Chapter Ten: Brothers in Blood
Tyrande and Malfurion broke off from Shandris that day. They took with them only a small party of elves and leaving the rest to do battle with the Legion. They traveled by both day and night, and into many tangled veils. Yet the land itself conspired to speed their passing, and trouble those who might do them harm. On the third day since Tyrande had met Warchief Thrall, Malfurion turned aside from the path. He made his way up a hill in great smiled. Tyrande followed after him and found him kneeling by a great gnarled and twisted tree. A smile was on his face, devoid of strain or wisdom. It was almost childlike, and he seemed scarcely able to contain his glee.
"What is it, beloved?" asked Tyrande.
"I knew this tree," said Malfurion as he stood, "I watched it fall upon this spot when it was but an acorn. It recalls me, I think, though only vaguely. It has weathered many harsh storms, seen the rising and falling of many moons and suns. A child from a nearby village used to come here to climb its boughs. Then she grew too old and turned her minds to other matters." His face grew suddenly somber. "I have slept long. Missed much.
"Perhaps I should have stayed awake, rather than remain within the emerald dream."
"Whatever we ought to have done," said Tyrande, "it is too late now. We can only move forward, and do what we must."
"Yes," said Malfurion, "yes you are right. Come, we have much to do."
Thus it was that they pressed on, into the shadow of Mount Hyjal. On they went through the night, until at last they came before a cave which had been sealed shut by a great boulder. Summoning many vines, Malfurion had them haul it. There was a terrible straining, following by the groaning of rock on dirt. As the boulder rolled away down the hill, the morning sun rose behind them. The world was illuminated in new light.
A musty and ancient air came out of the cavern mouth which remained. Yet the seal was broken. As Malfurion Stormrage and Tyrande Whisperwind entered the cave, they smelled stale air. This place had not known wind in many ages. They were followed by a troop of sentinels, a number of Dryads, and a few of the Druids of the Talon. Within the mountain lay a vast series of caverns, covered in blue moss. Great mushrooms arose around them, giving off a low blue light by which they could see their way. The occasional drip, drip, drip of water could be heard.
"These barrow deeps have remained untouched for nearly three thousand years." stated Malfurion for the benefit of the younger members of their company. "Still, there is no telling what creatures may have taken up residence after we sealed these tunnels shut."
"There is nothing to fear in this place," said Tyrande, "the only enemy who has ever given me pause is now corrupting the lands above us. Let us be done with this business and get back to the surface."
"Agreed," said Malfurion "just be careful. There is not telling how the Druids of the Claw will react to us after all this time."
"I will scout ahead, and see what I may find." said Tyrande.
Two paths stood before them, one going left and one going right. Tyrande choose the left one, wishing that there were birds for her to see through the eyes of in this place. Not far along, she found that the two paths were connected by an icy chamber. Within it scuttled many gigantic spiders. Each one was larger than Tyrande's mount.
They scuttled about, moving cocoons in the shape of wild animals.
"These cave spiders are enormous!" cried Malfurion.
"I sense a strange darkness tainting them." said Tyrande "They have been transformed by a great evil!"
Avoiding them, Tyrande went into a passage which bent upwards into the mountain. Along either side of it were great pillars which reached up to the ceiling. The floor here was slick and icy, and the footing was difficult as they made their way up. Finally, however, they came to a fire fueled by moss and bits of mushroom. Around it a clan of Wendigo's were huddled, eating a meal.
"Come," said Malfurion, "let us leave these creatures in peace. There is no purpose to be served by slaying them."
Tyrande complied. The path was a dead end anyway.
Retracing their steps, they came back to the entryway and tried the other passage. this time taking their soldiers with them. "Let us try another path," said Malfurion. "I should like to avoid slaying the cave spiders if possible."
"You are too merciful, Malfurion." said Tyrande. "They are a threat."
A little ways on they found a group of Kobolds waiting for them. They clutched their picks and axes, and leered at the night elves. Yet they did not engage.
