Chapter Twelve: The Battle for Elywynn

Ogrim was feasting with his captains when a messenger from one of the villages arrived. At once he rose from his chair and noted the Warriors disheveled appearance and several fresh wounds. Orgrim wondered what had happened to inflict them on him, then reflected that he knew already. A human raid. 'Warrior, what news?' he asked.

'Saurfang has come under attack by a force of humans!' said the warrior 'They are being led by Aiden Wrynn! Even now my brothers are being besieged! We need reinforcements!'

Orgrim looked to his captains. They were impatient for battle, they thirsted to avenge themselves on the humans. And one of their villages was about to be destroyed. He knew he had his orders, but the idea of letting his people die…

The idea of letting Aiden Wrynn get the better of them once again…

'…And so you shall have them.' he said.

'Chieftain, Blackhand's orders-' began one of his captains, named Grakmul.

'Blackhand has been in Gul'dan's company too long!' proclaimed Doomhammer 'He would see the need were he here! I will not let my people be slaughtered! We march to war!'

'To War!' cheered his captains, raising their cups.

Thus it was that Orgrim Doomhammer and his warriors marched out from their bases to meet he humans in battle. Roars and boasts were made by warriors, claiming of the deeds they would perform, and the slaughters they would commit against the humans. And all throughout the land, word spread that Orgrim Doomhammer was marching to word.

Other chieftains, not liking to be thought afraid, rallied their own soldiers. Before long a rumor had spread that the attack they had been building up to was happening and that Blackhand himself was leading the charge. These reports were seemingly confirmed by peons who had seen the Warchief riding forth with a band of warriors.

One thing led to another, and soon the whole of the Horde was marching.

Aiden watched the village with a keen eye, his bow set over his lap as he waited on a hilltop in the shade of the trees. His men were busy digging trenches, and piling the dirt into hills from which they could hold. When they were attacked, they would hold out long.

'Aiden, the orcs are coming.' said Serena 'Doomhammer is leading the bulk of his forces to us. Other, lesser, warbands are rallying behind him. They will be here soon.'

Aiden smiled. 'So much the better.'

Events were proceeding exactly as had been planned.

As the orcs made their way through the trees, the shadows were growing longer as daylight waned. Orgrim watched as his warriors rode on wolves forward, and stalked through the trees. Suddenly shafts were shot from the woods and caught several warriors. They fell dead, and others roared in a challenge.

'The humans draw near! Attack!' roared a warrior.

At once the orcs rushed into the woods after the archers, but they fled and shot more arrows. Orgrim turned and rushed after them, but the archers slipped into the heavy underbrush or weaved through the trees in a manner which made it impossible to follow them.

'Cowards!' roared Orgrim 'Come face us!'

'Slowfeet!' called back a soldier. 'Come! Catch us!'

Orgrim snatched a spear from a nearby warrior and hurled it through the air, but it lodged in a tree and did not connect. He looked to his spearthrowers. 'Spearthrowers, keep them off our flanks! We must go to Saurfang!'

'We will stand guard as you order, Chieftain!' said Grakmul.

Orgrim turned and mustered his forces, leading them back along the path towards the village. The spearthrowers traded spear for arrow, and a few of the humans were killed. Yet the humans had better range, and never stayed in one place long enough to be brought to battle. A hit and run battle took place, with many warriors falling dead from arrows.

Yet they were in need of haste, and could not afford to fight them. At last, they came within sight of the village, and saw the human host standing guard upon many heavy embankments. 'Chieftain, many of our warriors have fallen and we have yet to even find the enemy!' cried a warrior, named Asrax as he came up behind.

'Fear not, see there is our enemy!' cried Orgrim 'They have entrenched around Saurfang's village! Warriors! Our brothers need us! To their aid! FOR THE HORDE!'

A feral joy came upon his warriors as bloodlust flowed through their veins and they charged. 'FOR THE HORDE!' cried the orcs.

They hit the defensive lines and were held in place by the humans. Terrible fighting ensued as the orcs crashed and pushed against the shield wall. Many on both sides fell, yet the humans faired better. For their healers would restore them whenever they fell, and they possessed the high ground.

Orgrim watched in frustration while behind them the spearthrowers continued their skirmish. More orcs might come to support them, news of the attack had spread. Yet he did not like being stalemated.

'Chieftain, no matter how we strive we cannot take their embankments,' said Asrax 'and the other warbands are being ambushed!'

'The strength and fury of the Horde will overcome all obstacles!' cried Orgrim, raising his hammer. 'I will lead you myself!'

