Chapter 4
The blizzard had subsided by half a fraction in the morning, making it easier for the in habitants of Icecrown to move around. Almost automatically the fire on the braziers slowly came to life, the blue fire dancing and sneering in them.
Thalian looked at her torch that was consumed by the strong blizzard last night. Leaning Sanera gently against the strong gates she made for the nearest brazier and lit her torch. Just then, a loud gong resounded across the palace, loud against the blizzard that was slowly dying down. A morning meet, Thalian thought amusingly and turned to look at Sanera. They haven't had a meet with the Lich King for ages around.
He was woken by the gong and looked at her sleepily and weakly. Another gong sounded, this time, louder. Thalian helped Sanera to his feet before picking up their belongings. "Feeling better?" she asked.
"Yes," he said softly and both walked slowly to meet the Lich King in his halls.
Much of the Lich King's servants had gathered in the Lich King's halls. It was a dark, gloomy place with little windows. Brazier stood by the sides and a not-so-sophisticated dull blue chandelier hung from above giving off a soft glow. There weren't any chairs or stools so everyone would have to stand. Furthermore, the Lich King would prefer everyone to stand when he was around. Such was expected from nearly every king.
Thalian felt even more pity for Sanera, who was weak and cold standing by her side a back corner in the hall. That, at least, would not attract too much attention from the other servants of the Lich King. Even standing next to him she could feel him trembling and whimpering. She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes and saw that his lips was still blue and has not yet gone back to his original colour. She bit her lips and crossed her fingers hoping for the better.
Arthas Menethil arrived shortly after, taking his place on the small stage of the huge gargantuan hall. Beyond the small stage was another even bigger hall where the Lich King resides: The Hall of Reflections. Both adjoined halls were better lit to the Lich King's liking and better guarded with his best Death Knights. Thalian-uiel was selected as one of his best Death Knights as well but of late he has nothing to ask of her, something which she was glad for. After all, the Lich King can be unforgiving for the least important or minor misdoings. Not that she was clumsy but every Lich Kings that were ever alive were tough to please.
The Lich King, with his helm held by his side, scrutinized the Death Knights at one side and some of his servants on the other side. He let his inspection slip over Thalian-uiel, Sanera and a few others. Instructor Razuvious and Kal'Thuzad stood to his left while another two muscular Death Knights stood to his right. The ones to the left had sword even mightier oath to Arthas, making sure that they never break free of the Lich King's allegiance. Death Knights were sworn into oath as well, especially those who were his personal guards and legions. Others sworn lesser oaths, but their souls were sucked out and were enslaved in Frostmourne – Arthas Menethil's sword, thus helping him gain more skills and vaster knowledge of each souls he sucked.
Thalian-uiel and Sanera's souls had not been sucked, so for the time being they could avoid the uncomfortable, painful thoughts they may have to share with the Lich King. They were, being the favourites of the Lich King, granted their own souls but would be taken away from them if they conspired against him.
"Shall we start now, milord?" Instructor Razuvious asked, his voice rambled deeply and death runes reeked from his breath. Thalian-uiel, head bowed, peeked at him from the corner of her eyes between knight gaps. The tall blonde in icy blue armour looked up at the Lich King on his small stage in awe. How she hated him!
She could feel the venom on the tip of her tongue. Such brash, presumptuous man! What pride that was stuck onto his arrogant, emotionless face! Such heartless asshole! She looked away from the second vilest bastard of the palace. He was one of those people who worked with Arthas Menethil in murdering his father. Yes, her father may have been a good man who turned evil. But there was some good in him! She felt the tears brimming on the edge of her eyes and quickly blink them away and concentrate.
"Yes, Razuvious," his deathly voice coughed into being. "We shall start now."
Death runes reeked in the air from so many Death Knights and Lich Servants in the room; Thalian could smell and feel it. It was so heavy that she could choke to death from it. It was cold too; this place will perpetually be cold and see no sunlight. She missed the sunlight so much, and the glorious moon. Icecrown has none of those.
"We had made a new type of weapon last night, hence the blizzard," Arthas said icily, breathily. Grabbing something from his pouch that hung from his waist he pulled out a small, blue-coloured orb hovering on his palm. Icescale Armour.
Thalian knew about this from the start that they were going to take advantage of the cold surrounding around them into further use. She also knew of this Icescale Armour for quite a while now. She overheard Professor Putricide mentioned it once to Arthas, Razuvious and Kal'Thuzad. So this was what Arthas was anticipating about all along!
"Allow me to demonstrate how all of you are going to use this in the near future. Listen well my best knights!" he said. He scrunched the small orb onto his palm easily, grinding it with his plated glove. It seemed weak. Smiling surreptitiously he smeared some onto his other hand, making sure that every joint on the fingers and palm get some. "Now who wants to come forth as a volunteer of how we are going to use this?" he asked. He seemed to have fun mocking and killing his servants.
Someone from the front was shoved before the Lich King and kicked on to his knees. It was a Lich Servant – a skinless and fleshless servant. A servant of the Scourgelord. "No, I don't want a servant of the Scourgelord. I want one with flesh!"
Razuvious's eyes fell on Sanera, Thalian could see, and was making towards them in his bold strode. "We've got one, my lord!" Razuvious smiled. Spreading his hands out as if to embrace someone, he said loudly so everyone in the room could hear: "Sanera, thank you for volunteering yourself. We are most honoured, and we shall forever remember you!"
