Forgot to write this last chapter:
Disclaimer: World of Warcraft is a product of Blizzard, Lord of the Rings is a product of J.R.R. Tolkein.
Chapter 2
Taelan awoke with a thumping headache, he felt completely drained, and, to top matters off, he had no idea what he had done to get it. He had just had a very vivid dream of his first meeting with his best friend Vark, but in the dream Vark was a Grunt, but that was about two years ago. For this reason he was very confused. Vark was a sergeant now, maybe he was remembering it, that was a possibility. Now to find out where he was. The logical part of his mind told him that he should stay lying down as he didn't know how bad his injuries were, however his more adventurous side told him that he was of no use to anyone sitting (lying) here like this, and should get up. He decided he would!
"Oh no you don't." Said a very familiar, gravelly voice.
"That you Vark?" Taelan asked, easing himself back onto the bed.
"It certainly is! Who else would sit through all your mumblings while you were asleep?" Replied Vark cheerfully.
"How long was I out?" asked Taelan.
"Two nights and a day, that elf got you good." Replied Vark, Taelan could hear the smile in his face.
"What elf?" Then realisation dawned on him, "Oooohhhh, that elf."
"Yes, that elf, well actually...this elf." Said Vark, Taelan opened his eyes and saw a dark shape before him, slowly the grinning figure of Vark swam into focus, Vark had become even bigger in the year Taelan had known him, and was now at least 9 feet high, which was, everyone admitted, big, even for an Orc, Vark was bare chested, large strips of bandages encircling his torso and right shoulder and biceps, and with a large scratch across his ribs on his left side, then Taelan saw what he was holding.
In Vark's uninjured hand was a decapitated head, dangling by a scrap of scalp and a long lock of hair, he held it by the hair as there was a huge gash in the face that exposed the skull, blood dripping down it onto the chin and then onto the floor. The neck was crudely hewn, and looked more like it was torn than cut, with miscellaneous threads of flesh hanging down from the base of the skull.
"And what, precisely are you going to do with that?" asked Taelan, far from being horrified of anything else, he was quite amused at Vark's enthusiasm, he was also thinking of another, darker, use for the head.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Vark, get your own! This one's mine! Anyway, I know what you're thinking and I already took care of it." Explained Vark darkly, reaching into a box filled with straw and throwing a small object toward Taelan that landed on his bedding.
Taelan picked it up, it was a glass vial filled with a red liquid, a liquid that Taelan well knew to be blood. "Thank you my friend." He said sincerely, "This will be most useful."
At that Vark's smile only got more pronounced, he was proud of the young elf for using such a strong magic, one that so many others were afraid of.
"So" said Taelan slowly, slipping the blood vial into his sleeve, "What happened, all I remember is a blue glow."
"Well we got in alright as you know, you fried that stupid overgrown bird but that called the elf up." Remarked Vark, hefting the head again, "Her cat jumped me, knocked me over, started clawing me." He then shrugged his bandaged side forward, "You threw up a shield to stop her stupid arrows, then (we think) she shot you with a draining spell, which is why you can't feel anything, you collapsed of mangical exhaustion or something, by this time I had wrestled the cat off me, pushed it over that ledge we were on, she looked quite shocked, and I managed to hit her in the face" explained Vark, "Then I got you're 'ingredients'" holding up a vial, "got our proof," holding up the head "and grabbed you, then ran back with you over my shoulder. And that's what happened." He said, leaning back and wincing slightly as weight came on to his shoulder.
"Thank you again my friend." Replied Taelan gratefully when he had digested this story.
"Anyway you need to get up, there's someone waiting for you..." said Vark enigmatically, getting up and walking away, "Put some clothes on before you come out, here you go." He said, placing a red robe on a chair.
Taelan grinned and started sitting up, he thought the camp outside unusually quiet, and hurried to get out and investigate.
Vark was outside, standing proudly to attention outside his comrade's tent, the three guests that had arrived this morning were waiting, a huge broad Orc with a great two-handed battle axe, he wore the bones of a demon lord on his shoulders and a choker of bone around his neck, this was Garrosh Hellscream, Overlord of the Warsong, and personally, one of Vark's heroes, as Vark attempted to put his chest out even further and stand up straighter, Taelan ducked out of the tent wearing his new robe, his gave Hellscream only a cursorily glance and turned his attention to the Blood Elf Magister standing next to Hellscream, the elf had a deep red robe with hints of golden thread and a staff with an end like a flame, Taelan recognised him, but attempted to show indifference, the final newcomer was another Orc, wearing brown armour, with large spikes on the shoulders and wearing an axe and shield, Taelan did not recognise this Orc, but Vark did, it was his father.
