A sombre return home

Arthas arrived at the Frozen Throne, dragging the lifeless body of Athrodar by his chained up arms, his legs scraping along the floor. He picked him up, feet inches from the floor, before throwing him towards the steps leading up to his throne. As the lifeless body of his former Prince landed, he walked over to him, placing the tip of Frostmourne on his chest. "You will retain the powers you once had, along with new ones." He smirked at the dead elf. "My connection to you will be stronger, leaving you very little option but to serve me fully, with no chance on the light severing you from my will again."

The process of reanimation took seconds, being as he was so close to the Frozen Throne and the very birthplace of the Lich King himself. When the process was complete, Athrodar's eyes shot open along with him launching himself forward onto his hands and knees, groaning in pain from being reanimated, again. When he did eventually get to his feet, he felt new power course through him, as well as the connection to the Lich King being firmly repaired. He stared at Arthas, showing no emotion on his face as he got an even look back at him.

With no need of a conversation, Arthas knew his Prince would listen to him. "Now that you are back on our side, I have a little task for you." He began to climb the steps to his throne, Athrodar spinning around to watch his king climb the steps until he reached the top. Upon sitting down at the throne, he carried on his train of thought. "There is a Vrykul encampment nearby called Ymirheim. It's located in the centre of Icecrown itself. I need you to go there and remind them that their 'Death God' is expecting their strongest warriors to fight for his honor."

Athrodar looked up at him, his hood distorting the view of his face, yet Arthas knew he was looking at him. "It will be done, my king." He bowed his head before turning around, looking to head off before stopping momentarily. "What of Naxxramas?"

"Let the Horde have their minor victory. What I have planned in the near future will crush any sense of accomplishment they'll get out of that place. And with you back under the banner of the Scourge, their victory will be short lived." Athrodar didn't reply, instead he set off for Ymirheim, knowing he had no choice in the matter, such was the fate of all those who served the Lich King.

Liadrin along with the paladins and priests amongst them held Kel'Thuzad in place with holy chains, forcing him to stay in place whilst the rest of them slaughtered the waves of undead coming from all seven portals located in the room. Wave after wave of skeletons, abominations and banshees were slain from those who were taking care of them.

Seeing his forces get massacred without his support, Kel'Thuzad grew angry and frustrated, clawing at the holy chains that had wrapped around him, burning his skeletal fingers. The Lich grimaced in pain, glaring at Liadrin and her blood knights. "Enough of this!" A pulse of frost magic burst out from Kel'Thuzad, knocking back the Paladins and Priests chaining him down, along with Liadrin.

The force of the spell cut off the connection the seven portals had, closing them instantly and leaving the remaining Scourge stranded in a room with the Forsaken and Sin'dorei forces, along with Kel'Thuzad. Liadrin stood up from where she was blasted back, holy flames burning in her eyes as she glared at Kel'Thuzad. "You'll pay for that, Lich!" She charged forward in a burst of speed, the closer she got to him, the brighter her eyes burnt until a flash of holy light blinded everyone in the room.

She leapt into the air, raising her sword above her head before bringing it crashing down onto the Lich. However, Kel'Thuzad extended out his hand to where he knew she was, albeit blinded by the light that protruded from Liadrin, he managed to grab her by the throat, the light dimming almost immediately. He cackled menacingly at her. "Nice try, little pala – Argh!"

Sylvanas along with her Dark rangers fired volley after volley of dark arrows at the Lich, making him to let go of Liadrin, dropping her to the floor and as she gasped for air. "Liadrin move!" Sylvanas commanded, drawing another arrow before letting it loose. Two of her blood knights ran to Liadrin's side, dragging her away as the others began to engage the Lich in combat.

Lor'themar took over from Liadrin, keeping Kel'Thuzad in place and focused on him whilst the paladins and priests amongst them assaulted the Lich with holy fire, weakening him more and more. Knowing his chances of surviving were slipping away the longer this battle went on, he sought to end it there and then. Kel'Thuzad extended out one of his skeletal arms, stretching his fingers as wide as they would go before several bolts of frost burst out from his palm, hitting many Sin'dorei and Forsaken troops, freezing or kiling them instantly.