And he rushed towards the enemy defenders, smashing down three of them. Yet three more came to replace them. These too fell in time, but they held him off. The humans never gave up the defense, and Orgrim's warriors were dying. He could see many of them falling dead.

Suddenly there was a horn call, and further down the line came Saurfang. His warriors and the villagers had broken through the weakened left flank and were escaping. Orgrim renewed his assault, hoping to gain victory!

Then he saw him, Aiden Wrynn, standing high by his standard. His sword was sheathed and his arms were crossed as he watched his warriors die below. 'Aiden! Come down! Come down and face me if you are not a coward!' he roared.

There was no response. Aiden looked at him with absolute contempt, like a caged animal more than a worthy enemy. It enraged Orgrim further, and he threw himself once more against the line. Yet to no avail.

'Answer me, coward!' he roared.

There was no reply.

'Chieftain, we must retreat!' cried Asrax.

'NO!' roared Orgrim.

'Saurfang has evacuated the village!' said Asrax desperately. 'There is nothing left to fight for!'

Orgrim stepped back and looked around. His warriors were dwindling, the humans remained strong. They had achieved what they had set out to do, and now they were dying. His pride did not matter here. 'You are right, pull back at once! Well done Warriors! The village is safe!'

At once the orcs broke off the assault, and the humans jeered and called curses after them. Orgrim resisted the urge to rush back and face them. It was not in his nature to retreat but now was not the time. He had to get back to his position and take a defensive formation. Blackhand's plan would wipe the smirks from their faces.

Then out of the trees came knights. Rank upon rank of knights, assembling before the orcs with shining mail and heavy shields. Flails were in their hands, and at their head was Bolvar Foredragon. They were trapped, between the human infantry and their cavalry.

'Form up!' cried Orgrim 'We'll break through them like wheat!'

'Knights of Stormwind!' cried Bolvar, his horse standing on its hind legs and kicking the air. 'We have taken an oath, now let us fulfill it! FOR THE KING!'

'FOR THE KING!' echoed the humans.

The first time the orcs had faced a true charge of knights it had been a subject of nightmares. They had rushed to Stormwind City, expecting an easy victory, and been slaughtered by the hundreds. Orgrim had not been there, and he had not faced a charge by them before. Yet now as he charged towards the humans, mounted upon their beasts, he felt now a twinge of fear.

There was a terrible impact and then chaos.

Orgrim cast down a knight with his hammer, as two orcs were slain. The screams of the dying were everywhere as the orcs forced onwards. More and more of them died, but they had the fury of the orcish race behind them, and they forced a path. Yet when at last they burst from the cavalry nearly half their number were dead.

The knights turned round and rode after them, and panic overtook the orcs.

They fled, they fled blindly. Orgrim saw many more of his warriors die that day, ridden down, pierced by lances or with their skulls crushed. He fought and fled, all order falling away from the orcs as their instincts and savagery were combined in a desperate flight that escaped his memory later.

What he knew was that eventually, he was wandering through the woods with only a few warriors, the rest scattered or dead. Spirits were grim, despite saving the village.

'We should have listened to Blackhand.' cried Asrax. 'How many of us are now dead, and for what!'

'We have bought our peoples safety at least.' said Orgrim, trying to raise morale. 'We will not make the same mistakes again.'

Then he halted in a clearing and all around him were the corpses of his brothers. Yet they were not of his warband, they bore different symbols. He walked among them. 'These were not killed by knights, they were struck by arrows. Look for survivors.'

'These warriors… what happened here?' said a warrior in a dead tone.

'Chieftain, one is still alive!' said Asrax.

Orgrim rushed over and kneeled by the survivor in question. He had many arrows sticking from him, and he would not be a survivor much longer. 'Warrior, what happened here?'

'We went to support you… we were ambushed, and all of us slain.' moaned the survivor. 'All my comrades shot dead without one enemy slain. This is a bitter death indeed…' He closed his eyes for the last time.

'Rest warrior.' said Orgrim 'We will avenge you in time.'

As he arose he saw the doubt in the eyes of his fellows. Soon that doubt would turn to anger. Orgrim realized that this was his fault, he had made a mess of this. Charged in recklessly without thinking of the consequences, too eager for battle. This was more what Grom would do. All the waiting, and watching his people die had gotten to him.

He remembered with hatred the scorn and condescension on Aiden's face. Orgrim had not even been worth a reply. Perhaps Orgrim had deserved that scorn, for how many of his trusted warriors had died here? Died to break Blackhand's orders, and in so doing led other warbands to a similar fate.

He had saved the villagers. Yet it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

It astounded Aiden that his enemy had seriously expected him to come down and engage someone twice his size in single combat when the battle was already won. The orcs indeed had peculiar ideas about when direct intervention was necessary for combat. It was why they were so easily manipulated.