Tyrande and Malfurion searched north,. There they found many corpses being burned in blue fire. Yet no way could be seen. Finally they returned to the icy chamber. Tyrande could have sworn she saw a passage leading out through the cave spiders.
"There is no choice now, my love." said Tyrande.
"So be it." said Malfurion.
"Forward my warriors! Slay the beasts!" cried Tyrande.
The spiders fell quickly before their onslaught. They were pierced with many arrows. Huntresses slashed at them with glaives. Even as the beasts tried to fight back the Druids of the Talon cast their spells. They used their magics to confuse their senses, making the spiders legs and claws bite at thin air. Before long they were all destroyed.
Pressing on they found many stakes set into the ground. On each one of them were the skulls of many different kinds of creatures. Some of them were elves.
Soon they passed into a great chamber with many spikes of rock growing out of the floor. The ceiling here was very high, and they saw spiders in various places. Trying to avoid them, Tyrande led her forces left around the spires.
They pressed on, heading east into the mountain. Huge blue mushrooms grew here, and the ice melted away to be replaced by regular stone as it became warmer. Changing their course to the south, they went on into the dark. Tyrande glanced this way and that for any sign of their quarry.
As they pressed on, they came upon the spiders nesting ground. Countless egg sacks stood pulsing, and the ground was blighted. Green mist was in the air as the spider guards moved forward.
"Demon bile!" realized Tyrande. "This must be what cursed the spiders!"
"If the corruption can do this to these simple creatures." said Malfurion. "I dare not imagine what it could do to the beasts who live above."
"We must put an end to this corruption, no matter the cost!" cried Tyrande. "Destroy the eggs!" Even as she spoke, however, the eggs hatched.
Spiders surged forward in great ranks. Arrows were shot, glaives hurled to slash legs. Webs shot forth to entangle warriors, as Malfurion summoned vines to tie down his enemies. A dryad impaled one on her spear, while Tyrande shot another dead with an arrow.
Webs pulled down a huntress and Tyrande leaped to their side, fending off a spider. She drove her dagger into its eye, then stooped to free her comrade. Ultimately they triumphed, and the creatures were all slain. Yet the wounds were terrible, and Tyrande hesitated to press on with her soldiers like this.
"Come Furion," she said, "let us follow the passage a bit further while our soldiers recover.'
As they pressed on they found more blighted ground that gradually faded away. Yet soon in the darkness they saw a fire. Creeping closer, they came upon a clan of Furbolgs clustered around the fire. One of them looked up.
"Hold Priestess, we need your help! Our shaman was bitten by a strange spider and has become deathly ill. Our tribesmen have run off, leaving us to fend for ourselves."
"What would you have us do?" asked Tyrande.
"The waters of the nearby fountain of life can save him, but we dare not leave him in this state." He brought up a vial. "If you can fill this vial with its waters and return it to us, our shamans life will be saved."
"If his wisdom will prevent you from becoming feral like your tribesmen," said Tyrande, "I will gladly save your shaman." She took the vial. Then they pressed on.
It was not long before they ran into a group of skeletons. Bows were launched at them, but the arrows went wide. Ghosts came screeching out of the walls, hurling fell curses. Tyrande launched an arrow that tore through one of them. Malfurion raised his staff, and sent a pulse of druidic energy which consumed them.
Malfurion looked to her. "We should investigate this place further."
"I agree." said Tyrande. "If the dead walk these tunnels we must root out the source."
Following the tunnel the skeletons had come from, they found only skulls and bones and a pool of chill water. Here Malfurion kneeled, closing his eyes.
"I sense an unholy taint here." said Malfurion. "Give me a moment and I will drive it out."
Raising his staff Tyrande sensed nature mustering. The taint within these tunnels held on, but little by little it was torn out. There was something akin to a scream and then Malfurion stood.
"It is done." said Malfurion as he turned to her. "This place has been purified."
