The Siege of Gilneas
Several days had passed since they returned from Northrend with the Val'kyr. The moment they returned to Undercity, Dark Ranger-General Clea had informed them that Warchief Hellscream had arrived the day after they left and was taking over the siege of Gilneas, a mission that had only been created so he could have a port in Northern Lordaeron.
As soon as she was told this, Sylvanas had quickly made her way towards the Horde camp along with Athrodar, his guards and Viraleth, keeping the Val'kyr in Tirisfal to start raising and recruiting new Forsaken. "That bone headed Warchief doesn't know these lands. He doesn't know this enemy. He can't just take over the siege because we're not going at the pace he wants!"
Athrodar glanced over to Sylvanas, all five of them riding separate mounts south towards the Horde encampment. "We will take control of the attack once more. We will show him what the Forsaken are capable of."
When they arrived at the encampment, they quickly made their way to the commanders tent with Sylvanas glaring at the Warchief who was going over the battle maps with his officers. "Warchief. What are you doing here?"
The young orc looked over his shoulder, returning his gaze to the map below him. "Doing what you could not, Banshee. I am securing Gilneas for the Horde and building a permanent port in Lordaeron."
She glared at the back of his head, walking around him until she stood on the opposite side of the war table. "Warchief, you do not know these lands. Let me take control of the attack and I will secure Gilneas for the Horde." She glanced over to the two officers on her right, seeing them look over to the Warchief and pay her no attention. "Let me lead them my way, I know this enemy and how to exploit their weaknesses."
Garrosh grumbled a few words under his breath, looking up at her and begrudgingly accepting her request. "Fine..." He began to leave the tent, his two officers following him closely behind. "But if you have not taken that city in two weeks time, I will be back here to take over."
Athrodar and his small group bowed to the Warchief as he walked past them, Sylvanas giving him a slight nod before seeing him mount his wolf and ride off along with the army of orcs he had brought with him. "I don't think this will be the last we see of our esteemed Warchief." Athrodar muttered, looking over to Sylvanas who was looking down at the battle map. "What are your orders, my Queen?"
She looked down at the battle map, tapping a finger on it whilst trying to think up a strategy. "We need to use our ships." She moved her hand towards the coast of Gilneas. "Attack them from the sea, force them to call back their defenses so we may push through the initial front lines and attack them from the land."
Athrodar bowed his head. "I will assemble the fleet."
"No." She said, walking around the table and standing in front of him. "I need you to lead the assault on land. We will need to punch through their initial defense and secure a foothold in Gilneas." She placed a hand on his arm. "I need you to do that for me."
"I won't let you down, my Lady."
Just as he was about to leave, she pulled on his arm to keep him grounded in front of her. "Utilise our strengths." She told him, seeing him nod in understanding. "Clea and Nathanos are there with you. Use them to our advantage and send them on their own tasks. Don't try to lead on your own."
Athrodar bowed his head. "I'll use them to their strengths, my Queen."
Sylvanas pulled on his arm again when he was about to leave, stopping him once more. "When you've broken their defense. I need your group to meet up with the worgen we have allied with, push an attack on the city before breaking away and retrieving that Scythe their alpha wants."
Athrodar tilted his head. "We mean to claim it for ourselves?"
"Yes." She replied, seeing a warring expression on his face and placing a hand on it to catch his attention. "We will use it to control the worgen and secure victory in Gilneas. Maybe then the Warchief will see our loyalty to the Horde and leave us alone."
He moved his hand up to hers, nodding once to her request. "I will retrieve the Scythe for you, my Lady."
She smiled at him a little. "Good. Send in Lyana when you see her." She saw him nod before leaving, waiting a minute before the Dark Ranger walked into the tent. "Lyana, I need you to do something for me."
The Dark Ranger bowed. "Anything, my Lady."
"I need you to gather our fleet and sail along the coast of Gilneas. Harassing their coastal villages and towns and forcing them to pull back their defenders." She looked over to the Dark Ranger. "Can you do that?"
Lyana nodded at her. "Consider it done, my Queen."
Sylvanas watched her leave, looking down at the battle map and sighing to herself. "I will no longer use my Forsaken like arrows in a quiver..." She muttered, moving a few statues around the map that represented her troop movements. "I need them as much as they need me."