He looked to Serena. 'Serena burn that village to the ground. Take whatever booty you desire, of course.'

'Yes sir.' said Serena, practically salivating at the prospect. 'What about the bodies?'

'The humans will be given proper burial of course.' said Aiden 'Take the bodies of the orcs and hang them where the world can see.' He paused as he got a truly excellent idea. 'Oh, and a new standard procedure, should any orcs be taken alive…' He hesitated, wondering if he ought to go this far.

'Yes?' asked Serena.

'Crucify them.' said Aiden 'Crucify them and put them among the hanging corpses of their fellows. Make sure the display is somewhere where any more invaders can get a clear idea of what fate will befall them. Terror and mindless rage are both states of mind which we can use in the orcs.'

Serena smiled. 'I'll get right on it sir.' Then she turned to her soldiers and began carrying out his orders with obvious glee.

Aiden found in Serena a truly reliable subordinate. He was well pleased with her enthusiasm. He heard soft footprints behind him, so soft that no one save an expert hunter well attuned to woodcraft might have heard it. Yet he did.

'Sylvanas, what are you doing back here?' he asked 'I told you to keep harassing the orcs.'

'The woods are filled with orcs.' said Sylvanas 'We slew as many of them as we could, but even we can't shoot without arrows. This was only their vanguard.'

'I see.' said Aiden 'Fear not, we are merely a vanguard ourselves.'

'Prince Aiden! The King is here!' cried a soldier.

Aiden looked up as a great host of knights rode into the fortifications. Behind them marched the whole of the army of Stormwind, with gleaming armor and stout shields. Never before had Aiden seen such a host assembled, and he felt a surge of boyish joy at the sight. This was a mustering greater than any in years. And at their head was King Llane, clad in shimmering armor with the sword of the King in his hand.

'Father,' called Aiden 'your timing could not have been more perfect!'

Llane rode up to him. 'Indeed, it has been too long since last I drew my sword for battle with my men.' He motioned to his host. 'Form up, soldiers of Stormwind and prepare for battle!'

'Where should my forces array themselves, my King?' asked Aiden, feeling a rush of enthusiasm.

'I would give much to have you by my side, Aiden.' said Llane with a smile. 'However, a raiding party has completely overrun the village of Sunnyglade and taken many prisoners. I want you to go there, rescue any survivors and close the gap Blackhand has created in our lines. This task is vital to ensuring the enemy does not break through.'

Llane wanted him away from the front? Aiden felt a surge of disappointment, he had wanted to fight alongside his Father. Yet he knew his duty, and he understood its need. 'As you wish, my King.'

Behind him, the village was destroyed, and the first screams of the crucified victims became audible.

Sunnyglade was in flames. The people had been rounded up, still alive and even now were being herded into enclosures. Blackhand looked at his work with some satisfaction. It had been so easy, the humans had scarcely put up a fight before they gave in.

'This was almost too easy, Kargath.' he said 'If only all the other humans were this weak we should have won already.'

'Perhaps,' said Kargath 'but then we would lack a worthy enemy.' He looked in distaste at the puny creatures now locked within enclosures. 'These peasants make poor sport.'

'That they do.' said Blackhand 'Still, at least we still have our quota of prisoners.'

And then Gul'dan appeared, looking absolutely furious. 'Blackhand! Orgrim has attacked the humans in direct defiance of your orders! The other clans in their idiocy have rushed after him!' He looked like he wanted to say more, but eventually degenerated into cursing and stamping his staff into the ground.

This could wreck everything. What the hell was Orgrim thinking?! 'Damn it. I have to take command of the offensive. Hold your forces here, Kargath, this position is a good one and may be useful. There is nothing to do now but press the attack.

I'll deal with Orgrim later.'

Yet even as he rode away, Blackhand began to feel that things had already spiraled beyond his control. He prayed to any god that might listen that he was wrong.

Authors Note:

Okay, this chapter was a long time coming. I wanted to finish Rage of the Eternal before I went any further. Now that I've done that, I think I will at least try to finish this fic before I start on Frozen Throne.

I've more or less figured out what I want Aiden to be, and you've already seen the seeds of it.

Now you may have noticed something odd. The Horde screamed for the Horde, charged in a head-on assault, and got their asses handed to them. This is because shield walls always beat that kind of charge. The Romans conquered Gaul despite their enemies being twice their size, because the Romans had a disciplined army that worked together, and the Gauls just charged in.

The orcs have lost so far because they aren't disciplined. Their obsession with their own martial prowess has made them ill-equipped to face an enemy like the humans of Stormwind.