Okay, we are now on part 2 of the AU series, I have hoped that it wouldn't take so long to write the fic, but I want to narrate the whole thing from the very beginning. Part 2 is about the time that Arthas became the Deathknight and what he did to Lordareon, Quel'thalas and the people there. Jaina doesn't have an important role in part 2 so anyone who shipped Arthas/Jaina, please don't expect too much.


Chapter 1: Dreams

He had been walking on this cursed continent for a month. He came here first to find the dreadlord Mal'ganis, but it turned out that the damned demon was far more wicked than he had believed. The army he brought here had to suffer both the cold and the attack of the undead. He didn't know how long he could keep on staying here.

Now, he was striding through the furious blizzard along with some dwarves he had run into when he first arrived here in search of an ancient artifact, known as the runeblade Frostmourne. The dwarves' leader was an old friend of his Father, Muradin Bronzebeard. Muradin was the one who told him about the runeblade, and also warned him that not so much had been known about it, but he only listened to the first part. He badly needed something to kill the damned dreadlord and Frostmourne seemed to be the most suitable weapon. Mal'ganis was the last straw that broke the camel's back. In those last three years since he left Dalaran, he had to suffer so many things. First was the orcs' raid, second was Invincible's death, third was the plague in Andorhal and the next thing was Mal'ganis. After all those, he could not suffer anything more, even if it was just a small one. He had decided, and he would not take his decision back.

Arthas, Muradin and the other dwarves finally got out of the blizzard. They saw something that looked like a cave and they walked to it. Some kinds of ancient runes could be found on the side of the cave.

"This is where Frostmourne was said to be hidden! We did it Prince!" Muradin exclaimed with solace.

"That's good… I don't want to walk through any other stupid phenomenon like blizzard or avalanche again…" The human Prince murmured, voice crackling because of the cold. "Let's come inside and find that runeblade… We have a business to finish…"

Muradin nodded agreeing and led the way into the cave, the others followed him. Arthas tiredly looked around the cave. There were runes, ancient and odd runes everywhere in the cave. He wondered if this place was sealed by some short of magic in order to prevent something so evil to get out. No matter what, he would just keep on going and claim the artifact.

Suddenly, the cave began rumbling and the ground began trembling. A loud crack could be heard and everyone began to spread out. Arthas looked up the roof. He found the crack and gasped as it kept expanding. Just right at the time the roof began to fall, a sudden and painful thrust in the abdomen blew him to the cave wall and blew his consciousness out of him. He wondered what had just happened.

He woke up as something tickled his face. Opening his eyes, the human Prince found a bunch of bronze beard hung right in front of his face. Arthas breathed calmly, realizing that it was the old dwarf made him feel safe. Muradin helped him stand up. He looked around, there were no sign of the others, instead, there was a mount of icy rocks blocking their way out of the cave.

"What… what happened? Where are the others?" He gasped in panic. They could have been stuck under the falling rocks.

"The cave collapsed… The others were safe, they are on the other side of this blocking, I have told them to return to the camp…" Muradin bitterly said. "It means that only two of us will keep on the searching…"

Arthas breathed shallowly, his chest heaved. He was glad that the others were safe, but… keeping this travel along with only Muradin would be a hard quest.

"We have no other choice. Let's move." The Prince sealed his decision, picking up his huge weapon, the holy warhammer Light's Vengeance, and strode to the end of the cave.

:

There the runeblade stood, trapped in an iceberg. Arthas stepped close to the artifact. Its aura attracted him. He could hear the whispers came from the runeblade, it was inviting him. His eyes grew wide as he got closer and closer to the runeblade, his hand holding out and was about to grab the hilt. Suddenly, a powerful energy wave knocked him away from the artifact and a group of ancient Guardians appeared from nowhere. Their voices echoed in his head, telling him to leave this place and never return.

But he yelled back. I have to pass so many terrible things and all I want is that those nightmares come to an end! I will pay everything, even my soul and my life, to kill Mal'ganis! You Guardians should better get out of my sight!

He didn't even care if Muradin helped him or not, he just advanced and fought the Guardians. They would stand no chance against the power of the Prince and soon fell one by one. After the fight, Arthas was extremely exhausted, he just wanted to finish his business.

"Leave that artifact, lad, you should better not take it up… It was cursed…" Muradin yelled at him.

"No… I have come this far… There is no point in returning right now!" Arthas yelled back and stepped forwards to the runeblade, throwing away the holy Light's Vengeance, which had followed him for so long. He grabbed the hilt of the runeblade with both his hands and used all the rest of his strength to pull it out. The iceberg began to crack under his strength and finally blasted into pieces, freeing the runeblade.

Arthas gasped as the runeblade shimmered in his hands. Everything became black. Time and space collapsed around him.

:

He was standing in the nothingness with only Frostmourne on hands. Looking at the glowing eyes of the demonic skull on the hilt, he lightly shivered; just like that those eyes were looking straight into his soul.

'Greetings, young Prince… We have now finally united…' The runeblade whispered to him.