The first assault on Gilnean territory was over quicker than any of them could have imagined, the Forsaken forces pushing deeper into human territory before coming across the first village, halting their war path enough to force some sort of tactics from the commanders. "Clea." Athrodar began, beckoning the Dark Ranger-General over. "Take your Dark Rangers and flank the east. Nathanos." The Forsaken ranger looked over to him. "Take your unit west whilst I push from the north."
"And if they run south?" Clea asked, moving several of her Dark Rangers east. "What then?"
Athrodar smirked. "Then they run into our worgen allies to the south. Either way there is no escape for them."
Clea nodded. "I'll meet you in the town centre."
Alonso and Wilfred stood either side of Athrodar with Viraleth running past them when half of the Forsaken charged south into the village. When she realised she was the only non Forsaken there, she stopped charging and looked back at the three Death Knights. "Are you three coming?"
Athrodar looked over to the only Dark Ranger in a sea of Forsaken, smiling a little when he realised she didn't know their task. "No. We have a different task. Once they've taken the town, I am giving the lead to Clea before we head south and meet up with the alpha of the worgen."
Viraleth span a knife around in her hand before sheathing it, sighing deeply. "Fine." She looked further into the town and saw several of the human defenders get shot down by arrows from the east before being hit from the west by a tide of Forsaken.
A couple of minutes after the attack began, several forsaken banners were placed around the town and telling all those who looked at it that the horde had taken control of said town. Clea had returned to Athrodar, slinging her bow over her shoulder and moving out the way for her Dark Rangers who were setting up scouting parties for the Gilnean city to their east. "The town is ours." Clea said, looking over the bridge connecting a crossroad village to Gilneas City. "Though I fear reinforcements will come from the east if we don't secure that bridge."
Athrodar looked down at the Dark Ranger-General, nodding at her concern. "That will be your problem I'm afraid. I have been tasked by the Dark Lady to move south and group up with the worgen."
Clea tilted her head a little. "You're leaving me in charge?"
"What? You're telling me you don't want to be in charge?"
She shook her head, holding up both hands. "No no, I do. It's just, why wasn't I put in charge when we started the attack?"
Athrodar shrugged, catching a glimpse of Dark Ranger Anya who was making her way towards them. "I don't know. All I know is you're leading the assault until Sylvanas arrives whilst Alonso, Wilfred, Viraleth and I have been tasked with moving south." When Anya met up with them, Athrodar gave her a slight nod. "I'm sure you two can handle it from here."
Clea waved him away. "Yes, fine. Just make sure those worgen know the plan. We're attacking the city together. Not individually."
He bowed his head. "This time, I'll see you in the centre of the city." Athrodar made his way towards the outskirts of the captured town with the rest of his group following close behind. "You all know what we're doing?"
"Finding the worgen, attacking the city and then peeling away to take the Scythe of Elune." Viraleth folded her arms. "Sounds easy enough."
"Aye, it does." Alonso said. "Though there has to be a reason the worgen couldn't take the Scythe for themselves."
Athrodar wondered the same thing, nodding his head at Alonso's concern. "I say we ask them when we get to them."
Sylvanas rode forward on her skeletal steed, entering the recently captured town and looking down at Clea and Nathanos, seeing the pair of them salute her. "How goes the assault?"
"We have sent scouts into the city, my Lady." Clea faced the city, extending her hand towards certain areas of the city. "The first wing of the city is strangely left undefended. The moment we crossed the bridge, we saw several humans running further into the city." She looked back at the Queen. "We think they're setting up a defensive position further in."
Sylvanas climbed down from her skeletal horse, patting its head when one of the Forsaken began to take it towards the stables. "And Athrodar?"
"He has gone south, my Lady." Nathanos said, pointing to where he saw the Death Ranger leave. "He said it was under your order."
"That's because it was, Nathanos." She looked south. "His mission is more important than ours. Which is why it takes him south and not into the city."
"Will he be joining us in the assault, my Queen?"
Sylvanas' gaze turned to her Dark Ranger-General. "No. But those he has gone to meet up with will. The worgen have yet a part to play in this assault. And I am certain they will be key to taking the city."
Night had fallen by the time Athrodar met up with the worgen, their alpha standing over the Death Ranger. "Has the time come to launch an attack on the city?"
Athrodar nodded. "The Queen has sent me to come find you. The Forsaken are on the outskirts of the city and are awaiting your worgen."
