Ch 11 – Repercussions of the Wrath Gate Battle

Rhenn sat bolt upright with a scream. Grekko was instantly awake. His eyes scanned the room for an intruder as he put himself before his beloved. They had been lovers for several weeks and he was now he could not think of life without her. He rose to his feet picking up her knife from the table and walking toward the door. It was still barred. No one was in the room, but them. What was it then?

He turned back to her. "What is it?" He asked coming back to her. He sat beside her on the bed gently shaking her. Her eyes were closed and she was shaking. A nightmare then? Her skin was cooled from the night air in the room, but sweaty. His hands caressed her arms as she finally looked at him. "Rhenn, dear one, what is it?"

"Ashj zila gul kirasath lok ante il lok buras danashj Gul gul" She said softly. He knew the tongue recognizing one of the words, "gul". It meant "no" or "not" depending on the usage. It was Draconic, the tongue of the dragons. He blinked. Where had she learned that? He had spent years trying to understand it and only knew a handful of words. She had made a whole sentence.

"Rhenn…come back to me." He said shaking her a little harder. Her eyes were distant and not looking at him. She had never been like this before and it worried him. Her eyes then blinked and looked up at him.

She blinked tears. "You are hurting me." She whimpered.

He released his vice like grip on her arms instantly as he looked at her. "Tell me. What is it?"

"I do not know." She whispered. "Death. Death is coming."

"To who?" He asked.

She shrugged. He took a hold of her again and she winced even though he held her lightly. "I don't know. Please. May I sleep?"

He heard the plaintive whimper in her voice and knew she was once more tired. He watched her lie back down and she hugged her pillow tight to her. She shivered once before she shut her eyes to find sleep once more.

Grekko laid back down beside her watching her a moment. When he saw and felt her breathing ease he wrapped his arm about her waist and missed her bare shoulder. He sighed. He was very protective, but nightmares he could not help her with. He could only comfort her when she came back to reality. He sighed. Hopefully no more nightmares of that nature would occur again.

The next morning came early for those at Fordragon Hold. Highlord Bolvar Fordragon walked among his men. Men and women alike were gathered to try to take Angrathar, the Wrath Gate. It was the only entrance point to the Icecrown territories where the Lich King was gathering his strength. It was the hope of the Alliance and their Horde brothers across the valley at Kor'Kron Vanguard Fortress.

A soldier called out as he walked by. "Highlord Bolvar!"

Another was heard. "Thank the Light!"

"Courage brothers and sisters." Bolvar said.

A female voice to his left made him turn slightly. "For Lordaeron!"

Beside her another cried. "For the Alliance!"

Bolvar stood looking at the gate. The scourge swarmed it like loathsome insects. Bolvar roared as he and his men charge into the undead army that waited for them. Geists, rotting bodies, and skeletons all were felled by the army of the Alliance. And the sun had not touched the horizon yet.

Bolvar looked about. He swung felling a geist with a stroke. Its singular eye blinked as if in shock at being separated from its lanky body and limbs. "Back, you mindless wretches!" Bolvar barked looking about him.

The gates opened and revealed scourge Vrykul, who were speaking in their native tongue, as they charged out. The great giant human like people had been mutilated by the Lich King into strong, heartless, blue with death monsters who would kill any in their path.

One charged Fordragon and found a rotted corpse in its way of reaching its goal. Growling it swung its mace shattering the corpse into pieces it struck. Bolvar turned and fought the giant for a moment before he killed it. It dropped before him and he looked about. A shimmer of light about him told him a priest near him had healed his minor hurts with the light. "Fight on, brothers!" He said watching his battalion press forward.

As the battle continued, Saurfang the Younger observed the conflict and raised his axe to rally his soldiers. Below them the Alliance were starting to loose on their right flank. It was time for action. He looked to the east. The sun was just touching the horizon for the fortress high over the valley. He mounted his wolf and turned to the orcs and horde about him.

"Rise up, sons of the Horde! Blood and glory await us!" He cried lifting his ax.

