true masters of the Light. We should be leading our people. We came all this way to deliver this message to Prince Kael'thas ourselves, since Rommath would never give Lady Liadrin an audience, or hardly the time of day… along with your retributive powers, I'm sure putting those good elven looks to work was also on the Lady's list."
Saturna couldn't face Fennore. He was a strange one… no longer bound by priestly vows of celibacy but refusing to act on any of his urges. It caused him to spurt forth repressed behavior from time to time. His old habit of treating everyone in a paternal fashion persisted, regardless of his new flirtatious tendencies. As a result, he revealed far more about his desires than the others ever wished to know. It was more than disturbing.
Saturna opened her mouth to say something else, but Fennore leaned forward in the saddle and his twisted smile gave the woman pause. "You are very lovely, commander. It can be done to us men very easily," he gestured to Pyorin and Sunthraze, but both made resistant gestures to indicate that they did not think of their commander in the way Fennore suggested. Self-conscious, Fennore glanced back over his shoulder to see Pyorin and Sunthraze looking innocent. The old ex-priest went on. "But even you can't seduce a man to our side, not under such circumstances, and within the Black Temple of all places…" then his perverted smile widened, "unless… you have some demon fetish we don't yet know about." He winked at Saturna.
Why some succubus hadn't stolen Fennore off to her lair months ago back in Hellfire Peninsula baffled the other three Bloodknights. Saturna, Sunthraze and Pyorin shared a cautious look. It was a joke they'd made before when Fennore was sleeping… Sunthraze was right that the only reason the ex-priest was still with them was because Fennore would have to be the one convincing the succubus.
"It is a bad idea to continue." Pyorin smoothly changed the subject. He shrugged his shoulders to balance the weight of his massive shield. "Even if we get past The Betrayer's guards, how do we know that Prince Kael'thas will welcome our services? Perhaps he does not want to be found… he must know that his people are obsessed with his celebrity, as they always have been and are making pilgrimages across Outland just to see his face."
And those naïve Blood Elves were not much different than they. Saturna didn't say as much in response to Pyorin's correct observations, but she didn't need to. The others paused awkwardly afterwards, feeling the devotion to their Prince gnaw on their consciences. Loving Silvermoon City and the homeland was akin to loving the Prince.
Saturna walked over and stroked her horse's muzzle, just under the burnished gold face plate. "He could be in danger with… The Betrayer." The demon lord of Outland was no longer a mystery to them. All four Bloodknights understood his role in the nefarious doings in this strange world. They knew more than Lady Liadrin and perhaps Grand Magister Rommath even.
Offering to protect Prince Kael'thas, wherever he was, was supposed to be their in… then once impressed with the strength of Thalassian paladins, called Bloodknights, they could share Lady Liadrin's political goals with the Prince, ask him for favors. But, if Prince Kael'thas really was in danger, then they had absolutely no choice. Regardless of what Lady Liadrin instructed them to do, protecting the prince would now take priority. The four of Bloodknights looked over the precipice, into the foreboding region called … where the Black Temple resided. How many bloody wars had been fought over that sacred and now profane place? Draenor had been ripped apart because of it, the pathetic remnants only fitting of a name just as vague and pitiful as was the fate of this world: Outland.
Seeing the Blood Elf Scryers and the Draenei Aldor work together with the Naaru while they spent time in Shatthrath city made the universal nature of the Legion's threat clear to the Bloodknights. Outland was a place that the Draenei had fled to join the Alliance on Azeroth. They hoped to fight the Legion with that help. Almost simultaneously on Azeroth, the Alliance betrayed the Blood Elves and they joined the Horde. The Blood Elves now raced across space and time itself to take what the destitute inhabitants of Outland left behind, all to escape the Scourge and the Legion. They did not have time to go back and ask Lady Liadrin what to do now. It was very possible that they might not survive the journey back through Outland. And sending a messenger was out of the question. The information they learned was dangerous and could not be risked leaking to the Horde or the Alliance. And even if one of them went back with the message… the four Blood Elves had been hand-picked for this mission because they had such complimentary skills. It would be foolish or dangerous to break the group. Perhaps in Azeroth one of them could be strong against any test, but Outland was far more dangerous. Even Lady Liadrin could never have imagined… Now the four Bloodknights, a new sect of paladin, knew that their' people's race to leave Eversong Woods and Azeroth behind for Outland was a mad one. And, if their rough journey so far was any indication, the man they were sent to have an audience with--by slyly offering to protect him--must be even worse off… for living so close to the vile source of that madness.
Saturna re-slung her sword and mounted up again. She turned her steed Scourgebane to the east. One could see the black turrets of the temple from where they were atop the cliff. Saturna sat up straight on her mount and Scourgebane nickered to himself. Each netherworldly Thalassian charger had an odd hollow undertone to its neigh. "If we need to gain the Prince's trust, we will simply have to do something clever to earn it." A daring smile stretched across perfect lips, then faded. "From now on, when we speak of the Lord of Outland…" Her rich commanding voice grew soft. "We will call him Lord Illidan. For, to serve our Prince, we must honor his alliance. We will have no choice." She urged Scourgebane forward. "Furthermore… if anyone can truly help Prince Kael'thas, it would be a Master of the Light. He has four saviors now…" her voice trailed off as she descended.
Pyorin, their dutiful tank was exceptionally loyal and fell in behind Saturna immediately. Fennore sighed and guided his charger along as well. Sunthraze delayed the longest. Bright green eyes flashed angry at the putrid chartreuse of the fel sunset.