The alpha worgen looked up at the stars and two moons, letting out a long howl. Athrodar and his small retinue looked around the forest they were in, hearing several worgen let off howls in harmony, all of them slowly making their way towards the five of them. "We are ready to hold up our end of the deal. We will weaken the city for your Forsaken. In return, we expect to have the Scythe of Elune given to us."
Athrodar bowed his head. "It will be done. We will take the city and then you will get the Scythe, as promised." He looked over to Alonso, giving him a slight nod and watching him nod back before slipping away from the group. "Shall we start the attack?"
The worgen grinned wickedly, howling into the night and receiving several howls from his pack before they began to sprint north and towards Gilneas City. "The city will be yours within the hour. We will weaken their numbers enough for your Queen."
"Then let's get moving."
As they began to quickly make their way north Viraleth pulled on Athrodar' arm, waiting for the worgen to run past them before talking. "We seem to be one short. Where is Alonso?"
"He has moved further south into the dark forest. It's the only place we haven't checked for the Scythe."
The Dark Ranger moved her hand in front of Wilfred as he began to run past. "And you sent him out there alone?"
Athrodar looked over to Wilfred. "Not alone. Wilfred, you know what to do."
Viraleth watched the second Death Knight leave, returning her gaze to Athrodar. "What exactly is going on?"
Athrodar watched the worgen disappear into the distance, smirking when the last one was too far away to see. "We're breaking away from the attack to retrieve the Scythe for Sylvanas." He frowned at her. "You were in the tent with us when Sylvanas told us what we were doing."
Viraleth shrugged her shoulders. "I wasn't paying attention." She tilted her head. "But we don't know the reason why they haven't seized it for themselves. If we just ask him, I'm sure their alpha will tell us."
He shook his head. "We don't have time for that. He may ask us why we need to know that now when the city hasn't been taken yet."
Viraleth stuck by Athrodar's side when he began to jog south. "But we could be running into a trap."
Athrodar smirked. "I hope so."
"My Queen. The worgen attack the city from the south."
Sylvanas looked over to Dark Ranger Alina, seeing her climb off her skeletal steed. "And is Athrodar with them?"
She shook her head. "I didn't see him, Viraleth or his guards, my Lady."
"Then he has gone to retrieve the Scythe..." She muttered, looking over to her Dark Ranger-General. "Clea, sound the attack. We will take this city from the humans."
The Dark Ranger-General unhooked the war horn on her waist and sounding the attack. "Nathanos," she began, looking over to the forsaken commander. "Once we get inside, we will split up and surround the human defenders, got it?"
He nodded once. "A simple strategy, one that has great effect."
"Once the city is ours, the rest of this province will fall in a matter of hours." Sylvanas told them, climbing on top of her skeletal horse. "We will be closer to claiming northern Lordaeron for ourselves."
Athrodar and his group had searched for several hours in the southern forest of Gilneas before they found what they believed to be the location of the Scythe of Elune. Alonso had returned to him when he saw a night elf leaving a cavern under a tree. "It's left unguarded. The keeper has just left. Now is the time to claim it, Athrodar."
The Death Ranger smirked. "This was easier than I thought." He began to climb down the small hill towards the cavern, Alonso and Wilfred taking either flank whilst Viraleth kept over watch in a tree. "Stand at the entrance." He told the two guards, stepping further into the cavern under the tree.
Wilfred watched Athrodar step closer to the artifact, seeing him pick it up from the pedestal. "Is it the Scythe?"
Athrodar held it in his hands, turning around and facing the two guards. "I think it's the Scythe." He inspected it closely, placing a hand on the blade of the artifact and brushing a hand over it. "I wonder why they couldn't just take it. Why they needed us to take it for them."
Several howls sounded off in the distance, catching the attention of all four of them. Viraleth whistled down to the three Death Knights under the tree. "I can see several worgen running this way, though they look different to the ones attacking the city."
Athrodar ran out from under the tree, looking up at the Dark Ranger and following her gaze north towards the city. "Different how?"
Viraleth narrowed her eyes at the incoming worgen. "They seem to be wearing armour."
"Armour?" Athrodar looked over to Alonso and Wilfred. "Get ready. I got a feeling these aren't the same worgen we met."