Back at the battle, Bolvar glanced up at the sound of an orcish horn, and Saurfang and his troops arrive on the battlefield ready for war. They rushed to the flank first to strength it.

Leaving a group of his men there to aid the group of Alliance Saurfang turned and took the main body of his troops to the front line with Bolvar. "Lok'tar ogar! For the Horde!" He cried

"FOR THE HORDE! " The battle cry came from several hundred voices of the Horde.

Bolvar greeted the young orc as he dismounted beside him. Saurfang offered a smile as he stepped into line to fight side-by-side with the Alliance leader.

"I was wondering if you'd show up!" Bolvar teased the young leader.

Saurfang offered a mirthless grin showing his tusks. "I couldn't let the Alliance have all the fun today! " He said. Saurfang swung his axe, killing three undead Vrykul in one slash. Bolvar nodded impressed at the young warrior as they continued to fight forward to the gate.

After the battle ended some hours later, a bloodied Bolvar and Saurfang approached the gate. Saurfang nodded to the Alliance leader.

Bolvar took a breath. He looked down as he bellowed. "Arthas! The blood of your father, of your people, demands justice! Come forth, coward, and answer for your crimes!" His voice echoed against the great steel gate.

After a few moments the gate rumbled and opened again, revealing the Lich King, Frostmourne in hand. The armor had blue flames licking from the openings. The Lich King stood coming to stand some feet from the two leaders.

The Lich King sneered at them. "You speak of justice? Of cowardice? I will show you the justice of the grave and the true meaning of fear!" He growled as he waved and the fallen corpses of the undead rose again about him.

Saurfang the Younger growled in his young recklessness. "Enough talk! Let it be finished!" He yelled lifting his great ax. As Saurfang charged, The Lich King swung Frostmourne, shattering Saurfang's axe and killing the orc instantly. The young orc fell to the earth to the mass gasp of his followers behind him who knew he was not easily killed. His weapon fell in pieces about his limp body. Frostmourne consumed the soul of the slain orc as the Lich King waved it over the body.

Bolvar stood horrified. He turned his gaze full of hated and vengeance on the Lich King. "You will pay for all the lives you've stolen, traitor." He said lifting his own sword and shield.

The Lich King laughed coldly. "Boldly stated. But there is nothing you can—"He was cut off as an explosion and a green cloud behind Bolvar interrupted the confrontation. Everyone turned to look and the Lich King raised his head curious as well. "What the…?" The Lich King asked looking about for the source.

Deep throated laughter reverberated from the heights above the Wrath Gate as Grand Apothecary Putress approached the edge. The cowled undead man stood on a rock looking down upon the scene below him. "Did you think we had forgotten? Did you think we had forgiven?" His deep voice bouncing like thunder in the valley as it echoed. As he spoke, great catapults come forward. "Behold, now, the terrible vengeance of the Forsaken!" He growled. He lifted his arms signaling his gunners.

The Lich King's eyes narrowed as he muttered the name of the banshee who had betrayed him. "Sylvanas... " She was the leader of that rout.

The bony arms of Putress fell and the catapults fired, unleashing plague bombs onto the battlefield below. The green gas quickly filled the valley. "Death to the Scourge! And death to the living!" Putress cried at the top of his lungs. The plagued exploded across the field, killing Scourge, Alliance and Horde soldiers alike by melting skin from bone and causing pain as it killed all it touched.

Highlord Fordragon cried to the Alliance and Horde alike who were yet behind the noxious clouds. "Fall back!" He cried.

Those forces whom were not killed by the plague, fled from the Wrath Gate as many more found their end around Bolvar. The clouds surrounded the leader on all sides.

Even the Lich King was affected as he fell to his knees, coughing and hacking. With a roar, he rises to his feet and escaped from the field, back into the gate where he came. "This... isn't... over..." He vowed as the gate shut behind him.

The gate closed with a great thud.

Putress laughed as he looked below him at the green toxic gas covering the whole area. "Now, all can see this is the hour of the Forsaken." He said. His men saluted him as he mounted a great bat to fly away to report of the deed being accomplished. He left the scene.