Turning back they made their way onwards until they came to a side passage. Following it, they saw a great number of thunder lizards, hanging around pools. These were peaceful beasts unless provoked and to kill them would be a shame.
These ones were not corrupted.
Tyrande motioned for Malfurion to stop. "This must be the fountain of life. I need only place the vial in the fountains waters. Go back, and get the rest of our people. I will gain the vial alone."
"Perhaps we should attempt the attack with our warriors." said Malfurion. "You cannot defeat them all alone."
"I don't intend to." said Tyrande.
Then she raced forward. The thunder lizards took note of her and sent bolts of lightning her way. She rolled away quickly. Tyande. nearly to the fountain as lightning shot past her shoulder. Opening the vial, she scooped up the liquid and stopped it up again as she fled back.
Lightning burned the wall next to her as she raced down the passage. The thunder lizards lumbered after her, yet then she passed beyond their territory. All but one lost interest and retreated. The one Tyrande turned and shot an arrow at it. As she did glaives, spears and arrows shot from the darkness and slew the creature.
As it fell, Malfurion came forward. "That was very brave, and very foolish my love."
"True enough," said Tyrande, "yet the thunder lizards are noble creatures. I do not like the idea of slaying them. Let us return this vial to the furbolgs."
She rode back, and found the furbolgs waiting. They murmured as she approached. "Elune be praised, Priestess. Truthfully, we doubted that you'd return. Now our shaman has a chance." Taking the vial, he made his way over to the shaman and poured it down his throat.
At once the hunched over and sickly figure arose in new life. He made his way over to Tyrande, and she realized that this was the very same Shaman she had met before. "Again I must thank you for your help," he said as he removed a medallion from his neck. "take this talisman. Should you require our aid, it will summon us to fight at your side."
"I thank you." said Tyrande. "I am sure I will have need of it before the end."
Before the end.
It occurred to Tyrande that they were all going to die. The chances of them being able to stop Archimond were very low. Looking at the furbolgs, had a terrible feeling that their race was doomed. That all races everywhere were doomed. However she forced herself back under control. Then she made her way back to the others, saying a prayer for the furbolgs.
"Do you believe we will be able to stop Archimonde, Malfurion?" asked Tyrande as they continued.
"The cause is not hopeless." said Malfurion grimly. "Not yet. Even so I fear the cost may be high. It is why I desired to make allies with the humans. Every ally we gain before the end may be of use. And if we fail… all is lost."
As they went onward, the ground became blighted with fel magic. Then they halted, for a passage opened before them. Many torches flanked it, and at its end stood a doorway of heavy steel. Tyrande paused.
"The pathway cuts off to the south, but this doorway looks promising." she said.
"Oh no…" said Malfurion. "How could I have forgotten"
Tyrande made her way down the passage as Malfurion followed. "What is behind this door that worries you my love?"
"This door leads to Illidan's prison, Tyrande." said Malfurion. "We should go… now!"
"Illidan?" asked Tyrande. "It's been ten thousand years. Could he still be alive? We should free him, Furion! He would be the perfect ally against the undead and their demon masters!" She made her way towards the door, and her warriors followed.
"No Tyrande!" cried Malfurion. "That beast must never be set free!"
"But he is your brother!" cried Tyrande.
"Be that as it may," said Malfurion, "he is far too… dangerous. I forbid it."
He forbade it. As if Tyrande were some servant girl to be ordered and sent away for her own good. And Malfurion a wise druid, making decisions for the good of all, whether they liked it or not. "Only the goddess may forbid me anything!" she snapped. "I will free Illidan whether you like it or not!"
She and her sentinels entered through the gates and shut them behind.
Malfurion remained silent for a long moment. Finally he looked to those that had remained, the dryads and druids. "There is no reasoning with her when she gets like this. Come, we must continue our mission to find the Druids of the Claw."
They turned their backs to the door, and made their way south. The passage eventually turned east. The ceiling became lower and the passage opened out a bit. A pool was by the wall, and blue fire was burning on its surface. Further on, they came to an ancient shrine. Architecture dated to the ancient cities. Nothing had been built like this since the fall of the Well of Eternity.
