As she was now readying defenses around her village, another journey was getting ready to happen. And it was being done with haste.
"Why must you leave again?" a regal female Elf with purple skin and green hair asked with her arms crossed. A silver moon emblem hung from a delicate silver chain on her forehead, and an elegant bow with a quiver of arrows was attached to her back. Her armor was elegantly cut and etched steel that molded to her form as perfectly as another skin. The one she regarded was a male wearing animal skins, had two wing-like armor pieces that hung off his arms, a long, green beard, and a set of antlers that could have rivaled the guardian in his stag form. He carried a staff, too, and the simple carved wood glowed with power from the stone that floated in the very end of its circular design.
"Tyrande, my heart, I had received a very powerful dream. To meet with a young child that has the potential to be a master Druid! Possibly even at my level. I must rescue her and bring her here to train her. She is in a lot of danger right now. She's been discovered, and various dark forces are trying to use her for ill. She wants to learn how to control her new powers. I can help her do that," the male said.
"What reached you, Malfurion? Can you tell me?" she asked.
"It was a spirit of the forest. But...it had gained a true form and full awareness," he said with his own form of shocked disbelief. Now Tyrande had to pause with surprise at this news.
"How can a child have so much power?!" she gasped.
"I don't know. It's why I have to reach her before anything else does," he said gravely.
"Love, your brother is free..." she started. Now he looked at her with complete worry.
"Then we have no time to waste. If he learns about her, he will go after her! We need to leave now!" he urged. "Yes, you need to come with me. Elune may be able to help light our path to her."
"I shall pray to her now for guidance," she nodded and moved swiftly to a meditation chamber. The moment she settled and closed her beautiful, glowing white eyes, an intense vision hit her. And it showed how her homeland would flourish with new growth if she went with Malfurion. She opened her eyes and felt herself shivering with a sense of awe. "Elune has spoken to me! Yes. I see. I shall help bring this girl here. There is no more choice in the matter. It shall be done!"
She rose up swiftly and moved to find Malfurion waiting for her. All he did was nod his head to show he fully understood everything. "We'll need reinforcements with us. Call any you can that wish to help. This cannot be a forced journey. They must agree of their own will to aid us."
"Of course," she said and sent word. Within the hour, they had several Dryads, ten archers, and four warriors. "It is good to see that you all are assisting with us."
"We're going on a trip!" a Dryad giggled. She had the upper body of a purple-skinned Elf, but her lower portion was that of a graceful doe. Leaves decorated her to cover her, and a sturdy spear was on her back. Her sisters giggled with her. They were ready to take the fight to the enemy, and they wanted to see what was outside their homeland, too.
"We must make haste, my brothers and sisters!" Malfurion urged. Several boats were brought to them, and only two were chosen to be up to the journey, as they had to cross a small ocean to get to where they needed to go.
"No other Druids will join us?" Tyrande frowned.
"They must tend to the lands here. Worry not. We will be fine," he nodded. The group of hopeful rescuers were at sea for two, long days. And it took two days to get to where Rosalia's village was by land. Kael'thas was following his mental map to the letter. There was little rest to get there, but he knew he had to get there as swiftly as he could. If his Master tried to find him without a Queen, there would be a lot of questions that would need to be answered. He wanted to avoid that at all costs.
"We're here!" a knight said. "At least...we should be here."
"What do you mean?" Kael'thas frowned. Then he stared with shock at the wall of thorns in front of him. It wasn't there a few days ago. This was new. "They have to have a residential Druid. It's either that, or it's that protector of hers."
"Is there any way past this?" an archer frowned. Kael'thas chanted and hurled a fireball into the growth. The tactic worked, but there was a lot of it. Even worse was that the greenery was regenerating.
"Get your sharpest weapons out. We'll carve our way through!" Kael'thas growled. His group went to work, and the mystics with him helped cast their own spells to char away the growth. As they tried to sear away the plants, Arthas was closing in with the Scourge. Kel'Thuzad was in constant communication with their internal spy when it was there.
"How close?" Arthas muttered, as he rode on the skeletal, armored horse.
"Less than an hour out," the Lich said. He was effortlessly floating next to him.