On the field below, Bolvar fell to the ground hard, as he glanced up towards Fordragon Hold. "We're finished. No escape... for any of us." He said trying to breathe as the toxic gas finds him and started to burn his lungs and skin.

Bolvar glanced towards Wyrmrest Temple hearing the faint sound of wings on the wind in the soundless valley. The sun was raising and with it he saw the great dragons approaching. The sun touched the plague and the dragons flew in. Bolvar breathed his last because of the plague and died just as the dragons arrived on the horrific scene of dead men, horde, and scourge and their mutilated corpses, burned and twisted from the plague.

The dragons took one look about and then incinerated the Forsaken catapults and the plague clouds before flying back to the temple to report to their queen of the horrific battle and the grotesque deaths of those involved.

Thrall and Varian were in council about where to proceed after the Wrath Gate. A direct attack on the Citadel of Icecrown did not seem possible yet. They needed to weaken the forces about it first so The Lich King could not have reinforcements showing up suddenly flanking and behind them. Rhenn was seated at the table which the two were hovering over. Saurfang the Elder and Garrosh Hellscream stood with their leader. Grekko, Crispin, Ventris, and many others of the Alliance top commanders were listening and offering their words of advice.

Rhenn was silently looking at the maps and listening to the conversation about her with half an ear. To Varian and Thrall she was clearly distracted by something, though they did not say anything other than casting glances her way occasionally.

A knock came at the door.

"Enter." Varian called.

A messenger walked in. He was in the livery of the Home Guard.

"What is it?" Crispin asked his underling.

"Sir," The man saluted. "There are three red dragons outside the city gates. They wish to speak to the leaders."

Varian looked at Thrall and then back. "We will come to them." He said.

Rhenn rose to her feet feeling the tenseness in her belly growing. Dragons were never here in Azeroth. She followed the two leaders out her dress whispering across the floor as she moved. Grekko and Saurfang walked behind her.

"Your woman seems unwell." Saurfang said softly to Grekko.

"My woman?" Grekko asked.

"The Lady Rhenn is your woman if I am not wrong." Saurfang offered a kind smile to Grekko. "The way you two look at each other makes it rather obvious to any who are watching."

Grekko sighed as he looked at Rhenn a few feet before them. She was walking head down and obviously not paying attention to the men or happenings around her. "No, she is not well. She did not sleep well last night. Her dreams were wrought with nightmares."

Saurfang sighed. "She does not seem herself. Normally she is a light. Today she is unreadable." The Orc said. He bowed his head to the young priest as Ventris came to them. Grekko realized the Orc leader was not about to betray a trust by revealing it to everyone. Grekko doubted it was for him, but for his young lover.

Grekko dipped his head in return as they came to the great bridge that led to the massive outer gate of the city. The massive dragon bodies were clearly visible resting in the grass beyond. One had prominent horns and the other two sat flanking the larger one. Jaina Proudmoore stood before them dwarfed by the great bulks of the three great dragons.

She stepped forward with her face ashen. Varian and Thrall both came to her. "Jaina, what has happened?" Thrall asked looking at her.

She swallowed and looked back . "May I present her majesty, Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder, Queen of the red dragon flight, Korialstrasz, her consort, and Sorenstrasz."

"An honor." Varian said as he bowed to the great dragons.

Thrall bowed as well. "A high honor."

Sorenstrasz dripped her great head down to them. Her eye glittered like a diamond in the light of the mid-afternoon sun. "I fear this honor is not a pleasant one." She said. "It is with sad tidings that I must tell you of the loss at the Wrath Gate." She said.

"What?" Varian asked.

She looked at Jaina and looked back at the two leaders. "Few survived the attack from above." She shook her head a little.

"Attack from above?" Thrall cocked his head.

"The Undead faction of the Horde, the Forsaken, unleashed plagued bombs to kill everyone on the field. The plague killed several hundred of Horde, Alliance, and Scourge alike." She said.

