The Story So Far: Arthas and Jaina have formed an alliance with Thrall and his growing Horde, which now includes the tauren of Cairne Bloodhoof's tribe, and the Darkspear trolls. After meeting with the Prophet deep in Stonetalon Peak, the leaders of the Alliance and Horde have agreed to cease hostilities in order to push back the demonic Burning Legion, which seeks to destroy Azeroth and avenge their defeat at the hands of the night elves ten thousand years ago. The Burning Legion, however, is not alone. With them are the undead Scourge led by former Lordaeron lieutenant Marwyn, who claimed the runeblade Frostmourne in Northrend, and was last seen attempting to kill his former king and prince. Now, he's returned to "finish the job", and make sure that this time, Arthas does not survive his attack. Will he succeed, or will the intervention of an old friend keep him from killing Arthas?

Chapter XI: Meeting the Kaldorei, Hellscream's Redemption

Three days after the Human-Orc Alliance was formed, the human survivors of Lordaeron are just now beginning to get used to working with their old enemies, the orcs. Since the Warsong Clan, led by Grom Hellscream, once again fell prey to demonic corruption, Warchief Thrall has ordered that the Warsong Clan be stopped. When he encountered no questions, Thrall knew that they understood the risks if they failed: all of the Orc race would be chained to demonic servitude, as they had been in the Old Horde. For the Lordaeron humans, while they never knew what it was like to be enslaved by demons, knew all to well what happened when one was on the receiving end of such corrupted enemies. Many recalled bitterly how the Old Horde had brutally massacred Stormwind in the First War, and how close Lordaeron came to sharing that fate. Already, squabbles between the Lordaeron exiles and Thrall's orcs had broken out, only to just barely be calmed down by Arthas, Jaina, Thrall, Cairne, or all four at once. Thrall had felt very uneasy about the assault, voicing concern about attacking his own brethren, and with working with humans at the same time. Arthas and Jaina replied that they were uncomfortable working with orcs, but Arthas sympathized with the Warchief about fighting his own people; as Arthas had felt guilty when he was forced to kill the infected villagers of Stratholme several months ago. This soothed tensions somewhat, but not for long. The frequent attacks by the night elves did not help soothe the tense atmosphere. When they were ready to assault the Warsong Clan, Arthas gave a signal to Thrall, who was staged east of their target. In the final phase of planning, the four commanders had agreed on a pincer movement: Arthas and Jaina would strike from the west, after Thrall and Cairne attacked from the east. Thrall charged ahead with his warriors and soon after, Arthas and Jaina with theirs. When they finally reached Grom, they were horrified by what they saw. After fighting through the corrupted chieftain's guard of demons and warlocks, Thrall immediately tried to talk Hellscream down.

"Grom, stop this now! Please, my friend, come to me! I can help you!" Thrall called out, hoping to minimize bloodshed.

"Foolish Son of Durotan, Mannoroth is master of the orcs now!"

"Don't make me kill you, Grom! If you stay this course, our whole people will fall because of your bloodlust!"

"Our people have always been bound to the demons, young Thrall. We fell to corruption because we willingly took it. I was the first to drink the blood of Mannoroth on Draenor, the rest of the chieftains followed suit. Except your father. The fool refused to drink the blood, as did the rest of his clan! The demons bound us to them because we let them, and I have no intention of giving up the power that comes with it!"

The rage at this revelation soon exploded in Thrall, and in his blind anger, he attacked Hellscream. After several minutes, Thrall composed himself and used the Soul Gem Jaina gave him on Grom. With the battle subsiding, the Warchief of the Horde returned to Arthas and Jaina. Handing Jaina the now-filled Soul Gem, he gathered his shaman while Arthas gathered their priests and paladins. Soon, through the combined efforts of the priests, paladins, and shaman, they successfully purged Grom's soul of demonic corruption. When they returned the chieftain's soul to him, Grom immediately tried to apologize to Thrall.

"Thrall, forgive me for-"

"I am in no mood for apologies, Grom! Where is Mannoroth?"

Realizing that Thrall was in absolutely no mood for talk, Grom caved in to the Warchief's demands.

"Mannoroth is residing in a canyon nearby."

"Well then. Let's go show him how we orcs deal with deceivers! I don't want to keep the bastard waiting!"

"With pleasure, Warchief."

With Grom cleansed, the two orcs went to deal with Mannoroth, Arthas offered to go with. Thrall accepted the offer, saying that a paladin would be handy dealing with a demon. Jaina went as well and soon had homed in on the pit lord's location: a canyon five miles south of their current position. Within minutes, the foursome had entered the canyon, constantly keeping an eye out for Mannoroth, who began to laugh menacingly at their attempts to find him. Arthas kept checking the rear, in case the demon came up from behind, while Thrall, Grom, and Jaina checked every other possible direction. After Arthas called out that the demon was right behind them, the rest of the group turned to face Arthas' direction.

"So predictable. I knew that you would come, and I see that you brought the mighty Hellscream. His blood is mine, as is the whole misbegotten race!" Mannoroth said mockingly.

Hearing those words, Thrall roared in defiance, and slammed the Doomhammer down, charging it with the power of the earth. When it had fully charged, the warchief threw the hammer with all his might, only for the pit lord to deflect it with his wing. Unfazed, Mannoroth continued his taunts.