Taelan saw his friend swell with pride, he assumed the Orc in the brown armour was a member of the Kor'Kron Guard, the elite of the Horde armed forces, this meant that the larger brown-skinned orc with the bones was Garrosh Hellscream, leader of the Warsong Offensive, and therefore leader of the Outriders as well, perhaps this was simply a routine visit?
The middle figure was ominous though, he stank of blood magic, and held a large staff, and this showed him to be a magister, one of the mages in charge of the Blood Elves, this could be dangerous, Taelan didn't know if this mage was there because of him, he did not recognise the elf, but this was no excuse.
Vark looked at Captain Shatterskull for instructions, he got none, the Captain resolutely staring ahead. He decided he'd have to 'take the initiative'. He nudged Taelan, and then ripped of a salute, making a fist with his right hand, and thumping his chest. This caught the group's attention, he could see his father's eyes through the slit of the Kor'Kron's helmet, they looked as if they reserved judgement for the moment.
Taelan felt Vark's elbow in his side and stood up straighter too, then, seeing Vark salute, did so aswell, in the Orc fashion, given that Hellscream was the superior and not the mage. He was amused to see Vark wince slightly, "Serves him right" he thought, Taelan was not about to thump any part of his body where he had been mauled the day before. He observed that Orcs could be surprisingly forgetful sometimes. He thought the smaller Orc, the one in the brown armour looked interested in the display.
When Hellscream and the others made no move, apparently just observing, Captain Shatterskull stepped forward a pace, "Report!" he bellowed, looking at Vark.
Vark was slightly confused, he had given a report yesterday whilst he was recuperating, perhaps the Captain wanted one for Hellscream and the other visitors, such was the military, 'dig a hole, fill it in' as the saying went.
"Auxiliary Taelan and I snuck into the Sentinel's Base to sabotage the enemy war effort, as orders we also looked for targets of opportunity, such as supplies and leaders, Auxiliary Taelan set fire to a tent whilst hiding in some bushes, and I looked for enemy supplies, I had destroyed several packs when I heard a loud screech." Explained Vark.
"A screech?" asked the Captain confusedly.
"Yes sir, but I think Auxiliary Taelan could explain better." Said Vark indicating his friend.
"Well sir," started Taelan, nervous under his superior's gaze. "It was a big black bird sir, flew down from above me, the noise was some kind of alarm, that brought another elf over, so I ran to the rendezvous point that Sergeant Vark had set us before the mission, it was the top part of the base, the plan was that if we encountered too much resistance we would slow fall down and then run back here, but it didn't work." Finished Taelan looking sheepish.
"I saw the elf chasing Taelan, it was one of the Sentinels, had one of those strange 'glaives' sir, with the three blades, but as we've found sir, they're not strong if you strike them full on, so it broke when I was fighting the elf. After I killed her, I ran up to where Taelan was standing. We were getting ready but someone started shooting us." Vark said, getting into the swing of the story.
"I fried the bird to stop it from following us, and saw Vark kill the first elf, then saw the second, threw a few spells at her but she kept dodging, she had a nightsaber, big one with armour on it and one of those crystal faceplates, so we thought it would be good to kill her, as she seemed important." Said Taelan, growing more confident.
"We also decided retaining the high ground was a good idea, so I blocked the ramp whilst Auxiliary Taelan was blocking her arrows, and she was moving toward us, her cat jumped at me, and I went down, I think she got Taelan with a draining shot, because he collapsed after it, by this time I threw the 'Saber off the ramp onto a fence, this seemed to suprise the elf because she paused, this gave me time to attack and I managed to kill her." Finished Vark happily.
Captain Shaterskull looked impressed, "And your injuries?" He asked, indicating Vark's bandaged torso.
"The 'Saber sir, should be fine in a few days." Replied Vark stoically.
The Captain nodded, "Excellent, also, this elf, the officer, who was she?" he asked slowly.
Taelan answered this time, "We thought you might be able to help us out with that sir." He said gradually.
Shatterskull looked slightly confused, "How?" he asked somewhat obviously.
Vark glanced at Taelan and nodded his head toward the tent behind them, Taelan rushed in, and spent a few seconds in which he was presumably trying to find the sentinel's head among all the clutter of Vark and Taelan's tent. He exited after, ducking under the low arch of the 'doorway' flap and held out the head.