"The bodies. We must reclaim the bodies." Thrall said. "Give them a decent burial among their people."

"I fear it will be hard to sort out who is who." Korialstrasz said from behind his queen. "The catapults, the mutilated corpses, and the Forsaken still there were all burned to cleanse the area with dragon flame breath."

Varian looked at Saurfang. The same haunted look was there. "Were Saurfang the Younger or Bolvar Fordragon among those whom survived?" Varian asked hesitantly. "Please tell us." He said. "He is like a brother to me and Saurfang's son. Both are in question."

Jaina's head dropped.

Sorenstrasz, the younger and smaller of the red dragons came forward making an awkward hop as he held his taloned forepaw to Varian and Saurfang. He opened it to reveal Bolvar's charred, but still recognizable shield, and the tarnished helm that belonged to Saurfang's son of the same name.

Saurfang took the tarnish dented helm and looked down refusing to weep among the Alliance about, but it was clear by the rapid swallowing he was doing it was not easy for contain the emotions he felt.

The dragon queen turned to Rhenn. You knew did you not. You had a dream. I can read your thoughts, child. They betray you. The soothing voice said in Rhenn's mind.

I didn't know where, what, or when. Rhenn said in her mind. It was not a very insightful vision.

Perhaps, but then you have never had them before have you.

No. Rhenn said in her mind to the queen.

Let me show you some of what you missed and what will come. Images flashed within Rhenn's head. Some felt wonderful, some were horrific.

She swallowed and nodded. What am I to learn from those?

Everything. The Queen said cryptically. When you understand why you are having the visions you will be able to grasp them better. For now heed them and try to work out what they mean.

Varian took the shield and looked at Jaina. He swallowed fighting back his own tears. "He was a good man. He died as he wanted to. On the field of battle." He turned away and stocked back for the keep letting no one near him as he walked.

Saurfang looked at Thrall. "I must mourn my son."

"Of course old friend." Thrall nodded.

Garrosh looked about. "I will return with him."

"Good." Thrall said. "Find someone to go to Undercity and find what happened to bring this about. Sylvanas is no fool and would not betray us so."

"At least you hope not." Garrosh said. The two orcs went and walked to gryphon master to fly to Booty Bay in the south to catch the boat that would take them to Rachet in the Barrens. It was the closest and fastest way to return to Orgrimmar.

Thrall saw something out of the corner of his eye. He reacted first turning and catching Rhenn as he knees buckled. Her eyes were half closed. Thrall held her and felt her brow. She felt warm to him. He looked at Grekko. "She is not well."

"She has not been all day." Grekko said coming to the orc leader fighting down the wave of jealousy that his lover was in the arms of another man and that man was a Horde.

"She will be better soon." The Queen said. "Be wary." She warned cryptically. "Anything of the future she sees is a warning. It will take her time to understand the fragments as a whole."

"Rhenn does not see visions." Grekko said. "She told me herself it was her sister's art."

The Queen's head lowered. "There are many lives at stake. Heed her if she speaks about what she sees."

Grekko nodded.

"For now farewell." The queen said and lifted into the air with a great wing beat. Thrall covered Rhenn's eyes to keep the dust from them as the three dragons flew up. A portal appeared before them. They flew into it and were gone.

Rhenn blinked and looked at Grekko. Thrall gave her over to Grekko and leaned close to the young man. "I have no idea what the Queen of Dragons meant either, but promise one thing. You will keep her from harm and care for her."

"That is one of the few promises I will make to a member of the Horde." Grekko said.

Thrall looked about. "I will return to Orgrimmar. I will confront Sylvanas about not only her treaty violation with the Alliance, but the treaty violation with her fellow horde factions." He took a breath. "I will get to the bottom of this. I swear on my friendship with Lady Rhenn."

"I will hold you to that." Grekko said.

Thrall bowed and walked away.

Grekko shifted his lover closer to him. "Are you well?"

"Take me home. I feel drained." She whispered.

