Well, it's finally the end! I've had an amazing time writing and publishing this, and I hope you guys have had an amazing time reading it. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read this, and especially those who reviewed, you kept me determined to finish this. I can't express how grateful I am that there were people who actually wanted to read this, it has inspired me to continue writing in other fandoms and to start working on some of my own ideas again. I hope you guys think this is a fitting end to this story, and I wish you happy hunting in finding many more great stories!
After visiting Antonidas, and receiving the same brief explanations Anasterian had given, Kael'thas and Shiloh went to Kael'thas' room. It was much more elaborate and at least twice as big as Shiloh's.
Shiloh flopped down on the bed, laying on her side; she felt as Kael'thas joined her on the bed, curling his body around hers. He draped his arm across her, and she softly traced the lines of his hand. She found it comforting, something to distract her from the cacophony of her thoughts. Kael'thas sighed contentedly and pressed closer to her.
After a few silent minutes, Shiloh decided to voice the question that she had wanted to ask since they had left Quel'thalas.
"Why did you come with me?" she asked quietly.
He was silent for a pause before he answered. "Because I love you and I want to be with you. I-"
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, I know why you want to be with me generally, but this is an entirely different situation than normal. We don't know where Arthas could attack next and I thought that you would want to be with your people. And your father."
She hadn't said it, but Kael'thas understood her unvoiced concern that nothing was known of Arthas' plans and Quel'thalas could even be attacked next. Kael'thas sighed, searching for words. "Shiloh, I... I do want to be with my people and stand by my father's side. But you are more important to me. That may seem selfish to say, but it is true. I value your safety above anyone else's for the very simple reason that I am in love with you, and without you I would be incapable of defending my people or being an effective leader. I would be useless to them, so by staying with you and making sure nothing ever happens to you, I also ensure that I will be able to defend them when the time comes. I will always be by your side," Kael'thas said at last, placing a light kiss against her temple.
Shiloh turned around in his arms to face him and tilted her head up to press her lips against his.
"And I will always be by yours," she whispered against his lips.
Several days went by uneventfully and the tension that had been so prominent in Dalaran when they had first arrived had lessened somewhat. The fear of imminent attack had slowly receded as the days went by and nothing out of the ordinary happened, although Shiloh still worried and she knew Kael'thas did the same. Confined to the city, the two had spent their time exploring the streets and hidden places within it.
Their favorite was a small garden, the only entrance to it a narrow passage that was only likely to be seen by those who knew it was there. An apple tree dominated the middle of the space, with small shrubs along the edges and flowers blossoming everywhere. Closed off from the rest of the city, the two simply relaxed in the comfort of each others arms.
Nearly a week after returning to the city, the couple was again relaxing in this garden; Kael'thas sat with his back against the tree, Shiloh on his lap, her head leaned back against his shoulder. The sun was bright overhead, the sky blue and endless. Kael'thas found he was never more content than when he was sitting like this with Shiloh. He marveled at how much had changed since his encounter with Jaina and Arthas in the hallway so long ago.
Lost in reverie, he hadn't realized anyone was approaching until the young man stepped into the garden from the small passage. He looked uncomfortable, although Kael'thas noted a brief look of relief when he saw that they were just sitting together; he smiled wryly at the thought of what the young man had expected to walk into.
"Archmage Antonidas wishes to speak with both of you," the young man stated clearly. "He says it is important."
Kael'thas felt Shiloh tense against him and shared her worry; keeping a carefully neutral expression, he dismissed the young man.
"Kael'thas..." Shiloh whispered, looking up at him, brow creased with worry.
"I'm sure everything is alright. If we were being attacked, we would've already known," Kael'thas reassured her.
He stood, pulling her up with him, keeping her in his arms; he turned her around to face him and pressed his lips lightly against hers. Then, taking her hand in his, he began to walk out of the small grove and toward Antonidas' office.
