Quel'Danas.
The remaining hours Uther spent in Silvermoon were highly unpleasant, clearly word had gotten out about what he had done, and why he was in the city, because the elves did their utmost to avoid him and Sylvanas, even the crew of the boat that they were forced to take to Quel'Danas avoided them.
"Another day, another uncomfortable boat ride" he groaned as the boat tilted to one side, his hands gripping the balustrade tightly.
"Would you have preferred to fly milord?" she said to him, a hint of reassurance, but he let out another long groan,
"I'd rather swim if it meant a more pleasant journey to our destination." She simply hummed her agreement as she shot a look to the captain at the wheel, who had been watching them closely.
"How are you?" Uther asked after a long pause,
"Fine, why do you ask?" she replied curtly, confused by his asking.
"I know that what it made me do has ruined your life, I wish I had kept control of my body, and that this whole business had not happened" he stated, his fingers taping just below the gash in her armour, she moved her hand to his, and pressed his hand against her chest over her heart, their eyes connected when she knew he felt what he had done to her.
"Your heart!" he blurted out, moving his hand away quickly in shock, she nodded gravely.
"It's beating slower than normal, since it happened." She said, a tear welling in her eye, which Uther gently wiped away.
"I'm so sorry; I hope the Sunwell can help both of us regain some normality" he said placing his hand flat over her heart, she watched carefully, though she was starting to trust the elderly knight, she was a ranger first, and letting your guard down with the presence of the Lich King could prove fatal. He muttered a prayer under his breath, and when he stopped, Sylvanas felt a surge of warmth spread across her body from where his hand rested.
"What did you do to me?" she asked as he rested his arms at his side.
"A small prayer of healing, though it isn't strong enough to undo the cursed blade's damage, it has, in essence, breathed life back into you." She put her hand to her heart and felt her heart beating at a steadier pace.
"Thank you" she breathed quickly, joy filling her heart.
"-it won't last my dear-"the Lich rasped at her, she recoiled slightly, and Uther's body tensed slightly as he fought to regain control.
"The sooner we reach Quel'Danas, the sooner we can get that monster under control; I'll check our prog…" Sylvanas said, brimming with hatred at the Lich's outburst, was interrupted by the navigator announcing "Land ho."
"Well, that's perfect, let me be the first to say…" Sylvanas said standing between Uther and the bow of the ship, "welcome to Quel'Danas, sanctuary of the Sunwell" she said bowing slightly and gesturing toward the rapidly approaching land mass, which glowed on the horizon like a second sun.
The sight of the Sunwell on the horizon sparked a violent shift in Uther; the Lich's presence in his mind shrank back, screaming its frustration –Damn that Elven magic, I'll destroy their entire civilisation for this-
"I think it's affecting him slightly" Sylvanas said aloud, Uther nodded in agreement as the boat docked in the harbour, and the two were forced to step off the boat first by the crew.
"I'll let you lead the way, it's your homeland, and you're in charge." Uther said politely gesturing for her to take the lead; she smiled warmly but instead of leading, took his hand in her own.
"This may be my homeland, but I do not know the isle of the Sunwell that well, we may need assistance." She said looking around at the magi elves that were minding their own business around them, but flashing uncertain looks at the wounded ranger and the elderly paladin carrying an unholy relic.
"Is it screaming obscenities in your head as well about the power of the Sunwell affecting him?" Sylvanas asked as they headed towards the largest building they could see.
"No, it's being disturbingly quiet for me." Uther replied as an elderly looking elf approached them at the building's entrance.
"Greetings, welcome to Quel'Danas Lord Uther and Ranger Windrunner, we were warned about your intentions, please follow me." He said, quickly ushering them inside, the two visitors looked at each other quickly, expressing their uncertainty.
"Are your intentions to help or hinder us?" Uther asked the elf, who kept his distance from them as he lead them through the luxuriously decorated building, the elf just chuckled nervously and lead them into a small antechamber.
"Please remove your armour and weapons please, we cannot allow you to be so heavily armed from this point on." The elf ordered, though his manner was straining to remain polite, but Uther and Sylvanas complied and removed their weaponry and rested them in a corner, before taking off their own armour. Once they were only wearing their undergarments, a group of armed mages entered and escorted through the door opposite the one they had come through.
They were lead into a vast, domed indoor courtyard at the centre of the building; at the center was a large glowing pedestal, surrounded by elves channelling the magical energy through them, but the sheer power of the magical energy from the Sunwell was present in the room, even someone as powerful as Uther felt dwarfed by its power.
"You will be cleansed one at a time, lady Windrunner first, please follow me," the elderly elf said, taking Sylvanas by the hand towards the circle of channelers, the other magi raised their swords and held Uther back, in his head the Lich King's rants were faint, but still present, this gave him hope. Uther watched as Sylvanas was lead to the circle of channelers, where she alone walked into the channeler's circle and was enveloped by the light.
When it faded, she inspected herself closely, the gash across her chest had faded to a thin scar, and she seemed alive than before, but before she could do anything else she collapsed, a group of magi rushed over and carried her away.
"What happened?" Uther asked the elderly magi that had returned to stand near him, who simply smiled at him.
"That often happens; the force of magical energy from the Sunwell can often overwhelm those who are not accustomed to its power, now please follow me" with that he led Uther, flanked by the armed mages, towards the pedestal, the Lich faint screams of protest echoing in his head.
When he reached the edge of the pedestal, the guards moved to positions just behind each of the channelers, the elderly magi looked intently at him.
"Please don't try anything, we are placing our trust in you, we hope that you have the same success that lady Windrunner did, but we will attack you if you try to corrupt our blessed Sunwell, now please, enter the circle" he stated to Uther who nodded his understanding, but the Lich's screams were making it hard to concentrate on anything but its voice.
The moment Uther stepped on the pedestal the light enveloped him, he felt the channelers focusing the energy that surrounded him on his body, its power coursing through him with ease, he felt himself lift off the ground and his own power over the light increasing. Just as he thought the energy would help him control the Lich, he heard its screaming 'no' before his body emitted another shock wave of light and dark energy, as the two forces collided inside him, the moment the shock wave left his body he blacked out just like he had the last time.
-AN-
Will Uther have full control over his body again? Will the Lich King go down without a fight? Will he and Sylvanas be free of his maddening voice?
Find out soon!