At last they came to a gap, which was too far to jump. The water between it was icy cold.
"Do you suppose we'll have to find a magical tome or something?" asked a Dryad.
"Wonderful," said a Druid of the Talon, "a fetch quest."
Malfurion stepped forward to the gap. "Let me pass!" he called. "The Arch-Druid of the Moonglade demands passage!" A great bridge of blue light appeared.
"…Well that was easy." said the Druid of the Talon.
They crossed without incident. Yet as they crossed, they came across a tribe of creatures with the faces of birds. Their claws had feathers on them. They marched forward.
"Turn back!" cried their leader. "You are unworthy to bask in the bear gods presence!"
"Bear gods?" asked Malfurion.
"Turn back!" snarled the leader. Then they charged.
Malfurion raised his staff and summoned to him a vast number of vines. They arose and seized the tribe under them. The creatures strained and struggled in vain. The Druid and his people passed onwards without incident. Malfurion had no desire to harm any living thing without need. With some exceptions of course.
As they pressed on he came across a great land bridge leading over a lake of flames. And flying over it were some of those exceptions. Great black dragons were hovering above them, and he halted. "Foul spawn of Deathwing! I should have known that you loathsome beasts would take refuge within the flames of the earth!"
Battle looked as though it were about to be joined. However before it could there came a call, magical in nature. The black dragons looked up, as if heeding some unknown voice. Then they flew away through the caves without further battle.
"What foul errand was it that they sought to achieve here?" wondered Malfurion. "No matter, I expect we shall soon find out."
"Perhaps these… bear gods have something to do with it?" suggested a Druid of the Talon.
A though occurred. "Perhaps the creature was referring to the sleeping druids of the claw." suggested Malfurion. "But why would he call them bear gods when they appear as I do?" Soon they came to a ledge, and Malfurion looked down upon it to see many bears wandering too and fro. "Ah, the Druids of the Claw are awake already! Come my brothers, we have much to do!"
They snarled and rushed up the hill at them, and Malfurion sensed their thoughts. "What? They have lost themselves to their animal aspects! They are mindless and feral!"
"In the ravens name!" said a Druid of the Claw as they raised their staffs.
Winds kicked up from the passages, and hoisted the bears into the air, swirling them around. They pressed passed them quickly. "The horns call might work," said Malfurion, "but it would reach only a few of them in this part of the cavern. We should find the center of these caves, and use it there!"
They pressed into the center of the cave, making their way onwards. The Druids of the Claw must have smelled them, because they came bounding after them roaring. Malfurion and his comrades raced through the halls, fast pursued. Yet their path led them through a nest of spiders that rushed at them. Dodging past the foul creatures, they rushed north and found a metal gate barred and locked.
Malfurion summoned his power and transformed into a bear. With one stroke of his paw he broke the gate clean off and sent it falling away. Then he returned to normal and they went onward. By now the Druids of the Claw and the spiders had lost interest. Yet they found two of the beasts barring their path.
The Druids of the Talon summoned their cyclones and sent the creatures spinning into the air. Heading east, they slipped past another nest of spiders unnoticed. They made their way up the slopes. Here they paused, only for a moment, tired beyond measure.
"Let's stop here, if only for a moment." said Malfurion. "I need a rest." He sat down, and so did the druids. "This is difficult indeed." he reflected finally. "At the least, however, I now know what the black dragon flight is doing here."
"What is it?" asked a brother.
"When Deathwing was known as Neltharion he presided over the earth." said Malfurion. "His flight still holds some affinity for that part of nature. I believe they came here to drive the Druids of the Claw to madness. Though what purpose it served I cannot know. Certainly the Druids have not caused much harm."
"Perhaps their work was not yet complete." mused a Druid. "It might be that they intended to corrupt the Druids to become their loyal servants."