"Good. Send in the abominations first. The ghouls should go in right after them. Send in everything else after that," he grunted. Then he noticed something in the distance that had him pause. "What is he doing out here?"
"Hmm?" the Lich asked and looked out. Now he sighed. Their spy was on the side of the road and fatally wounded. He was discovered. Arthas moved his steed over to where their spy was.
"You can drop the illusion now," he said. The false Blood Elf coughed, nodded, and dropped the spell to show he was a pale-skinned Acolyte in dark robes. "What happened?"
"I went to...tell you..." he gasped. "Defenses...to the village..."
"Defenses?!" Kel'Thuzad asked with surprise.
"Yes. They...are..." the Acolyte gasped. Then he seemed to freeze up, and death finally claimed him. Arthas's sword glowed, as it absorbed the fleeing soul.
"Frostmourne always hungers..." Arthas chuckled. "Very well. Defenses are around the village now. I think my distant relation is part of it. Let's get moving."
"You would think so," Kel'Thuzad sighed. The Acolyte's body didn't go to waste. Several ghouls were quick to pounce on it to fight over what was left. Any usable parts would be gathered up to be used in future constructs. They were actually on the opposite side from where Kael'thas and his group was. Arthas was not pleased at the wall of constricting thorn vines in front of him.
"Now how do we get through this?" Kel'Thuzad mused.
"Send in the ghouls!" Arthas snarled out.
"Do you smell that?" a necromancer asked when he walked up to them. "It smells like...burning plant matter! We don't really make a smell like that."
"I don't think we are alone," Kel'Thuzad said with a sinister chuckle. "Send some of our troops around the bend."
"Of course, my Lord," the man bowed and was quick to do just that. If it wasn't for the regenerating growth growing behind Kael'thas and his party as they dug their way into the vines, they would have been discovered. Instead, the ghouls found no trace of them at all. At this report, Arthas wasn't very happy about it.
"If we have gargoyles, send them," Arthas muttered. "Let them fly over the surrounding areas. And, if they don't return, we do have that other experimental thing we can send after them. We can test its efficiency this way."
"It shall be done," Kel'Thuzad nodded and sent the word. As the gargoyles were dispatched, Kael'thas was finally making it through to the next perimeter. And that was when his group paused with sheer awe at the sight of the golem. It had made a circular pass around the village and felt where the vines were being destroyed. Even the guardian alerted it. Now that the threat was revealed, the stone golem readied to attack.
"INTRUDERS!" it ground out and charged at them.
"Look out!" a knight said and shoved Kael'thas out of the way when the stony fist came out to slam him away. Kael'thas shouted with outrage that one of his knights was now out of commission. The odd thing was that he was still alive. He was just knocked unconscious. The bruising would be intense, though, when he woke up.
"I will not be kept from my Queen!" Kael'thas snarled and launched a fire ball. It did no damage at all, and the golem simply charged forth. The escort group was forced to scatter, and Kael'thas was left on his own. He braced himself for a form of impact...
:Stop!:
The golem skidded to a halt. Kael'thas let out the breath he was holding and fell to his knees. He looked up to see the white stag glaring at him. "You...called off...?"
:I did. But only because the Scourge is here, too.:
"What?!"
:Yes. One of your people was a spy.:
"How do you know this?!"
:I am the forest around you. I hear everything in my general region. Already, your second group of scouts are approaching. One of the working class was caught and killed. One of your own was a spy for the Scourge. It was through that one that you were followed.:
"No...it can't be...!" Kael'thas paled. "I need to call on my allies!"
:Your allies cannot get here in time. They are three hours out.:
"Well...I came here to rescue my wife. It's something I have to do."
:The child will be sent away from here soon. She needs to develop her powers.:
"No! She's my wife! Without her, then my people will suffer!"
:She can barely control what she can do. If she develops, then she can do much more.:
"So, you are telling me to let her leave to grow and develop? The only way that will happen is if I'm able to go with her. My people are expecting me to come back with her. If I come back empty-handed, it will make me look bad."