No! Thalian's heart urged and pounded on her chest hard. She was sure that Razuvious meant it as a joke; they could not kill Sanera just because he looked weak! Sanera looked up at Razuvious's face. "Yes, my lord?" he whimpered.
"You shall be remembered, my friend," Razuvious said, still playing along. How she hated that liar! Watching Instructor Razuvious pulling Sanera way from her side she watched them strode down the aisle towards Arthas Menethil, who was waiting, smiling with pride on the small stage.
When they reached the stage they took off his helmet, shoulder pads and gloves. "This is how you all will be using it, so listen carefully!" Arthas said.
Placing his gloved hand on one of Sanera's shoulders he swiped his hand quickly down the length of his arms. His scream was blood-curdling and piteously weak. The pain must have hurt evilly so that might explain his scream. She stared at his arm. At first there was nothing, and then slowly she could see the red lines beginning to form, like claw mark. Blood slowly beaded the scratch and flowed down his arm dripping onto the floor. He sank to the floor, breathing heavily. No, please...just no, Thalian pleaded in her heart; but she knew it wasn't going to change anything ever.
Arthas took more of those Icescale Armour from his pouch and rubbed it vigorously on his gloves. He did the same to Sanera's other arm, this time the blood spilled like a running river down his other arm. Sanera's face crumpled into a pallid look. "To kill your opponent more easily, this is what you should do," Arthas said, the smile was still on his face, arrogant as ever. He grabbed Sanera by his throat and lifted him high. Sanera whimpered a little before flailing pathetically like a fish out of water. "Please, have some mercy on me!" he pleaded, his voice weakening. But everyone in the room knew the Lich King would never let anyone go especially when he was demonstrating his newly made experiment.
He squeezed Sanera's throat tighter and threw him down onto the ground. Blood pooled crazily on his throat. It was a grizzly sight and yet everyone in the room seemed unbothered by it. How callous!
"I shall distribute them only to my personal guards first before distributing them to the rest. You may go!" Arthas said, the meeting being concluded by the looks of it. He went back to his Halls of Reflections with Razuvious and Kal'Thuzad following close behind. The others filed out of the hall, murmuring to each other about the new weapon. Thalian-uiel stood alone at the same place behind the wall, not believing what she had seen. When the last had gone out she dropped her heavy pouch and rushed towards Sanera's body. His eyes stared into nothing, his hands grasping for a hope that never came to him, and yet he flailed and fought for it pathetically.
She fought back tears of anger and frustration. She wanted to rush into the Halls of Reflections and kill everyone in there on a mad rampage, inflicting pain on everyone in her way. But she knew she could not do it without outside help.
Then she caught a solid glimmer of light on the puddle of blood pooled on Sanera's throat. His family necklace given to him, she had seen it before! She took it from his throat and placed it on her palm, studying it. It was a simple necklace of simple design. Nothing too complicated but yet beautiful. She quickly cleaned the blood from the pendant and saw a simple white pearl delicately placed in a round silvery wire-work.
"Thalian-uiel," someone called her name softly. She looked up expecting to see any one of the Scourge servants or knights there. But there weren't any. Instead she stared into the face of Sanera's spirit face. His soul. What was it doing wandering around here?
"Sanera...?" she started. He smiled in approval.
"Yes," he said, his voice tingling like a soft bell.
Thalian was surprised beyond words and forced herself to say something. "How're you feeling, Sanera? I'm sorry I didn't come to help, I should have come...," she said in a rush.
"No, Thalian. No. I'm all right, I just need you to help me do something," he said. Thalian looked at him expectantly, pressingly. "But I have to be quick before Arthas or his companions come out so you better listen carefully.
"That necklace you have in your hand, take it to my mother, Heraphes, living in Stormwind. She lives in the Trade Square section of the city in the Inn and it shouldn't be hard for you to find. As for my sword," Thalian looked down at the sword that lay askance by Sanera's waist, "take it to Qethara, for it belongs to him. If he asked for me, tell him I have gone and could not return anymore. He resides in Silvermoon."
Silvermoon... That city name echoed within the confines of her mind heavily like a huge bell sounding. It is where the Blood Elves lived. Blood Elves and Night Elves had a long racial feud that was over centuries old. If she enters that city she might get killed. She was overshadowed with doubt and some fear, thinking how she should complete the latter task. Going to Stormwind was easy for it was an important political place where important political Alliance leaders meet. But going to Silvermoon was hard.
Sanera saw the doubt on her face. "It's all right, Thalian. I'll see to your safety. Now," his voice was tighter now. "Please give me the proper death rites to send my soul back to the gods above. If not, say a prayer in your language so Arthas would not capture my soul for him own advantage. Please!"
Thalian slung the necklace over her head and took Sanera's dead hands in hers. She said a prayer over his dead body and his soul in Darnassae and made sure his body had the right death marks needed.
By the she was done. Sanera thanked her and stood up. "Now go, Thalian. Go before he or the others come. Leave tomorrow morning of you could. I'll see you in the world beyond if you were killed. May Elune watch over you!" and he was gone.
"Elune-Adore (Elune be with you)," she whispered. She picked up the sword and her belongings. Taking a look at Sanera's little belongings laying on the floor, she hesitated whether if she should bring it with her or not. A final decision made her take them along so she could return them to his mother as well.
As for now, she would need to see what she could do before sneaking out to her escape.