While Kael'thas knew he could've simply teleported there, he found he didn't want to; despite his reassurances to Shiloh, cold dread was building in his stomach and he wanted to prolong this sense of peace before it was destroyed by whatever Antonidas had to say. The walk was still only a few short minutes, and he took a deep breath, feeling Shiloh squeeze his hand lightly, before they walked into the Archmage's office.
Kael'thas noticed two things at once: the grim expression on Antonidas' face, and the dirty looking elf standing next to him. Fear shot through him and he stopped suddenly, unable to move; impossible, that elf had to be there for another reason. It couldn't be.
The elf bowed before Kael'thas, but hesitated before speaking, a deep sorrow clouding his face.
"My prince... Quel'thalas was attacked by Arthas and his forces. We tried valiantly to defend our beloved city, but it fell nonetheless; we lost many and I am lucky to have survived to deliver this message. Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner fell and..." the elf trailed off, looking down.
"And?" Kael'thas managed to croak out.
"King Anasterian was slain in battle by Arthas while attempting to defend the Sunwell," the elf said, meeting Kael'thas' gaze as he spoke.
Kael'thas stood frozen, unable to react. His people... his father... slaughtered. At the hands of Arthas Menethil.
"Kael'thas?" Shiloh asked worriedly, her hands gripping tightly onto his. He looked down at her in stunned silence and saw tears streaming down her face; without thinking, he pulled her to him and held on to her tightly.
"Some survived, but many more fell in battle. We are devastated... my king," the elf continued.
King. The word shocked Kael'thas, and the numbness that had washed over him was suddenly replaced by hot anger, flowing through his veins like fire. He desired revenge above all else, to inflict as much pain on Arthas as he had on the elven people. He vowed that he would see the once human prince pay for what he had done, no matter the cost.
The shaking form in his arms, her body racked by sobs, brought Kael'thas back from his angry thoughts of revenge. The anger still continued to course through him, and he thought it was the only thing that stopped him from completely succumbing to the raw, shattering pain he felt in his chest. He continued holding Shiloh, while Antonidas and the elf left quietly, in an attempt to give them some privacy while they grieved. Eventually, her sobs quieted and she pulled back to look at him; she rested her hand lightly against his face.
"Kael'thas. I... I am so sorry," she said quietly.
"I need to take a walk," he replied, barely above a whisper. He needed to clear his head, subdue some of the overpowering anger still clouding his thoughts. Angry outbursts and recklessness were not what his people needed now; they needed a leader, someone who could help them recover from this devastating blow.
Shiloh nodded, a brief look of worry crossing over her face, but Kael'thas turned and left before she could say anything more. Shiloh watched as he left, standing silently in the empty room.
An hour later, Shiloh lay curled around a pillow on Kael'thas' bed. He still had not returned from his walk, and she was beginning to worry. She thought him levelheaded enough not to do anything stupid or reckless but grief drove people to do things they normally wouldn't.
When the door finally opened and Kael'thas stepped through, overwhelming relief washed through her. He was safe. She sat up and he beckoned for her to join him; she stood and walked over to him, slightly confused. But he only took her hand and led them out, through the streets of Dalaran until they reached the little garden they had claimed as their own.
He stood just out of the shade of the tree and looked up at the sky, a lone cloud drifting past overhead; Shiloh watched quietly with him.
"I have to return to my people and lead them. They will need a steady hand to guide them and that duty falls to me. I would wish for you to stand by my side, but I will understand if you no longer wish to," Kael'thas said, his gaze moving from the sky to the woman standing beside him.
"Kael'thas, I've told you before; I will always stand by your side. None of what has happened changes that. I love you," Shiloh replied, hope sparking in her chest for the first time in a while.
"I love you too," Kael'thas whispered before turning toward her and leaning down, his lips capturing hers before he pulled back and Shiloh saw a new light enter his eyes, one of determination.
"Then we will rule together, side by side. We will forge a new civilization for our people; for the Blood Elves," Kael'thas stated.
Shiloh smiled at him and Kael'thas returned the smile after a pause; then both looked back toward the sky, hope for the future blooming in them. Together.