Last chapter. It's somewhat song-fic ish with Lament of the Highborne. I highly recommend you find it on Youtube, with the video Blizzard made for it a few years ago. I found it unfortunately late at night, and that's what spawned the plot bunny that became this fic.

"What do you want, girl?"

Nia was jolted out of her shocked silence by the words, impatient and half-snarled. "I found this trinket, ranger-general…" she whispered, reaching up and lifting the necklace over her own head.

Sylvanas's face had frozen in a grimace at the sound of her old title. She reached out one hand, snatching the thin silver chain from Nia. The elf stumbled back, shaking, staring at the familiar, changed face. Sylvanas twisted the pendant, eyes narrowing as she read the back. With a hiss she flung it down on the stones at her feet.

Nia yelped, both at the clatter and from shock. She looked up at her ranger-general, horror written plainly on her face. Sylvanas raised a foot as if to crush the trinket, but hesitated, glaring at Nia with such ferocity that the younger woman collapsed to her knees.

"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded, voice rising with each syllable. "Did you think this…this piece of trash would somehow please me?"

Nia hunched into herself more with each word, biting her lip hard to prevent tears. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. This wasn't her Sylvanas. This—creature—may have worn her body, but it didn't even begin to imitate her.

She was pacing now, still shouting in that vibrating tone. "I want nothing to do with that past! Nothing! I am the Dark Lady. A banshee. A monster! I have no need for sentiments. Look at me!"

Nia started, obeying without thought. A sob shook her body as she met the Lady's eyes. Sylvanas raised a hand as if to strike her, and she didn't flinch. She could see something in those crimson-glowing eyes. Some emotion, though she couldn't read what it was. This meant there was some chance this was her Sylvanas, and that she had caused pain on some deep level. As such she deserved any punishment she received.

Sylvanas trembled for a moment. Her eyes flashed with hatred, and Nia felt a single tear escape to roll down her cheek. The Lady slowly lowered her hand, twisting her head to look at the pendant sparkling innocently on the floor. Moving as if in a trance she stepped over to it, bending to pick it up and run colorless fingers over the inscription. The bloody glow of her eyes dimmed slightly, and her hand closed over the gem. The banshee queen shook, face twisting between several different emotions. Anger, sadness, even fear crossed her features, before she seemed to come to a decision.

She bent her head, muttering an incantation. The gem, her hands, even her eyes began to glow with a pure white, arcane fire. Sparks flew behind her, swirling and coalescing into the forms of ethereal Highborne spirits. Then, to the clear astonishment of everyone in the room, she lifted her clear glowing hands, threw back her head—and began to sing.

Anar'alah, anar'alah belore,

Sin'dorei,

Throughout the room the various representative members of the Horde turned to gape at the queen, even orcs stunned by the otherworldly notes

Shindu fallah na.

Sin'dorei,

Anar'alah,

Nia slowly straightened, still kneeling, staring in wonder. The apparitions added their own sweet counterpoints to the song, but above them all rose Sylvanas's haunting, perfect voice.

Shindu sin'dorei,

Shindu fallah na.

Sin'dorei,

The banshee's song rippled through the Undercity, moving even the undead. The few living in the place—mostly blood elves—sat down where they were and cried.

Anar'alah belore

The queen knelt as the spirit's wailing voices rose in volume, weaving into their own complex melodies. She held one hand out to Nia, who still crouched on the floor. "Do not kneel to me, my ranger," she whispered. Nia started, but stood, a shaky smile spreading across her lips. Sylvanas returned it, before raising a hand to quiet her spirits, and continuing her song.

Shindu sin'dorei,

Shindu fallah na.

Sin'dorei

Nia was caught in the magic of the song, along with every creature within hearing, living and dead. Suddenly she felt the despair, agony, and terror of that long ago day, as fresh as though it had only just happened. Seasoned orc warriors wept at the force of the emotions pouring from the Lady.

Anar'alah belore,

Belore.

The last note echoed into silence, and the spirits vanished as if blown away by the wind. The entire city lay silent. All present in the throne room were fixated on Sylvanas, who dropped her head as though suddenly exhausted.

Nia stepped forward, laying a hand on her shoulder. Her skin was cold, dry and soft, like doe-skin. The male blood elf who had wanted to shoo her away gave a little gasp—of fear or outrage it was hard to tell. Sylvanas didn't react, still as death.

Several tense moments passed before the Lady spoke. "Leave us," she ordered. "All except the girl, get out!"

Her orders were followed immediately, every being rushing for the door. The orc still holding Windrunner hauled the protesting lynx out too.

Sylvanas nodded to her elite Deathguards. "Keep everyone, including yourselves, out of sight and hearing." They saluted, shepherding the stragglers out the doorway.

Leaving Bravania alone with Sylvanas.

For a long moment the ranger-general didn't speak, staring off into the distance. Nia slowly dropped her hand, worried that she had offended the queen. At last Sylvanas's eyes refocused and she began to pace.