:You must also remember this. She is not marrying you. And she will not marry you. What you did was simply an act. The young warrior she saved is who she will be with. He cares not for her soul. But her mind. You must let them remain together. If not, then you stay here with your people.: the stag warned. :Right now, we both have a common foe. Do we join forces? Or do we square off once more?:
"I will always see her as my Queen," he muttered. "and I would be a fool to not allow her the chance to hone her abilities to be even more accurate, too. Very well. I will ally with you. One of my men was injured by that stone monster..."
:Bring him into the village. The child's birth mother can heal him.: the guardian nodded. :And hold no malice towards the young warrior when you see him. He still guards her diligently.:
Kael'thas winced at that, but he nodded, too. He called forth his troops and told them what was going on. They were shocked that there was a spy in their home. They were even further appalled that the undead were so close by. Their wounded comrade was carefully lifted and brought into Morissa's healing shop. She recognized Kael'thas and could only pause with surprise.
"I made a truce with your daughter's protector. One of my men was injured," the prince said.
"If he agreed to work with you, then fine. Bring your wounded to the back room, please," she said. The wounded Blood Elf was moved to her stretcher to get looked at. Herbal brews were now heated up and given over carefully. "This will help mend him. He will not be able to move for a good hour, but it's one of my strongest potions."
"Thank you," Kael'thas nodded. Then he turned at the sound of a soft gasp. When he saw Rosalia standing there, he actually felt a sense of complete relief on seeing her. Then he saw Perhin and how he kept a stern, yet protectively gentle hand on her shoulder. "I see you've been keeping your vow."
"I have," Perhin nodded.
"And I'm sure you likely touched her..." he muttered.
"With her consent," Perhin nodded again. Kael'thas let out a slow breath at that, but he cleared his throat to get into far more pressing matters.
"Apparently, there was a spy in our home," the prince. "One of our own was able to inform the Scourge. We were followed here."
"What?!" Perhin gaped. Now he looked at Rosalia. "My heart, come with me!"
"What's going on?" she asked in her whisper tone.
"You are in a lot of danger," he grimaced and was quick to start taking her back to the forest. "You need to be as protected as possible. Yes, with Kael'thas here, we may have a chance to keep you safe, but if there's undead out there at our doorstep, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the door gets kicked in. I'm very worried over this."
"I'm surprised he was let into the village," she frowned. He could only nod, but he ushered her into the small hut to close it up with him. "Perhin?"
He simply turned to pull her close and hug her to him dearly. "No matter what happens to me, just know that I will always be with you."
"Don't...don't say that!" she said with a panicked shiver in her stance.
"I have to say it. In case I need to rush out to keep you defended," he frowned. "I have no choice in it. I love you dearly, my heart. I'd rather die protecting you than knowing that something may be going wrong. You know this."
"I just found you...just to know that...you may get torn from me..." she started to whimper. He planted a loving kiss on her mouth to help calm her down.
"Don't worry, dala'surfal. The fight hasn't reached us yet. I'm not going anywhere right now," he muttered and kissed her again. At the soft, whispery groan she gave him, he lost his resolve. Armor was moved aside with a few articles of clothing in a rushed way. Even when he wanted to rest and recover with her after it was done, he knew they couldn't chance it.
"Stay with me," she murmured when he moved to get up. "I know. You have an urgency to ensure I'll be safe. But...just a little longer?"
"Very well. But, I need to be dressed," he smiled. She nodded and let him kiss her softly before moving to fix up his armor again. The moment he reached for his sword, he paused at an unknown sound. It was the sound of flapping wings. And it didn't come from a bird of anything that he knew of. "We've got company!"
"What?!" she gasped. He gestured for her to dress as quietly as she could. He wanted her to be ready for anything, too.
"Stay here. Keep quiet," he whispered and kissed her forehead. He peered out the window and growled under his breath. "Those look like gargoyles..."
"Perhin?" she asked, and he held up his hand. There were four of them. They were slowly advancing towards the small hut. One of them gave a shriek and leapt at the door. Perhin was there with his sword drawn to slice it right open. It reeled away and screamed with a form of pain. When another advanced, a roar was heard in the distance. Her guardian was able to shift back into the form of the white bear to launch at it.
"You found a mushroom?" Perhin asked and moved to help attack.
:What do you think?: the bear snorted and roared, as he batted a heavy paw at another gargoyle to stun it. It was killed quickly with a fast sword swipe. Just as they felt they had the upper hand, three more gargoyles flitted down to hiss.