"If that is so," said Malfurion, "than it is fortunate we arrived when we did. I should hate to think what carnage might be unleashed if the Druids of the Claw became a force for ill." He stood. 'What is your name?"
"Fanasas, Archdruid." said the Druid.
"Very well." said Malfurion. "Let's continue Fanasas, time is against us."
They pressed onward, and found a Druid of the Claw wandering mindlessly. Furion summoned vines and roots to pull him against the wall, then continued on. Breaking down another gate, they went onwards into the very center of the caverns. Raising the horn to his lips, Furion blew a single note. It resounded throughout the length and breadth of the caverns.
And across them, the Druids of the Claw regained their elven forms once again. Furion could sense it, long before they came lumbering through the many passages to meet him. They came in great numbers. Thousands upon thousands rushed out of dens to fill the room, and the room beyond that. Finally their leader came forth.
"Shan'do Stormrage," he said, eyes bleary. "I don't know what came over us. Its been so long since we remembered who we were."
Malfurion smiled. "All is well, thero'shan. I have need of you and your mighty brethren once again. After these many ages the Burning Legion has returned, and only our combined strength can drive them back."
"Then we Druids of the Claw are yours to command, Shan'do Stormrage." replied the leader.
As soon as she entered Illidan's prison and shut the doors Tyrande halted. She realized that the guardians would be a problem. They were unlikely to let her take Illidan. Cenarius alone had given them their instructions. And he would have never sanction what she was doing now.
Then she froze. On the ground were countless skulls, piled up and they belonged to elves and elves alone. Was it possible that the wardens had set those skulls before? It wasn't?
"I cannot go back." she said. "Goddess grant that Furion was wrong."
At that moment a great beast stepped forward, flanked by watchers. "Your quest is foolhardy! Even your goddess has condemned the one you seek to free!"
Battle was joined. Arrows were launched at the beast. Heedless of the arrows it lumbered forward and brought down a claw. Tyrande rolled aside and drew her knife. She slashed it in the leg as a warden was shot through the throat. A huntress met another in a flurry of blows, before an archer shot the warden in the back.
Then it was done. Tyrande had slain those she should have fought alongside. Pressing on, she made her way past suits of flaming armor until she came to a door. It was sealed with many spells, and nothing they did could open it. There were two keyholes in it. Finally Tyrande relented.
"It seems the means of gaining access is elsewhere within this place." said Tyrande.
Retracing their steps and trying a side passage, they met a contingent of wardens. Yet they were disorganized and without leadership. They withdrew quickly without a fight. Where was Maive, during all this? Tyrande dreaded the prospect of meeting her in battle, yet it did not seem she was there.
They made their way onward, and after slaying the warden found a key. And within the cells, they found many of their own kind. Breaking open the gates, Tyrande entered. "What is the meaning of this? Why were you imprisoned?"
"We don't know." admitted the sentinel as they armed themselves. "One day the wardens came upon us in the night, seized us, and threw us in here. They asked us many questions, about arcane magic. I think they suspected some of our friends of looking at magic. Please Priestess Tyrande, we just want to go home."
"You shall." said Tyrande. "Yet there is much to do before that happens. Can you fight?"
"Yes," she said, "our bows are yours to command."
"I had intended to go swiftly through here." said Tyrande. "Yet this warrants further investigation. We will search every room, without fail!"
Breaking down the door to a side passage, they found their way into a great library. Tyrande pulled some of the tome's off the walls and looked through them. 'These are books on arcane knowledge."
"They are written by a great many hands." said a huntress. "Some of them are just research notes by night elves who looked into magic. Others date as far back as before the Well of Eternity."
"Why were these not destroyed?" asked Tyrande.
"Illidan was spared because Malfurion argued that he might one day be of use." said an archer. "Perhaps they applied a similar perspective to magic."
"This is heresy," said Tyrande, "the wardens were established to police the use of arcane magic. Not to… record it."
"But we are here to release Illidan, aren't we?" asked an archer.
Tyrande had no answer.