"Oh lovely Saturna. If I didn't enjoy watching you ride so much…" he forced himself to joke against the sinking feeling in his gut. Sunthraze the Sly clucked his tongue at the Thalassian charger underneath him to follow suit.
That evening at the Black Temple...
Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider floated in and out of the painful but brilliant arcane haze. His strong body now felt heavy and sloven. The magic pushed at his skin from the inside, threatened to erupt out of every pore in his body. He smiled and laughed. Then Lianna bit his neck and he wanted to scream. It would not be an unwelcome sound in the Black Temple.
"Please, scream." Lianna begged. Large green dilated pupils met his own. Kael'thas felt the heat rush to his loins where the other woman moaned against him. A third… he didn't remember her name, crouched beneath the woman at his back and ran her warm tongue up and down his spine. He lashed out and tried to grab hold of her. He wanted her ontop of him too.
"Yes, my prince. I will give you my body, I would give you my life!" was the desperate response. The third woman, her name was Thera, almost pushed the second woman Jacinta out of his lap to get to him. Jacinta fought Thera and they snarled at each other, looking feral, like harpies before Kael'thas became coherent enough to make them stop.
"Don't fight over me." he chuckled, "Just have another…" he rolled onto his side and almost dropped the arcane crystal he reached for on the table. Jacinta's eyes went wide when she saw it and snatched it from the heir to the Thalassian throne. She let Thera shove her aside and went happily to the floor. She pressed the crystal to her naked breast, rolled on the red carpet with it, and with the agility of a rogue, deftly came to her feet and slid it down her stomach between her wet thighs and then brought it before her face again. She turned her back to Kael'thas then rubbed her fingers against the pulsating white stone. Her shoulders sagged as she siphoned more and more of the energy, then she tossed her head back in ecstasy.
"Careful Jacinta, or you'll overdose." Lianna gently warned. Lianna bit Kael'thas' neck again, and he was torn away from watching the mesmerizing woman get high off an arcane crystal.
He cringed against the exceptional pain at his neck. When he closed his eyes he saw colors. "Let her." he waved a dismissive hand in Jacinta's direction. Thera drove into him hard then, and he exhaled ragged moans of pleasure. He seized Jacinta's backside with eager sweaty palms. Then the handsome prince raised up and drove further inside her, hungry.
Now Thera looked green. Everything looked green. Kael'thas tried to ignore that warning sign. He pushed himself still further, past physical boundaries. Thera's bouncing backside reminded him of riding a hawkstrider, of animals mating. He laughed at how far he'd come to fail his people, how low he was sinking now to be having an orgy when all of Outland and beyond was suffering. Was he on the side of the Legion yet? Kael'thas did not want to know. He did not want to think about it.
Let's celebrate the anniversary of the betrayal, when They went down to Shatthrath City and abandoned me…Lord Illidan has said nothing, but a year of silence has passed already but I know he plots against me. All is finally lost! Everything I've done turned to ash and ruins… Come, let's make the Scryers hear how I don't need them… I don't need anyone!
Wasn't that what he said to Lianna, Jacinta, and Thera when they entered his room some hours ago? They were supposed to be having a late night meeting, but Kael'thas went too far while he waited for his officers to arrive… the crystals were supposed to help him forget about the Scryers, about everything for a few precious moments. Prince Kael'thas didn't remember how this all started exactly. He recalled being picked up from the floor and dragged to the bed. There was some worried discussion about what to do, then the women must have noticed his stash of arcane crystals spilled all over the table… they decided to join him.
Kael'thas opened his eyes again, but everything was still green. He was going arcane-blind.
The ashen face of his father's corpse flashed for a moment through all the green. Then the world went black.
"There's no pulse! Someone get Lady Vash, and her magic!" Lianna cradled Prince Kael'thas' head in her arms.
Jacinta was dancing naked by herself across the room and Thera still rode their passed out monarch. Lianna tried to make her mind work, to think of what to do next but sense was finally losing her.
"So much… pretty green. Thera? Can you see me Thera? I can't see you…" Then, Lianna felt very tired and lay down next to Kael'thas.
Thera orgasmed then. The powerful arcane energy spiked in her body then too, and she started screaming with joy. Certainly others in the Black Temple heard her. None cared enough to intervene.
It caused the dancing Jacinta to remember that she wasn't by herself. She came over to the bed, where Kael'thas lay motionless. She bent over him, with sad eyes. "You're too handsome to die. Don't worry. We love you, our Prince. We would die for you." Jacinta gently kissed the man's sweaty forehead. She didn't understand that perilous death was very near to him. Each time Kael'thas got high, he pushed further and further. Perhaps this time, he finally pushed too far.
Prince Kael'thas' face was lifeless for a long moment, then his brow furrowed and he began whispering… something about Anasterian, the Sunwell, Jaina, the Scourge, Arthas… too many things to remember.
"Oh, he's alright... see? The pulse came back. Kael's just having nightmares again." Thera smiled at Jacinta and sank into the red silk sheets next him, opposite Lianna who lay at his other side. Thera reached an arm across the defined pectoral muscles of the prince and hugged him tight.
Jacinta blinked and reached for another arcane crystal. "Is he really? I can't see anything but green now. I think we've gone too far again."
"Me … too…" Now Thera could not put a sentence together. She fell asleep. Jacinta held the white crystal in shaky hands and sank to her knees at the foot of Kael'thas' bed. She smiled at how intensely green everything was, then slumped over when blackness eventually consumed her.
Yes, they would die for their prince. You see, it is possible to drown in another person's sorrows.