It was probably wrong to be considering it, but even in death the general's grace invoked a tingle in the elf. The crimson light from her eyes flared and dimmed at intervals, and finally she wheeled to face the ranger.

"Why did you come here? The representatives of the Blood Elves informed me that they told you I was killed, and made no mention of my…undeath."

Nia nodded, throat working as she tried to swallow several conflicting emotions. Horror and grief at this reminder of her general's death, absolute elation that at least a part of her survived, odd emptiness at finding this bloodless shell, with only a small resemblance to the Highborne elf. She looked up to meet Sylvanas's eyes, and took an involuntary step backward. That red glow could be quite unsettling when it was directed at you.

"I did recognize you, Bravania. I knew you the moment you entered my chamber. You were such a promising young ranger. I admit, I'd hoped you survived." Sylvanas took a step forward. Nia backed up again, wordlessly. "Of course, you weren't among the ranks of my Dark Rangers, but I feared that you were slain and raised as a mindless ghoul or shade."

Nia stepped back again, and her heel landed on nothing but air. She'd reached the edge of the raised central platform. Sylvanas continued to approach, at a slow leisurely pace, like a hunting cat that has spotted wounded prey.

"Why did you come here, girl? Why return my necklace? I'm dead, I've no use for such things."

Nia swallowed, finally finding her voice. "The undead…he told me who you were. I had to see for myself."

Sylvanas stopped barely a foot away from her, looking down at her ranger's ducked head. Feeling cool breath on her hair Nia looked up abruptly. In life she'd been only a few centimeters taller than the girl; now by some quirk of undeath the general towered almost a head over her.

"Are you satisfied?" she whispered. Nia was captivated, but gave the tiniest of nods, blinking back more tears. She recognized the beginning of a dismissal when she heard it.

Sylvanas turned away, walking back toward the center of her platform. "Go then. South of the Ghostlands there is no place for the living. Return to your people—"

"No!" Nia burst out.

Sylvanas turned back to her, clearly startled. "What?"

Nia scuffed one foot on the floor, but looked straight back at her. "No. I tried…I wanted to follow you. For seven years, I've tried." She gulped down a sob as Sylvanas's eyes widened in realization. "I wanted to die too. But…but you would never have neglected your duty. So I had to keep fighting, but every enemy I faced, I hoped I wouldn't come out stronger." She dropped her gaze, ashamed. "And then I heard you were…here, and I had to come. I can't stand to lose you again."

Now she glanced up, gauging Sylvanas's reaction. The Banshee Queen looked torn, shifting from foot to foot. "You know what the Forsaken have done—what I have done—don't you? We're recreating the Scourge's plague, we've taken Lordaeron for the dead. I've turned my back on the Alliance, and I only grudgingly serve the Horde. What is there for you here?"

"You!" Nia cried, head snapping up. Finally she had to say it. Finally she could admit it. "You! I loved you! I still love you! For seven years I would do anything to have you back. Now you are, and I'm not leaving you again."

Sylvanas backpedaled, stepping hurriedly back from the young ranger. "You don't understand what you're doing, girl." She snapped. "As long as you live you may not join me."

Nia took a deep breath. She thought momentarily of Windrunner, but pushed the thought away. "You have Valkyr raising new Forsaken, don't you? Let me go to them then. I will serve in your Dark Rangers."

"No!" Sylvanas snapped, "I don't exactly take volunteers for the undead! I can't ask anyone to make that sacrifice!"

"You aren't asking me. I'm choosing to," Nia whispered. "I said it before, and you are choosing to ignore it. I love you, and I'm never leaving you again." For a moment she thought she'd gone too far. The general's eyes blazed red again, and she strode forward.

"You have no idea what you are saying, what you're doing. And I will not allow you to do this."

"Why?" Nia demanded, cold inside. She thought Sylvanas might have returned her feelings, that maybe the ranger-general would be glad to see her. Once again, Sylvanas stopped within a foot of the girl, and Nia craned her neck to look up at her.

"You can't stop me." She whispered. She was holding back tears with difficulty. "And you keep ignoring the point. I would, and still will, do anything for you. Anything."

Cold dry fingers gently gripped her chin, further tilting her face up. "And there are some things I can't allow you to do." Sylvanas said, just as softly. "For much the same reasons."

Nia's breath hitched as the Dark Lady leaned down and their lips met, cold dead pressed to trembling living. She simply shook momentarily before flinging herself into the kiss. Sylvanas pulled her closer, lips parting slightly.

Nia was slightly put off for a moment, feeling with a jolt the lack of pulse in the mouth that was now devouring her own, the lack of heartbeat in the Dark Lady's body. But the feeling was banished as Sylvanas tightened her arms around her, and a moan forced its way out.

At last she was whole, protected, safe. For the first time in seven years she completely relaxed, melting into the embrace.