They pressed north and made their way onwards. As they did so, they found that the floor in this section was littered with mangled and gnawed on bones. What kind of depravity had the watchers indulged in as the eons passed?
Then they saw more of the creatures from before over a bridge. They rushed at them, and Tyrande sled her huntresses forward. The archers launched their arrows and several of the beasts fell. Tyrande ducked under a clad and stabbed upward with her knife. A huntress was torn apart by two of them. them in place while her archers launched their arrows. Then the last of the beasts were slain.
They pressed on to find even more corpses and bodies. Among them, Tyrande caught a glint and found the second key.
Once more returning to the gate, they set both keys into it and opened it. Then they pressed on. The passageway headed south, and they could do nothing but follow. Several times the doors branched out, and they wound within many watchers sleeping. Tyrande pressed on, trying to avoid any more needless carnage. The passage turned north, and they saw a creature on the far end.
"Death to the intruders!" he cried before rushing at them.
Their arrows were unleashed, and he was slain in moments. As they walked past the cell doors, Tyrande saw within one of them many night elves. They were bound in the nets of a great many spiders and imprisoned. "Cast down these gates! Free them!"
The doors were broken open, and the spiders were slain. The prisoners they had freed before came forward. They cut the others down from the webbing, and the girls began to sob. Tyrande came forward.
"What is the meaning of this? Why were you imprisoned?!"
"I…" she broke, "we found books of arcane magic on the body of the humans spellcasters. I was curious, I just wanted to look at it. I convinced the others to look with me when they tried to sway me. Please spare my, Priestess. We weren't planning to use anything in it, but the watchers didn't care.
"They seized us while we slept, and dragged us here. They tortured us… and the Son of Cenarius ordered that we be fed to those… things."
"You were very foolish to look into the human's magics," said Tyrande sternly, "but you did not deserve this. I will see this matter resolved personally."
"There were others…" she said, "others they fed to those things."
A little further on they found a watcher. She rushed at them with blades. A flurry of arrows were launched and she fell dead. Tyrande took some satisfaction from her death. Within the chamber were instruments of torture. The corpse of several night elven villagers were hanging on stakes, headless. Water was boiling with many body parts within it. Turning away, Tyrande looked through the other door across from it.
Within they found yet more prisoners, and among them a domesticated wolf.
"Those of you who can fight will come with me. We will settle affairs with the one responsible for these… atrocities." said Tyrande "The rest of you remain here until we return."
As they pressed on, they found many trees growing beneath the ground. Suddenly they burst forth to life and rushed at them. Arrows and glaives were put to the test as they hacked and slew the creatures.
'The treants moved to block our path.' reflected Tyrande as they gained victory. 'Only a powerful druid could command such creatures.'
Beyond the trees they came to a waygate. Crossing over it, they found themselves in a far cleaner and more beautiful place. Making their way south, they found a fountain of life which they drank of gratefully. When they were all healed, they pressed on, until they came to another grove. There were many of the creatures from before wandering it, and battle was joined.
Their arrows were shot true, but there were many of them. The huntresses held the creatures at back with strokes of their glaives. Arrow after arrow was shot. The creatures died one by one, never retreating or surrendering. Tyrande reflected that these beasts could have been of great use on the surface.
A little further on, they saw a statue of Tyrande. It showed her holding a glaive, and calling out to some unseen army. The wardens had held her in honor, and she was killing them. Yet the wardens were doing things Tyrande would have never done!
To her own people. The sentinels had been forged to deal with outside threats. The wardens had been formed by Cenarius to deal with corruption from the inside. If the wardens had committed these deeds upon other races, would Tyrande have cared? For some perhaps, but not for others.
What was a village of dark trolls to the life of a night elf?
Tyrande realized that she had spent her entire life being self centered. She had never even realized it. Ten thousand years of life was not for much, if she had learned so little within it.
"Where is everyone Priestess?" asked a huntress. "The wardens have far greater numbers than this."