"Drop that Scythe!" A voice yelled, all three Death Knights looking around to see three Night Elves standing behind them, shortly joined by a pack of clothed worgens. "Put down the Scythe and leave. Or else we are going to have to take it by force."
Alonso placed a hand on Athrodar's arm. "We can't take them all."
Athrodar looked around at each and every one of them, gripping onto the Scythe a little tighter and seeing the Night Elves narrow their eyes at him along with several worgen letting out a low growl. "I am Athrodar, Death Ranger to the Dark Lady, former Prince of the Scourge and Lieutenant Ranger of Silvermoon. If you think I will give up the Scythe so easily, you are gravely mistaken."
Alonso and Wilfred gripped onto their double edged glaives tightly, enchanting either end with frost and preparing for the eventual attack. "So this is him?" A grave voice said, all three Death Knights as well as Viraleth looking over to a worgen they hadn't seen before walking towards them. "This is who that Banshee sends to take the Scythe? The same banshee that killed my son!"
Athrodar looked the worgen up and down, seeing him shift from that feral form to one of a human. "I come only to claim this artifact. I know nothing of your son."
"No... you don't..." The human grit his teeth in anger. "But I know Sylvanas is very fond of you..." He transformed back into a worgen, taking a step closer to him. "Word spreads quickly. Which is why I hope she hears of your death by my hands before you even hit the floor."
Both Alonso and Wilfred pointed their glaives at the worgen, stopping him from moving forward. Though the moment they done that, the rest of the worgen launched themselves at the two Death Knights, making them remove their glaives from the lead worgen and allowing him to attack Athrodar. "Take the Scythe from him, Genn!" Cried one of the Night elves, rooting Athrodar's feet to the ground. "We can't allow them to take it!"
Athrodar tilted his head. "Greymane?"
Genn growled at the Death Knight, slashing his clawed hand at his throat and missing by mere inches as Athrodar bent backwards, having his hands get entangled by more roots. "It looks like your time has come, Princeling."
"Genn, the Scythe!"
The worgen looked back towards the Night Elf, giving Athrodar the window he needed to break free from the roots. At first he froze the ones around his hands, using all of his strength to shatter the ice and free his arms before freezing the ones around his feet. "Viraleth, fall back! Alonso, Wilfred you too!"
Viraleth fired an arrow into one of the worgen, looking down at the Death Ranger from atop her tree. "What about you?"
He looked at the Scythe, knowing he could either try to fight his way out of this situation and risk finding his true death, or give them the Scythe and fail in his task. The first option has a chance at succeeding in his task and making his Queen happy, though it came with a higher chance at death. The second option had a chance small chance at death, though a higher chance at failing his task and making his Queen angry.
Athrodar grit his teeth in anger, throwing the Scythe on the floor. "I'll be right behind you."
Genn snapped his attention towards Athrodar, leaping at him when the Death Ranger began to retreat. "No you won't!"
"Athrodar!" Cried Viraleth, nocking an arrow into place and letting it loose towards Genn, the projectile piercing his shoulder and throwing him off balance, allowing Athrodar to escape.
"Thank you." The Death Ranger said, placing a hand on Viraleth's shoulder. "Let's get moving, there's a lot of questions that need answering and I don't think we will get them here."
Genn growled as the four of them disappeared into the forest, glaring at their retreating form. "This Scythe better be worth it."
One of the Night Elves picked it up, placing it back on its pedestal. "Believe me, Greymane, It is."
Athrodar returned to the forward camp outside of Gilneas, being met by his Deathcharger just outside the stables. "Did you miss me?" He asked it in Thalassian, stroking its nose and feeling it nudge his chest. "I'm sorry I couldn't take you. I had to remain silent and taking you would make a lot of noise."
Sylvanas was walking around the camp, listening to both reports from Clea and Viraleth whilst secretly at the same time trying to find Athrodar. "We had the Scythe, my Queen."
"Had?" She asked, glancing over to Viraleth.
She lowered her head, nodding slowly. "Yes. As soon as we got the Scythe, we were ambushed by worgen and Night Elves."
The Banshee Queen stopped walking, looking towards Viraleth. "Were the worgen armoured?"
Viraleth widened her eyes, a little surprised at the Dark Lady for knowing that. "Y-yes. They were."
"Damn..." She muttered. "Genn survived the attack on the city." She looked over to the stables when she heard a light chuckle, seeing Athrodar talking to his Deathcharger. "Did he say anything?"
