Chapter 9 – The Relocation of Dalaran
The Keep was buzzing with many of the allied factions in the final stages of preparing for war. Walking through the Keep, Sarah was struck by the positive energy they all possessed. They firmly believed they would triumph over the Legion invasion. She hung her head as she moved through the corridors. It was enormously hard to join in their enthusiasm when she was knew the grim outcome. Knowledge, she confessed inwardly, was not always power. In this instance, she felt it was nothing more than a cruel twist of fate. Humour for the gods while they watched her squirm with inner torment as it twisted and pulled her from all directions. Having to stay quiet, keep the King's pending demise a secret, while battling with her overloading conscience would be entertaining indeed for celestial beings – whoever, wherever, whatever they were.
Her heart was bleeding for the young Prince. It was going to be a monumental task remaining upbeat in his presence. Without question she must, at all costs, steer him from asking her about the game – at least about the recent expansion. It was unrealistic she guessed, to avoid talking about Warcraft altogether. He was bound to ask about the time she spent in Pandaria where he discovered the Vale. Then again, she wondered if he was aware of its corruption following the Sha being loosed upon it thanks to Garrosh Hellscream. Were they perhaps lost in their own timelines, she wondered. She shook her head, mumbling her worries to herself as she kept in step with the guard. The plate clad escort said nothing, though his eyes glanced to his side now and again as he heard her unintelligible mutterings. He steered her towards the library which was sited at the far west of the throne room.
"Sarah Metcalfe!" A hypnotic voice spoke. She turned to see Tyrande Whisperwind, High Priestess of Elune and Leader of the Kaldorei gliding towards her across the lawn. There was no denying the night elf was immeasurably stunning with her soft flowing hair adorned in small sparkling jewels and a garland headdress. Her sylph-like figure was draped in silk and gossamer. No wonder the Stormrage brothers fell in love with her. But there was so much more to her than mere beauty. She was wise, decisive, powerful and a great leader; even though Sarah was strongly opposed with the Priestess' evaluation of Illidan. Offering a deferential gesture of respect to Tyrande, she waited until the night elf stood directly in front of her.
"I cannot say it is a pleasure to see you again," the High Priestess began. "But, as you are now a guest of His Highness', I bid you welcome."
Sarah swallowed. "Thank you for being so gracious, Priestess." She managed a small smile before turning to walk away, but Tyrande was not finished with her.
"I did not appreciate your assumptions last time we met," she said quietly, but with an air of authority.
Sarah turned to face her antagonist. Was there a hint of a threat in those words? she wondered. "With all due respect Priestess, you have your beliefs and I have mine," she answered, trying to prevent the confrontation escalating into unpleasantness.
"It is High Priestess," Tyrande corrected her. The elf's nacreous eyes held Sarah to the spot. "You come to us spouting stories from a book..."
"Actually, it's a game," said Sarah. Irked by the sudden pomposity afforded her she took pleasure in pointing out that even a High Priestess made mistakes.
The night elf narrowed her eyes at the Earthling. " Game then, if such childish and trivial pastimes really matter, of course" Her stature dared Sarah to retaliate. Although her eyes blazed, Sarah did not otherwise react. Tyrande continued. "You were not there, Sarah Metcalfe. You did not witness Illidan's affront. You have no right to judge."
Sarah looked over Tyrande's shoulder. Malfurion was watching them intently from across the lawn. Although neither were particular favourites of hers, she was not stupid enough to even contemplate challenging either the druid or priestess. Furthermore, without Khadgar here to whisk her away through a portal if she over-stepped the mark, it would indeed be a grave mistake to aggravate them. They reeked of power.
"You're here! Welcome!" Prince Anduin arrived suddenly by her side, obviously delighted she had come.
"Your Highness," she greeted him with a bob of her head and a smile before returning her gaze to the High Priestess. Quietly she spoke to Tyrande. "I do not disparage what you and Malfurion perceive as the truth, High Priestess. That does not mean however, that you were necessarily correct in your assumptions either." She inwardly grinned as she saw the hint of a virulent sneer toy with the corners of Tyrande's mouth. "Yes, Illidan chose a different path, but still he held the same ideals as both you and Malfurion – to bring an end to the Burning Legion. However, on a comparable note, I also read that your mate left you for thousands of years, to sleep no less, in the Emerald Dream! But, as I wasn't there either, I suppose I have to be wrong about that too?"
Tyrande flinched. Sarah pressed on, "So, if fur and feathers..." she motioned to Malfurion with a nod of her head, "... is your preference, then I wish you great joy and a bright future." She leaned forward, just a shade and lowered her voice so the druid would not hear her. " He could do with a good brush by the way." She grinned, thinking her comment amusing. Once more she turned to leave.
Incensed by the woman's quip, Tyrande was not done yet. With a forced laugh, she said "From the gossip in the courtyard, Sarah Metcalfe, I hear I am not the only one who prefers feathers. Only, your kind belongs to that of a raven."