"A worthy effort, but futile!"

Charging, Mannoroth brought his own weapon down on the ground, splitting the earth in front of him, and sending Thrall into a rock face, where he fell unconscious. Grom, also knocked down by the attack, managed to rise and pick up his axe, Gorehowl. Arthas tried next, throwing a bolt of Holy Light at Mannoroth, who roared in pain and retaliated.

"RAAARGHHH! I will feast on your bones for that!" Mannoroth roared.

Bringing his polearm down in an overhead chop, Arthas parried with his own hammer, before bringing Light's Vengeance to bear against one of Mannoroth's legs, breaking it. Even more enraged, the pit lord slashed Arthas across the chest, grazing his heart in the process. Immediately after the blow, Arthas too was thrown into the same rock face Thrall collided with. He, too, fell unconscious, albeit from blood loss as well as the impact. Jaina went right to Arthas, attempting to tend to her fiance's wounds, and help Thrall, who had just come to when Arthas landed. Grom was alone to combat Mannoroth, who continued taunting the orc.

"The boy believed you could be saved, but he didn't know what burns within your soul. When in your heart, you know we are the same."

As if to deny the pit lord's claim, Grom roared and charged at the demon. Bringing Gorehowl down in front of him, the axe smashed the demon's glaive, which he brought up to parry Gorehowl. The axe soon bit deep into Mannoroth's chest, and the demon exploded, catching Grom point blank. Now badly wounded, Hellscream collapsed onto his back. Thrall, just finished healing Arthas, limped forward and fell to his knees before the dying Hellscream.

"Thrall. The blood haze has lifted. The demon's fire has burnt out in my veins. I... have... freed... myself."

Grom soon died after his words. Thrall never saw an orc look as peaceful as Grom did right now.

"No, old friend. You have freed us all."

With that, the warchief let out a mournful roar that soon echoed into the distance. When the group returned, battered except for Jaina, Grom was carried to a grave that had been dug. After a short funeral, Thrall bid farewell to the orc he considered a brother. After the funeral, they set out to fight against the demons. Arriving at the base of Mount Hyjal, the orcs and humans begin setting up a base. While construction progressed, a squabble broke out between a human footman and an orc grunt. Seeking to restore order, Duke Lionheart went to calm the dispute before it got out of hand. When he resolved it, however, night elves attacked the base, and after they killed the duke, retreated back into the forests when undead and demons swarmed the base. Later that night, Thrall received a vision to meet at a waterfall in night elven territory. Arthas, Jaina, and Thrall left the next day for the area Thrall described.

Ashenvale Forest

Arch-Druid Malfurion Stormrage awoke from a strange dream. In it, he beheld a large raven, who spoke to him, saying to go to a waterfall near the edge of their territory. When they arrived, Tyrande wanted to know why they were there. She soon got her answer.

"We have no time for this, Furion! What are we doing out here?" Tyrande said impatiently.

"Last night in a dream, a great raven spoke to me and summoned me to this place."

As soon as Malfurion spoke those words, Arthas, Jaina, and Thrall arrived. Thrall was the first to speak.

"We were summoned here as well."

"Who are you, outlanders?"

"I am Thrall, Son of Durotan, and Warchief of the Horde."

"I am Arthas Menethil, Crown Prince of Lordaeron, and co-leader of the human survivors of Lordaeron."

"And I am Jaina Proudmoore, Archmage of the Kirin Tor, and the other co-leader of the Lordaeron survivors."

"You are not welcome here!" Tyrande snapped.

Just as Tyrande spoke, a large raven arrived and landed. Then, before their eyes, the raven turned into a hooded man. While Tyrande didn't recognize him, the other four did.

"Peace, priestess. They've come to aid you against the Legion."

"It was you in my dream! But who are you to make such an offer to us?"

"I... am the reason for the Legion's return."

"What?" Arthas said, surprised by this revelation.

"Years ago, I brought the orcs into this world, and by doing so, I opened a path for the demons as well. For my sins, I was murdered by those I cared for the most. Despite my death, war raged across the lands of the east for many long years, leaving entire kingdoms devastated in its wake. Now, at long last, I have returned to set things right. I... am Medivh, the Last Guardian. I tell you know, the only chance this world is to unite in arms against the enemies of all who live!" Medivh said.

Arthas nodded in acceptance before saying, "That explains why you looked so familiar to me when you first approached me."

"I am glad to see that many still remember their history lessons. But now, you must hurry. The sands are running out. I must go now, this world is yours to defend; it always was."

With those words, Medivh transformed back into a raven and flew away. Now, the leaders of the night elves, orcs, and humans discussed the best course of action to defeat the Legion. They agreed to set a trap at the summit of Hyjal, since the Legion's target would be the World Tree, Nordrassil. They built three bases: the Alliance would be the first, a little farther than halfway up the mountain's slopes. Next, three-quarters up the mountain, the Horde under Thrall would hold a second base. Finally, at a gate to the mountain's summit, Tyrande and the Sentinels would build a base. The key would be to make Archimonde overconfident by allowing him to get to the tree, and then Malfurion would sound the Horn of Cenarius to awaken nature herself and unleash Nordrassil's primal fury. Over the next five days, the three allies worked to build their bases.