"Just that you killed his son, my Queen. And that he would kill Athrodar as revenge." Viraleth's gaze turned to the Death Ranger. "I made sure that didn't happen."
Clea scoffed. "Kiss ass.." She muttered, looking up at the two of them and widening her eyes when she realised she said it out loud. "I uh... I'll go check in on the Dark Rangers."
Sylvanas watched her Dark Ranger-General leave, rolling her eyes and returning her gaze to Athrodar. "Was he injured at all?"
"No, my Queen. He was not injured. Though I thought for a second he was going to stay behind and get himself killed after telling us to retreat."
The Banshee Queen turned her attention to the Dark Ranger by her side. "How so?"
"He had the Scythe in hand, my Lady. I thought he was going to protect it with his life by the way he was holding it, though something must have crossed his mind because just as I thought he was about to attack them, he threw it on the ground and retreated with us." Viraleth looked over to Athrodar who was still talking to his horse. "I think he realised his life wasn't worth forfeiting for the Scythe."
A hint of a smile played on the Banshee Queen's face, glancing down at the Dark Ranger. "Leave me with him. We have much to discuss."
Viraleth opened her mouth to speak her mind, but thought it best not to, instead just bowing her head. "I will return when I'm needed, my Queen."
"She's our Queen and we like her, okay?" Athrodar looked to his right and saw the exact person he was talking about walk towards him, returning his gaze to his horse. "Don't create a scene." He said, pointing at the Deathcharger and seeing it shake it's head, whinny loudly before nudging him forward. "Hey! What did I just say?"
Sylvanas raised an eyebrow at him. "You talk to your horse? And in our native tongue no less."
Athrodar grinned, stroking the nose of his Deathcharger which made him calm down. "He, much like Alonso and Wilfred, is tethered to me. Only our connection is stronger than it is with those two." He scratched the neck of the horse as if it were alive, getting the response he was expecting from it. "He's a loyal beast. Stubborn, but loyal."
"A stubborn horse?" She asked, tilting her head a little.
Athrodar chuckled. "Believe me. I didn't think it was possible until I retrieved him from the shadow world. After that, he has been the one constant in my undeath." He looked at Sylvanas who was watching him stroke the nose of his horse, looking as if she was unsure of something. "You can touch him. He won't bite." He returned his gaze to his horse. "Will you?"
Sylvanas tentatively moved her hand towards the beast, seeing it take a few steps back when her hand got close. "Are you sure it's okay? He doesn't seem to want me to touch him." She quickly glanced over to Athrodar, hearing him whisper a few words to the horse before pulling on the reins to bring him forward.
"He's just shy."
"You have a shy, stubborn horse." She shook her head, smiling a little. "You sure know how to pick them."
"Outside of a fight, you would never guess he was a warhorse. But in a fight, he will protect me for as long as he can." Athrodar looked over to Sylvanas when her hand was placed on the nose of the horse. "I am sorry I failed in getting you the Scythe."
She kept her attention on the Deathcharger, moving her other hand to its neck and stroking it. "I understand it was a difficult decision, to leave it behind." She glanced over to him. "Though if you think I'm angry because of it, you are mistaken." She moved her hand over his, squeezing it lightly. "I would rather you fail the task and return to me than complete it and die in the process."
Athrodar sighed, lowering his head a little. "I still should have brought you the Scythe. I should have known it was a trap."
Sylvanas placed a hand under his chin, moving his head up to look at her. "Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But if you didn't know it was a trap then what more could you do? You didn't lose anyone, which is the best outcome in that situation."
"I know." He replied quietly, moving his head away from her hand and climbing on top of his Deathcharger. "I have to ask. Did you really kill Greymane's son?"
"I did." She said without hesitation. "The arrow was meant for him, though his pup got in the way." She tilted her head a little. "Does this bother you?"
Athrodar shook his head. "No. I just needed to know why, and I got my answer." He leaned down to his horse's ear, whispering him to get moving. "I'll see you in Undercity."
"You're leaving?"
He smirked. "Unless you need me to stay for any reason. Otherwise I am returning to Undercity because we've taken Gilneas and I need to vent out my anger." He looked around the camp. "Something I don't want to do here."
Sylvanas nodded. "Go. I'll come find you when I've returned to Undercity."