He nodded and walked with her in his arms back to the cathedral of light. He settled her in the bed and ordered some tea for her. It would ease her stomach and her mind. He waited for it to brew as he caressed her temples and her back softly.

Three days later a note came from Thrall. There had been a great coup in Undercity. Sylvanas had nearly been murdered and those loyal either ran or were slaughtered. They had sought refuge with the orc and his people until an army could be raised to reclaim the capital of the undead.

Also the note contained the name of Bolvar Fordragon and Saurfang the Younger's murderer. His name was Grand Apothecary Putress, He was one of the instrumental members of the elite members of the Royal Apothecary Society that created the Forsaken Blight. This new plague caused damage to living creatures and beings by melting and suffocating them and also caused fatal damage to undead as well. The Society had the cure to it and thus kept the scientists safe from harm.

Varian was already planning to march on Lordaeron's ruins and find the killer of his friend and several hundred of the able army. He had a name and he nodded to his commanders to start to gather his army to march on Undercity to avenge the fallen.

Rhenn tried to convince the King to not do this and let the Horde settle their own house. It fell on deaf ears. Everyone else in the room wanted vengeance for the paladin and the others. There was no stopping them.

The King had the young woman ride with him knowing her skills would be useful in fighting though he was going to keep her back among a group of Home Guard to keep her safe. Rhenn agreed to go, but quietly left the meeting and went to the Keep garden. Nebyuleh and Jaina were both standing there waiting for news.

"We go to war with Undercity." Rhenn said gravely. "I have dreamed about this battle. It is not clear, but Thrall and Varian will fight. They once called each other brothers. You must go and try to keep Thrall and his army away until Varian has wrought his carnage."

Jaina nodded. She then lifted her hand and was gone with a shimmer of light. Nebyuleh looked at Rhenn. "You speak treason in that warning to Thrall. The both of you."

"No. I am trying to prevent war Neb."

Neb sighed. "Yes, but the men have been looking for a reason to fight for a while now. Their blood is up and they will not stop until they raze the town."

"You know Lordaeron once meant something other than a lost city and empire to these people." Rhenn said. ""lorn", in Dwarven, that means "land", "daer", in Common, that means "people" and "ronae"…"

"That in Thalassian, my tongue, it means "peaceful"" Neb said softly. The Night elf sighed. "It will take them days to ride north, take the boat to Southshore, and ride through the forests of silverpine to reach the capital."

"Yes." Rhenn nodded. "Perhaps I can change Varian's mind."

Rhenn could not though she tried. For nearly a week she tried as the army moved northward gathering battalions of Dwarves and Night Elves with it. Her gentle warnings were not heard by Varian or any of his commanders. Even Grekko did not seem to wish to hear her trying to explain that this was a bad idea.

Varian sat before the great gate of the once shining capital. The walls were starting to crumble and vines grew about the masonry. He swallowed. The Forsaken had degraded this jewel and they would pay.

He and his army marched in killing abominations and many undead along the way. They quickly found the Apothecarium for of all the places in Undercity it was the one where the most people had gathered. The fierce fighting began.

Rhenn was in the middle of a tight group of men and was not allowed to fight though she held her staff ready should one come to her.

Grand Apothecary Putress stepped forward holding a vial. He laughed at the living army before him. "Do you know what this is?"

"I know you murdered hundreds of people and two officers."

"The experiment went well." The deep voice said somewhere from within the cowl. "The blight harms the Lich King and the scourge."

"But at what cost?" Varian growled angrily.

"All wars have losses King." Putress sneered.

"Enough!" Varian growled. "Fight me coward. Do not hide behind your poison cloud."

"Are you calling me a coward?"

Varian smiled without humor at the Forsaken man. "Yes."

With an angry shout Putress flung the vial away from him into the green river of slime that surrounded the city. He drew his weapons and crouched. Men stepped forward to the King, but he shook his head. "No this is our fight. Keep the others away." He said nodding to the other Forsaken who were approaching."