Tyrande considered it. "Perhaps they have gone afield to ply their trade or fight the demons. Whatever the case, let us be thankful for it and continue before they return."
They pressed onwards through a great hall and finally came to the Son of Cenarius. He loomed very much like his Father before him, green bearded with the lower half of a stag, and the upper half of an elf. In his hand was a staff of living wood, and he was flanked by many creatures.
"Hold Priestess!" he cried. "This place is forbidden, even to one such as you. There is a terrible evil here that must remain chained beneath the earth."
"Illidan was considered a great hero once,'"said Tyrande firmly, "I believe he will become one again."
"Madness!" cried the Son of Cenarius. "You would doom us all by freeing the betrayer!"
The battle escaped Tyrande's memory, for it was a bitter and terrible one that she did not want to remember. Arrows flew, and claws rent flesh. The power of her goddess was used against her Goddesses own people. Many on both sides died, including one among those they had freed — a prisoner who would never see the light of the sun again.
Finally, the Son of Cenarius died, and the last of his minions died soon after.
Tyrande made her way past the bodies to a lone cell. Within it she saw a figure, blindfolded with gray-black hair. He was muscular, and carried himself like a predator. And power coursed within him. A familiar power which had long ago been alluring.
"Illidan," she said, scarcely able to believe she was seeing him again, "is that you?"
He turned to her and made his way to the cell doors. "Tyrande, it is your voice? After all these ages spent in darkness, your voice is like the pure light of the moon upon my mind." His words were poetic, he always had held a flair for drama which far exceeded his elder brother.
Tyrande had no idea what to say. So she cut to the point. "The Legion has returned, Illidan." She paused. "Your people have need of you once more."
Illidan turned away and shuddered a silent fury came over him. Then he turned round and was veiled in darkness. He roared, and with that roar the gates of the prison surrounding him shattered to pieces. And Tyrande realized that this cell was no impediment to Illidan. Only the watchers had prevented his escape.
Illidan stepped over the wreckage, scowling. "Because I once cared for you Tyrande, I will hunt down the demons. But I will never owe our people anything!"
"Then let us hurry back to the surface." said Tyrande. "The demons corruption spreads with every second we waste!"
She led her sentinels and those she had freed through the wardens lair, and was not barred by any enemy. Yet as they passed the gates, they met Furion waiting for them with his forces. They looked very grave, and the Druids looked upon Illidan with open hostility. The Demon Hunter regarded them with simple contempt in turn. And Tyrande realized that if she were anyone else, there would be even more bloodshed. It was fortunate that Malfurion could not bring himself to harm her.
"Furion..." said Tyrande.
"It has been an eternity, brother." snarled Illidan in rage, bearing his swords which he had retrieved. A gift that was given to him when he had long ago visited Pandaria. "An eternity spent in darkness!"
"Illidan!" said Malfurion, voice stern. "You were sentenced to pay for your sins, nothing more!"
"And who were you to judge me?" snapped Illidan. "We fought the demons side by side if you recall."
"Enough of this, both of you!" cried Tyrande. "What is done, is done.' She tuned to Malfurion. 'My love, we will drive the demons back and save what is left of our beloved land!"
"Have you even considered the cost, Tyrande?" asked Malfurion of her. "This betrayers aid may doom us all before the end. I will have nothing to do with this."
It was done. They made their way back to the surface and spoke no more.
They could not have known that a shade had been watching them.
Author's Note:
Holy crap, we actually had a chapter which dealt with a mission.
This mission was annoying to deal with. I don't really feel like going into it, but it took a long time. I will talk about the decision to make the Watchers a bunch of psychos. Basically, I had in mind that they would be the night elven version of the spanish inquisition. It makes sense that they would have other duties beyond guarding Illidan's cage. Somebody had to make sure the night elves didn't go back to using arcane magic.
Of course, given that all this is the case, Cenarius looks like even more of a sociopath than he does in canon. Funny how that works out.
Oh and Illidan finally enters the scene. I've been looking forward to this bit for a long time.