'What is going on…? Is this some kinds of sorcery…?' The human Prince looked around, confused.

'This place is where you can call Spirit World… The Lich King sent you here so that we can talk in private…' The artifact kept on.

'I have no business with the Lich King! I just want to use you to defeat Mal'ganis! After that, we are done!' Arthas yelled in his mind. What does that Lich King want from me?

'Calm down… The Lich King had chosen you to be his champion even before you were born, Prince... He had led you to find me here…' Frostmourne whispered with a calming tone.

'Champion?' Arthas stared at the runeblade. 'What are you talking about?'

'I am explaining to you about your place now… You are the Champion of the Lich King…' Frostmourne replied. 'And all you need to do now is to swear your loyalty to the Lich King now…'

'Why do I have to pledge my loyalty to the Lich King? ... What could he do for me?" Arthas couldn't make out what was going with him, but he kept on asking as he craved for more answers.

'Why?' The voice from the runeblade laughed darkly, then the eyes of the demonic skull on the hill glowed strongly. 'The Lich King would grant you every wish you have, even the deepest wish of you, Champion…'

'Implausible! How can he grant my wish when he doesn't even know what my wishes are?' He yelled mentally

'You are looking down on the Lich King too much, Champion…' Frostmourne snickered.

And the world began to turn around with dizzying speed.

:

He found himself standing in a whole field of violet flowers and fresh green grass. The place was so familiar. He knew this place because he had come here once so long ago. Quel'thalas.

'What sorcery is this? Why am I in the Kingdom of the Elves?' Arthas snarled, glaring at the runeblade.

'Isn't this where your deepest wish stays?' Frostmourne kept whispering, but now, its tone was full of sarcasm.

Arthas was enraged. He truly wanted to throw the runeblade to the ground and leave it back to where it was held. Just as he was about to open his mouth to object, a figure appeared into his sight. He dropped his jaw. Just right before him, next to an anvil, stood an elf in purple mage robe. His golden hair flowed gently in the air, his blue eyes glowing as he waved at Arthas with a smile. And the human Prince gasped, speechless. He just slowly stepped to the Elf, holding his free hand out and grasped the Elf's hand, pulling him into an embrace. He wanted this moment to come true. Yes, this is the deepest wish in my heart.

Suddenly, the Elf pushed him away and turned round coldly.

"I'm sorry…" The Elf slowly spoke each word. "… Forgive and forget me, Arthas, we can't be together."

Each single word hit Arthas like a strike of thunder in his ears. He was stunned, his body went numb. All the memory of that last met was recalled to his mind in just a short moment. They were painful to remember and he had tried his best to forget but…

'Don't be sad, good Prince… You will have him by your side soon…' Frostmourne whispered to him with calming tone. 'Just pledge your faith to the Lich King and you will earn everything…'

Arthas looked up, his eyes blearing. But now he had found what to do…

:

Muradin had a hard time during the release of Frostmourne. Rain of ice pieces that were blasted from the iceberg attacked him. He tried his best in blocking the small pieces. But he couldn't protect himself from a huge piece. The piece hit him hard in the chest that blown his air out of him. This could be the final moment of him.

Arthas now stood triumphantly with the runeblade on hands. He then glanced at the dwarf. Seeing his companion dying, he wanted to help but Frostmourne told him that the dwarf would die even if he tried to help so he didn't have any point in helping the dying one. Arthas nodded, left Muradin there with no regret and walked out of the cave through another exit that Frostmourne showed him.

Then he walked back to his camp. His army was fighting with all what they had against the undead force of Mal'ganis. All he did was smirking and fought his way to directly face Mal'ganis. The dreadlord was very shocked to see him again, but the most terrifying thing was Frostmourne. Arthas laughed and struck the dreadlord down in a short fight. Frostmourne glowed even more strongly when tasting the blood of the demon lord. After that, he returned to his people.

Falric, Marwyn and Thassarian rushed over to him to congratulate him on the victory. He said nothing, his only reaction was smirking.

"Your Highness, we finally defeated Mal'ganis. It has all ended." Marwyn breathed exhaustedly, placing a bloodied hand on his shoulder.

"End? Oh, no, no… My friends, everything has just begun…" He grinned evilly.

Before any of the three lieutenants could react, he raised Frostmourne up again. Arthas quickly stabbed Marwyn in the abdomen, pierced Falric's throat and sliced open Thassarian's chest. Frostmourne was contented of tasting blood, shimmering with the icy blue aura. The human Prince looked at the runeblade, wondering what to do next as he had now finished all the thing it told him. The artifact told him to head to the Frozen Throne, where the Lich King was imprisoned. Arthas just simply followed and didn't even bother to give his fallen army a single glance.

Everything is happening smoothly and wonderfully like a dream.


A/N: The corruption started in Northrend. Arthas sold his soul to achieve his wishes. Lich King was a he-who-knows-everything.

Poor Marwyn, Falric and especially Thassarian for being Arthas's lieutenants.

Kel'thuzad will appear in the next chapter, along with the return of our main uke, Kael'thas.

Thank you all for reading.