"Not good..." Perhin grumbled. Then the trees came to life to attack the flying creatures. They shrieked at this surprise attack, and the treants were quick to dismember them.
:You forget that the child woke up the forest.: the bear said smugly. Then another monster flew down. It resembled some form of a dragon/harpy crossbreed. :Now, this one may prove troublesome...:
A tail was quick to lash out and smack into Perhin to knock him back into the hut. He actually got slammed through the door. The human-like face grinned a sharp, fanged grin and began to advance. Rosalia was able to help Perhin stand on his feet, but he was very wobbly.
"There is...something out there..." Perhin coughed. "Stay in here!"
"You are in no condition to fight now!" she said in her horrified whispery tone.
"I have to," he said and kissed her hard. "Stay in the hut!"
She whimpered when he left, but she knew that she had to do something. She took in a deep breath and sent out a mental message to the patrolling golem. It was something she simply had to try. The message was received. The next thing she saw was Perhin's gaping jaw, as a golem's fist slammed into monstrosity face first. Shaken and disoriented, the threat was readying to flap away. Then vines came out from the ground to coil around its limbs to pull it down forcefully.
"I got it!" a cheery voice squealed out.
"Now!" a strong voice shouted for spears to launch and kill the monster in full. Rosalia and Perhin heard only quiet. When she helped Perhin move, she saw the strange Elves in the distance. The guardian only sighed with relief.
:It is good that you came here. The Scourge is on our doorstep.: the guardian snorted.
"We didn't bring that many with us," Malfurion said. "We'll do what we can."
"It is impressive to see one as yourself. Where is the child you told us of?" Tyrande asked. The guardian looked over at Rosalia and lumbered over to her.
"Are you staying here?" Rosalia asked.
:He is here to help me, too. I am going with you.: he chuckled, and she hugged his large neck. When Perhin was forced to steady himself against the mangled doorframe, he was quickly noted.
"You have been wounded!" Malfurion frowned. He chanted slightly for Perhin to find himself healing rapidly. "That should help you. As for this new situation, I'm not too sure as to what we can do. Are there any others here that can help us fight?"
"There is. Prince Kael'thas of the Blood Elves is here," Perhin said. "I am...was...his Commander. I was forced to desert him when he threatened Rosalia harm."
"How did this happen?" Tyrande frowned.
"He tried to make me his Queen against my will. All because of what my soul can do," Rosalia frowned heavily. When the stone golem walked back over, it nodded to them all before resuming its sentry march around the village. At their gaping stares, she smiled. "Yes. I brought that back."
"Incredible! I haven't seen one of those for the past thousand years!" Tyrande whispered.
"You have a lot of training to do once we get you to safety. We cannot delay," Malfurion urged. "We should leave now while we still have the chance. The boat that brought me here is a two hour walk away, but we rushed to get here. If we go now, we'll make good time."
"But...my parents..." Rosalia whimpered.
"Why do you speak so softly, child?" Tyrande asked and walked over to her.
"A childhood incident. Her voice is damaged. Her spirit isn't, though," Perhin smiled.
"And who are you?" Malfurion asked.
"Her life partner," he said calmly. At the warm, loving smile he gave to Rosalia, and how she returned it, it was only truth.
"Such love is one we do recognize," Tyrande chuckled softly.
"She saved my life when I was near death. I vowed to protect her from that day forward. It was inevitable, I suppose. I didn't even know of what she is truly capable of. I see past all of that. But, is there no way we can save this village?" Perhin asked. "Her mother is a very skilled healer. Even her father is honorable and quite just."
"Well," Malfurion mused. "I did notice the growth that had gone around the village."
:Yes. I was the one that let you approach within the forest growth when you approached. I trained the child on how to focus her powers. The forest is also awake.: the bear snorted. :Child, can you make a mushroom for me?:
"Okay," she nodded. Malfurion now watched with fascination on how she made a common mushroom glow with intense power. The bear ate this and his form became a stark, white dragon with red eyes. Perhin found himself laughing softly.
:It is only for defense!: he snorted.
"Admit it! You had to test it," Perhin grinned.