Anduin glanced between the two women. He had not been witness to such an exchange before, and secretly admitted he found it very entertaining. He wondered however, if he had just understood the Priestess' insinuation correctly. Was the inkling he had from the day Khadgar and Sarah appeared at court perhaps accurate?
Mustering all the dignity she could, Sarah stepped closer to the night elf and with a tight smile said, "Touché. Priestess."
Tyrande watched as Anduin led his guest towards more private quarters within the keep. She smiled thinly. She had to admit, the woman conducted herself well and displayed an inner strength which was almost admirable. Although, she mused, quite what Khadgar saw in her, was still a mystery.
The mages were arriving steadily in Dalaran. They had been instructed to open more portals through which the inhabitants of the city could depart more quickly to their home towns in various parts of Azeroth. The relocating of Dalaran was going to be a mammoth task not without its risks and so the Archmage had ordered the city to be evacuated well in advance of the event.
Among the mages Khadgar had called on to aid in the relocation was Bati from the Exodar, Forthisal D'Neve of SI:7, Ysuria, the portal trainer from Theramore and Captain Balinda Stonehearth from the Alterac Valley. They, together with the mages from Kirin Tor would join together in the task. Archmage Jaina Proudmore was also on her way. Until all were assembled, Khadgar had time for some reflection and food. He was ravenous, not having eaten since the night before in Stormwind with his friend Vindicator Ocel.
The city was now nearly empty, but Isirami Fairwind had insisted she and her staff at A Hero's Welcome stay so they could provide food and drink for the mages during the relocation and also for any people who needed sustenance once their destination was reached. The Archmage had argued with the innkeeper, but she was as stubborn as he and refused point blank to leave. So, it was the Inn he went for a quiet meal before the work truly began.
He sat alone at a table not far from where he'd found Sarah with her companions the day before. He recalled how raw his emotions were when Tassarion kissed her. He smiled at the memory now. Having shed his defenses and let her into his heart, he was, all things considered, now at peace with himself. There was much to do in the days, weeks if not months, to come, and they would not pass without fear, strife, and loss, but somehow he had finally understood Ocel's words. There would be someone waiting for him. Just for him. Involuntarily, he sighed heavily.
"Is the food that bad, Khadgar?"
He snapped out of his reverie at the sound of Jaina Proudmore's voice. He laughed lightly. "Not at all, Jaina. Will you join me?" He pulled out a chair for her.
"May as well," she said, signalling for service. Her order taken and the two Archmages left in privacy, they began discussing the monumental task ahead of them.
Although Jaina was the Leader of the Kirin Tor and had worked closely with Khadgar during many missions and battles, she did not share his optimism for the Alliance and Horde to work together. Her distrust of them remained absolute. On that front, she shared Genn Greymane's misgivings. Even in light of their now common foe, the Burning Legion, she would never approve of her fellow Archmage's attempts to unite the warring factions in a bid to defeat the demonic armies. She scoffed as she listened to how the age old enemies were pooling forces. She sat, absent-mindedly drumming agitated fingers on the table while Khadgar spoke enthusiastically of progress.
Notwithstanding her enmity towards the Horde, she would nevertheless demonstrate her assiduous leadership qualities and do all within her power to ensure the survival of the Alliance. This task however, was no simple feat. It was going to take all of them to teleport Dalaran. She hoped it would be enough.
"We must begin shortly," she said, draining her goblet. "The forces are readying their advance. This has to be done precisely Khadgar. If we arrive too early, the Legion will be forewarned of our strategy and we will have invited an ambush. Too late, and our people, including Varian, will be slaughtered before we can be any use to them."
"Agreed. But, according to our source, this is going to be an invasion of a truly enormous magnitude. There is more than just timing which will decide the success of this mission."
The Leader of The Kirin Tor smirked. "Ah yes. The stranger." Jaina's eyes flickered a moment. "We do not need some out-of-world individual telling us how to fight our battles Khadgar. We have been doing it for millennia."
Khadgar stiffened slightly, but remained calm. "I understand your reservations Jaina, but for all our vast experience, I cannot confidently say we have mastered war. Perhaps fresh eyes may be advantageous."
Jaina pushed her chair back and stood, looking down at her fellow mage. She flicked her hair over her shoulder, quietly studying Khadgar for a few moments. "Hmm. I have heard rumours it is not just her fresh eyes that interest you, Archmage."
Khadgar held her gaze, saying nothing. Jaina grimaced as she made to turn away. "Your silence says it all. Beware of your heart Khadgar. For once torn asunder, it never recovers." She left for the Violet Citadel without waiting for a response.
Khadgar knew her words reflected her own pain. Arthas Menethil, Prince of Lordaeron, was once the man she had loved and been set to marry. But, Arthas had ended up as a mere pawn, in a sinister plot devised by Ner'zhul the Lich King, who desperately sought to escape his frozen imprisonment. Plunging the runeblade Frostmourne into the snows of Northrend for some fool to find, Ner'zhul merely had to wait.