At last Sylvanas pulled away, earning a little gasp of disappointment from the blood elf. "I heard about your little…announcement, in the troll camp," she murmured, still close enough that her musty breath stirred Nia's hair. The elf flushed, looking away in embarrassment.

"I kept an eye on you after that, wondering just how you intended to go about it. I've had males try it before, though they seemed to think I would love them if they put down everyone else to make themselves look better. You, though, you proved yourself by improving yourself. I sometimes wondered if…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "I was going to promote you anyway, just before the Scourge attack. And when I did, I was going to tell you that you had done it. You did earn my love through your efforts."

Nia smiled shakily. "Well, I hadn't expected to earn it by falling out of trees."

Sylvanas laughed, bending to kiss her once more. "Now, my ranger," she whispered, pulling back just enough that her moving lips tickled against Nia's. "I have a proposition for you. You were clearly willing to die for me. Are you willing to live for me as well?"

Nia nodded emphatically. "Only…don't ask me to leave you again."

Sylvanas shook her head, a ghost of her old, gentle smile on her face. "I have a better idea than you joining my Dark Rangers. You will be my personal guard. I don't entirely trust my undead of late, nor can I truly trust the other races of the Horde. You, however, I will most certainly trust with my life."

Nia opened her mouth to respond with a resounding 'yes', when another concern occurred to her. "Would I be allowed to keep Windrunner?" She asked anxiously. "My lynx," she explained in response to Sylvanas's quirked eyebrow.

The Dark Lady chuckled. "A good name. Yes, though obviously you are expected to keep him under control."

Nia straightened, annoyed that drawn up to her full height her eyes were still only level with Sylvanas's chin. "Then yes, I accept. I will protect you with my life, Lady Sylvanas."

She was silenced by a single finger pressed to her lips. "As such, you will obey any order I give without question. I cannot be troubled by the conscience of the living. Lordaeron belongs to the undead now, or it will in the near future, so you must trust my judgment. Do you swear to this?"

Nia didn't think before kneeling, bowing her head and allowing her long elfin ears to droop. "I swear loyalty to you, and you only, and to trust your judgment in all matters." It was the pledge of loyalty given by any blood elf soldier when taken on by a new noble master. Nia shivered as she said the words, feeling that this oath held more power than one made to a fellow elf.

"I accept. You may rise, Bravania." She obeyed, finding herself swept into another hard, possessive kiss. "We should introduce you to my little court then, shouldn't we?"

Nia nodded, breathless and warm from the kisses. Sylvanas grinned and clapped her hands once. The cracking sound, doubtless magically amplified, boomed around the chamber and up the stone hall way. Immediately the two Deathguards trotted back, followed at a more sedate pace by the rest of the rooms' previous occupants. The orc guard maintained his grip on Windrunner, loosening it only when Sylvanas fixed him with a cold stare.

Nia whistled through her teeth to call her pet, and he trotted up the stairs to join her. He purred, rubbing his head against her hand as she scratched behind his ears. When Sylvanas tried to touch him, however, he jerked away with a snarl. Nia tapped his nose sharply, glancing apologetically at Sylvanas.

The Dark Lady shrugged. "Animals tend to dislike the undead," she commented. "You may want to make it clear you intend to stay, though. Here comes the emissary from Silvermoon."

The male elf from earlier was indeed climbing the steps toward them, looking quite unhappy. Nia moved back to stand to the right and a little behind Sylvanas, pulling her bow from her back and stringing it with one smooth motion. Seemingly stunned by this insolence he gaped at her.

The Dark Lady herself peered down at him like he was a bug she intended to squash. "Do you have something to say?" she asked, voice cold and utterly emotionless.

"No, Dark Lady," he muttered, shooting one last poisonous look at Nia before retiring to the side of the platform.

"Now, Apothecary," Sylvanas called, gesturing to a slight, stooped Forsaken. He trotted up to her, bowing deeply, shaking slightly. "Yes, Dark Lady?"

Nia was surprised at the absolute deference that the undead gave to Sylvanas. She had never demanded blind obedience like this from her rangers. She fell into an at-ease position behind Sylvanas, trying not to eye her back doubtfully.

"We must discuss the deployment of the new plague in Hillsbrad. We must maximize the casualties in Southshore…" Nia jerked to attention in shock.

Sylvanas's face was cold and hard, and Nia swallowed reflexively. She'd hoped for a moment, but now it was clear. This was not her ranger-general. Windrunner growled again, and she laid a hand on his head to quiet him. Even so, she felt like growling too.

She'd found everything she had ever wanted: Sylvanas was back, and she returned her affections. But now she was realizing that she had no idea what she'd gotten herself into.

And that's it. Thank you everyone for reading, and hopefully reviewing. I always love feedback on my writing, positive or not. I'm considering making a sequel, depending on the reaction I get. Please review if you favorite, I have a lot people doing one or the other, but not both. Those of you who have reviewed with or without favoriting, you are my favorite people in the world!