:Maybe. For a little while...: the guardian found himself a touch sheepish. Rosalia found herself giggling at this. Then the dragon turned to glare at Kael'thas walking over with his escort group. The knight was still in a healing sleep in Morissa's shop.
"Rosalia! My Queen..." Kael'thas started. Then he paused at how Perhin was comforting her.
:Look over the visions I sent you.: the guardian advised Malfurion.
"Hmm. Oh! I see," the powerful Druid sighed and shook his head. "This young girl is not your wife at all. She was, in fact, just leaving to be properly trained."
"She can leave if I go with her," Kael'thas said. "That was what I had agreed to."
"For what?! To hound after her and beg her to return with you to a cage?" Perhin scowled at him.
"You are seen as a traitor for what you have done! She can save my people!" he growled.
:Have you forgotten what we have discussed?: the guardian asked Kael'thas directly.
"I am just stating the obvious," Kael'thas muttered.
"You should not come with me. Your people need their leader," Rosalia said gently.
"But they need their Queen, too. Despite what you can do, they accepted you. If I simply leave and not return with you, what will that make me look like? I made them a promise. I have to keep it. I cannot turn my back on my own people. Even now, they are under siege! I could teleport to them to help them, but the distance is too great. I cannot teleport to such a vast place and come back. I don't have that power. I can't be everywhere at once. Can't you see my issue now?" he seemed to plead with her.
"Perhin," she said softly and whispered in a softer way. He grimaced, but he nodded. She took a deep breath and moved to walk over to Kael'thas. Then she reached out to gently take his hands in hers. The prince was actually very surprised at this. "I see now who you really are, Kael'thas. At least, I think I do. I will accept your company on my journey. And, if I am able to, I will see what I can do for your people. But, I cannot be your wife. I can see you as my brother, instead. And I can care for you like family. Tell me. Would this be enough for you?"
"I..." Kael'thas seemed to sigh and shake his head. "I'll make it work. For now."
"What are your true thoughts, Kael'thas?" she asked with a small frown.
"I actually liked the thought...of you being at my side..." he admitted.
"But, I'm human. You also initially only saw me as a means to help your people," she said. "and you didn't treat me very well when I was with you."
"I meant to make it up to you!" he said. "I was just...hasty, I guess."
"Well, this conversation may have to wait," Malfurion said. "I am not too sure as to who you are, but we need to get moving. My name is Malfurion Stormrage. I am an Archdruid for the Night Elf race far from here in the lands of Ashenvale. For over ten thousand years, we have remained in one place. The Scourge also attacked our lands, too. The forest spirit here was able to contact me to bring this child to safety. To train her in the ways of the Druid. If she is lost to us, then her properties of life will be at risk. We must take her away from here."
"Can we bring my parents with us? My Father does know how to fight. My Mother is a very skilled healer. I just...I can't leave them behind," she fretted and walked over to him now.
"We only brought two ships," Tyrande said. "I am unsure if we'll have enough room."
"I can supply extra ships. We'll need to get close to my lands, though," Kael'thas said. "I can send one of my own to get the word sent."
"Or you tell me what to do, and I can send out a message," Malfurion said. "If we do that, then I'll be able to help with the defenses here. We also need every available man that you have."
"My Lord?" a mystic frowned.
"We are needed here. If we can help remove a part of the Scourge, then we should do so!" Kael'thas said with a sharp nod. "And, you all know that she has said that she will do what she can for us. We shall not fail!"
"Yes, my Lord," his group nodded as one. When the others moved off to see what they could do for the village, Kael'thas was pulled aside by a knight.
"Do you still plan to make her our Queen?" the knight asked.
"If something happens to Perhin," Kael'thas hinted lightly under his breath. "who do you think she would turn to? Why else do you think I'm slightly changing my thoughts around her?"
"I understand," the knight seemed to smirk. The guardian glanced over and narrowed his eyes. The others may not have heard it, but he did quite clearly. He would be silently guarding over Perhin now. There was no choice.
**Author's Note**
Wow! Almost 600 views! I guess I'm still doing something right? Anyways, I was almost stumped for a while on where to take the story. But, it appears to be progressing once again. Even I don't know what will happen next! As always, thank you all for continuing to read!