That fool had been Arthas. The path he took afterwards, which ultimately led him to becoming the new Lich King, destroyed Jaina. She had never recovered from finding what her lover had become. Still scarred by those events, Jaina would never believe anyone, especially not her fellow Archmage, could hope to find love without it having a devastating consequence. Therefore, Khadgar allowed her her cynicism without challenge. He finished his wine and left for the Citadel.
Jaina and Khadgar would remain on Dalaran creating the initial portal and driving the metropolis through, while the others, stationed above The Ruins of Shandaral and The Azure Stand, were instructed to reinforce and maintain the portal's structure. Their combined powers would increase its size so the floating island could safely pass through.
Jaina looked to Khadgar. "Let us begin," she said.
Azure blue and amethyst swirls manifested, bleeding from their fingertips and merging to form a central point. Their sortilege intensified, and with it came the steady thrumming of powerful magic. Raising their arms, the Archmages manipulated the coloured swirls as they continued to magnify. A transluscent dome then spread overhead, providing a hub within which they would draw on the elements to feed their individual powers. Similar structures encompassed the others on the Stand and in the Ruins. The ground began to vibrate. Clouds, which roiled lazily at first, then dispersed as the spells started to slice their way through the air. A nubilous centre formed above them where their unified beams converged. The combined power of all the mages forced the circumference of the portal to expand.
While Jaina focused entirely on its centre, Khadgar checked the other mages were administering their magic towards the opening. The noise of the air being torn asunder became deafening. Winds escalated with the shift in atmospheric pressure. Looking to his right, Khadgar saw one of the mages buckle under the force. Quickly she recovered and re-cast her spell, her focus now unwavering.
Jaina shouted to Khadgar over her shoulder. "We need more power! It is weakening." As if all had heard her, they generated more arcane power infusing it with the elemental force of frost and fire to stabilize the portal.
With robes billowing and hair swept out behind her, Jaina began to drive the island towards the centre. Lightning exploded all around them, hissing and sizzling as it hit the buildings and the ground. Stone from some of the city's highest structures fragmented and fell to the street, disintegrating as they hit the paved walkways. Their impact could not even be heard over the tearing of the sky and the crashing elements, but they were nonetheless noticed from the corner of Jaina's eye. "Khadgar! Now!" She could barely be heard over the thrumming spells and screaming winds.
But hear her, he did. Yelling out an incantation, a polychromatic ball of power manifested between his hands. It continued to steadily expand, pulsing, shimmering as he maintained his conjuration. When it seemed like he could contain it no more, he adopted a steadying stance - knees bent and feet planted firmly on the ground. Drawing his arms back he then pushed forward and hurled the opalescent sphere towards the portal. Like a magnet, the portal drew the sphere in. It was instantly absorbed and the opaque centre shuddered. A moment later, it perforated and the hole expanded rapidly. Turbulence erupted, causing the entire metropolis to shake violently. The mages, Khadgar and Jaina included, fought to stay upright and sustain their combined forces. From their viewpoint, the fluorescent green of fel magic could be seen lighting the sky on the other side of the rip. The city thrummed and pulsated it way to opening. The other mages mass teleported to stand side by side with Jaina and Khadgar. Once more all twelve combined their magic as Dalaran passed through the torn fabric of Northrend's sky and floated out over the waters off the Broken Isles.
"Wait!" Jaina ordered. She looked behind them to ensure the city passed through in its entirety. "Ok, Khadgar. Close the portal! The rest of you, keep this rock afloat and restructure its levitation."
The teleportation had taken much out of them all. Jaina was no exception. She walked, exhausted, towards the edge of Krasus' Landing. Her hair clung to her face, her skin damp from the exertion of streaming such powerful magic. Before long, all the mages joined her. "By the power of the Light!" she exclaimed. The look of horror on her face was not without just cause.
Below them, pooling from demon gateways, thousands upon thousands of demons emerged. Doomguards, fel-hounds, succubus, infernals and countless other abhorations marched steadily towards the beaches where Alliance and Horde forces had already arrived. The skies rained down huge fel meteors, smashing the decks of some of the anchored ships. Elementals of epic proportions emerged from the ashes, smashing the ships to pulp and slaughtering the crews.
King Varian's gunship was approaching from the south.
"It seems your stranger was not misguided after all, Khadgar," Jaina breathed. All of them were speechless on seeing the sheer numbers of demons pouring forth from the Tomb of Sargeras. The only communication between them were their shocked expressions. Jaina turned to Khadgar. "Go! Do what you have to do!"
Without hesitation, he turned to leave. Unexpectedly, the Leader of the Kirin Tor shouted him back. Her mouth was set in a tight line as her eyes had resumed scanning the chaotic scene below. A few breaths later, she turned back to her fellow Archmage. She could tell he was eager to leave and carry out the task he had set himself. "Be careful, friend." The silver-haired Archmage was noticeably surprised by her sentiment. She smiled wanly. Turning her head to look back at the demonic armies she voiced a blessing. "May the Light guide you."