The two clashed and fought. Putress was not as easy to kill as Varian would have bet he was. It took him more than fifteen minutes to slay the Forsaken man. Varian looked back and saw Jaina was standing with Rhenn nearby on a bridge.

"Jaina, Rhenn. Come to me." He called to them. He nodded to Grekko to also come. The four explored into the Apothecarium bowels. The stench of rotting became more intense and Rhenn stopped on the stairs. The others turned to look at her. She was holding the rail for support.

Varian smiled at her. "They do smell terrible don't they?" He said gently.

She shook her head and lifted a shaking hand to point beyond them.

Varian, Jaina, and Grekko slowly turned and all gasped.

"But all that is Holy to the Light what is this?" Grekko gasped as he looked at the room full of tables, meat hooks, and vials. Human, dwarf, and night elf mutilated corpses lay about the room. Many had pieces cut from them and the pieces were in jars beside them.

Varian tasted bile in his mouth. "The Forsaken have gone too far. They are not only undead, but they kill innocents."

Jaina turned and joined Rhenn unable to look more on the gruesome scene.

Grekko turned away. "Come my King. We have seen enough to know of their treachery."

"Yes, you are…"

A fierce cry reverberated off the walls of slime covered stone. It was in Orcish. Varian growled and turned to run back up to his army.

"No wait!" Jaina cried.

"Stop!" Rhenn also cried, but Varian was already on the move with the line following him. They moved to the throne room and saw Sylvanas, Vol'jin, and Saurfang standing with Thrall and an army of the horde, Forsaken in the banshee queen colors, orcs, and trolls all together.

The room became still as Varian entered his sword drawn. Both sides backed up and formed a circle about the leaders. Varian stood watching the Horde leaders like a panther.

"It has become clear to me that the horde are treacherous and there can be no peace between us. At least not while the Forsaken are in the company of the faction." Varian said.

"Do not be foolish King Varian." Sylvanas said, her voice eerie like wind through a tree. "It was not my people who betrayed the pact. It was a coup that removed me from power." She nodded to the fallen body of Varimathras near them. "The demon is slain. I will restore order and we will be at peace once again."

"How do I know such a betrayal will never happen again?" Varian asked.

"No one knows the future for certain." Thrall said. "You speak out of anger." He said. "Go mourn Fordragon and we will bring Uindercity back to where it belongs, under the rule of Sylvanas and her loyal people.

Varian was reckless in his grief. He took a step forward. "I would prefer that the undead not be part of our peace anymore."

"That is not possible." Thrall said. "The forsaken are part of the Horde and are signed in a treaty with you."

"Then there cannot be a peace." Varian said. "War is the only way."

Several gasps came from both sides.

Thrall spread his hands. "Varian, brother, please…"

"I am not your brother." Varian said coldly. He took a step forward and found Jaina suddenly blocking his way. He looked at her and glared, but then he saw Rhenn standing before Thrall.

The two women were not going to allow more bloodshed this day among the factions. Rhenn looked up at Thrall. "Please. Do not fight."

Jaina looked at Varian. "Stop this before you go too far."

Thrall held his hands apart. "I will not fight him unless he comes to me."

Jaina looked at Varian. The King glared at her. "Out of my way mage!"

"No." Jaina said. She then whirled her hand about.

Thrall watched the Alliance army shimmer and disappear. Rhenn looked up at him. "I'm sorry for…" And she too disappeared in a shimmer.

"Rhenn…sorry for what?" Thrall asked, but there were no more Alliance in the room.

The army appeared at Stormwind harbor. Jaina collapsed exhausted. Grekko went to her and gently called for a litter to carry her away.

Rhenn stood looking out over the ocean. The breeze stirred her robe softly. She closed her eyes. Two arms wrapped about her protectively. "Are you well?" Grekko's voice said softly behind her as his scent wrapped about her.

"Yes." She whispered watching the setting sun on the horizon. It was a deep crimson red. She sighed. "I tried."

"You could not have stopped him."

"War will come of this."

"Yes, likely."

She looked back again at the crimson waves and sun as it moved lower and lower. "So it begins." She whispered.