The various guests, the Captain and a few random Grunts who had gathered round for the story all leant forward for a closer look at the morbid specimen.
"So this particular elf was in the camp, with a large black nightsaber, and a pet hawk, and you two killed her?" asked the Captain, looking toward Hellscream then back to the duo.
"Well...yes." said Vark hesitantly, looking down at Taelan who was standing on one foot and looking awkward.
There was a slight pause, all were silent, then Hellscream let out a great bark of laughter, "An excellent tale!" he bellowed, with many of the other looking on in approval and breaking into growls of agreement. He then turned to the magister next to him. "Can you confirm it?" He asked the elf.
The Blood Elf standing next to Hellscream looked slightly ill, his eyes fixed on the blood that had dripped down and formed a small pool in the time the conversation had been going. "Well I might know who that was, I can check, but how many times did you hit 'it'?
"Just the once." Vark replied, looking uneasy as he magister drew a complicated sigil of green light in the air.
After a few mumbles and whispers under his breath and more manipulation the green light, the magister looked up.
"It is indeed the head of Su'ura Swiftarrow, I am surprised." He said, looking at the two in front of him.
"Why are you surprised and who is Su'ura Swiftarrow?" asked Vark perplexed. Taelan nodded at the question, also confused.
The three guests looked most amused at these questions, Hellscream spoke this time, "Su'ura Swiftarrow..." he said, having trouble with the pronounciation because of his fangs, "Su'ura Swiftarrow was the leader of the Sentinels, and one of the senior military commanders of the Alliance in Kalimdor, so you just killed, with a single strike no less, the most 'opportune targets' for about two hundred miles." He said, sounding grudgingly respectful. "And her assassination wasn't even your mission!"
Vark and Taelan were stunned, Taelan had thought the elf was important, but not that important.
"Well done." said Vark's father slowly, nodding his head.
But Hellscream wasn't finished yet, "Therefore, I, Garosh Hellscream, Warlord of the Warsong Clan and General of the Horde, give you, Vark, Son of Rul'Thar, the rank of Captain, and all its associated responsibilities and privileges. I also grant you both a Mark of Honour, for you deeds." Then he looked at Taelan, "You elf, are not under my jurisdiction, which is why Magister Jaedris is here."
The Magister stepped forward, "By the power invested in me by the Regent Lords of Quel'Thalas, I grant you this token, you should know what it means." He said rather darkly, reaching into a pocket and bringing out a red-gold ring, with a single ruby set in it, he handed it to Taelan rather reluctantly.
Taelan took the ring and slipped it onto his finger, it fitted perfectly and as Taelan looked at it, it seemed that the ruby flashed once, and he felt a warmth from it.
Both Rul'Thar and Captain Shatterskull looked very proud, the latter enquiring to whether "guests would be staying the night?"
Hellscream looked somewhat uncomfortable at this question; Vark was puzzled at that, but kept watching the large, brown Orc, Hellscream replied, "No, I have pressing business in Orgrimmar, as do my two companions." At that he looked at the Magister who returned his gaze unflinchingly, and then at Rul'Thar, who after a few seconds nodded, looking determined.
This 'exchange' seemed to annoy Hellscream, because he spoke harshly afterwards, "Say your farewells Kor'Kron, we leave soon."
Rul'Thar walked towards his son, who was standing confusedly next to Taelan.
"My Son, politics in the Horde are shifting, that's why we came here." Rul'Thar said quickly in an undertone, he glanced over to Hellscream, who was standing by a portal Jaedris had made, he could glimpse the black metal and red rock of Orgrimmar flickering in it, he turned back to Vark, "In a few days I will call for you, come to Orgrimmar, we'll need you." He looked down at Taelan, "Do you trust him?" he asked suspiciously.
"With my life." Replied Vark.
Rul'Thar looked at Taelan intently; he spoke after a few seconds, "Good, you can bring him aswell."
"Kor'Kron!" Hellscream bellowed from across the camp.
"Lok'tar Ogar Captain" said Rul'Thar, he nodded at Taelan, turned on his heel and strode to the portal.
"Victory or Death." Taelan said ominously. Taelan and Vark nodded sadly, and looked at his father, standing next to Hellscream, who drew breath to address the camp.
"Remember, all of you. Hellscream's eyes are upon you." Hellscream said. He turned and left the camp, the air shimmering behind him for a moment, then fading into nothing.