Seeing this, Liadrin burst forward once more, her energy renewed after seeing her people were get slaughtered by the very being that corrupted the Sunwell all those years ago. She raised her sword above her head, holy flames in her eyes again only this time, a pair of golden wings grew from her back as she leapt forward, severing the arm of the Lich and causing an explosion of holy light to burst out from the blow.

Kel'Thuzad recoiled within himself before disintegrating into ash by the sheer power of the holy light hitting him. "The Master's will... Is... eternal.." All that was left of the Lich were his tattered robes, stripped to the bare minimum of what could be classed as clothing. Victory was theirs, but at a heavy cost.

Those left alive were celebrating this victory, raising weapons to the sky whilst cheers echoed the room they were in. The celebrations were brief however when they realised how many they had lost in order to get here, the countless lives spent in this necropolis alone was staggering compared to how many they had left. Liadrin collapsed to the floor, her energy utterly spent. Lor'themar and Halduron went around, checking the well-being of their troops along with the Forsaken.

Clea stood by her queen, saying nothing as Sylvanas stood still by the entrance of the room, brooding to herself over what had happened before they engaged Kel'Thuzad in combat. Her thoughts went back to the conversation she had with Athrodar about Icecrown Citadel and the many secret entrances there are to that forsaken place.

She paced around a little, stopping in front of Clea when her train of thought had finished. "Clea, I need you to take our forces back to Undercity." She glanced over to her Dark Rangers who were talking amongst themselves. "Leave Kalira and Loralen with me."

Clea looked back over her shoulder, spotting the two rangers her queen spoke of. She looked back at her queen, frowning at her request. "If I may ask, my Queen, why aren't you returning with us?"

Sylvanas glanced down at her Ranger-General from the corner of her eyes, her face remaining as stoic as ever. "I have a personal errand to run, it won't take long." She looked ahead at the tattered robes of Kel'Thuzad, going over the plan in her mind.

Clea stared at her queen, not sure if she should do as asked or not. When Sylvanas narrowed her eyes at her, she quickly got moving, gathering up the Forsaken forces and informing Kalira and Loralen that they were requested by their Queen. When Clea returned, she extended her hand out to her queen, who took hold of it firmly, shaking her hand. "I'll see you in Undercity, my Queen."

Sylvanas studied her two remaining Dark Rangers, knowing what she was about to ask them was risky in itself, but she knew they were loyal and would follow their queen anywhere. "Kalira, Loralen, what we're about to do risks the chance of being killed all together." She glanced at either one of them individually before continuing. "We are going to infiltrate Icecrown Citadel itself and kill Arthas when he least expects it. Can I trust you with this task?"

Both Dark Rangers looked at each other before looking back at their queen, nodding in agreement. "We will aide you in this task, my Queen. Even if we risk our lives in the process."

She grinned at them. "Good."

A week had passed since Athrodar left the Frozen Throne to go to Ymirheim, requesting the Vrykul's best warriors to be sacrificed to the Death God, and in return be raised as a powerful agent of the Scourge. Upon arriving at the Vrykul settlement, he was met with glares at first, the giant humanoids not trusting the elf on first sight. When he announced his reasoning for being there however, the Vrykul welcomed him with open arms, their leader showing him their best warriors.

Ten warriors lined up, shoulder to shoulder awaiting inspection. Athrodar began to inspect each one individually, not showing any thought or feeling to their status, nor the freezing climate they were presently in. When he reached the end of the line, he turned to their leader. "I will expect a demonstration, a duel perhaps."

"Of course! Death for the death god!" The Vrykul Thane raised a double bladed axe into the air. Athrodar thought the beings to be brutish in nature and a bit slow for his liking.

Athrodar stood there, watching the ten Vrykul battle each other in one on one combat, unamused by what he was seeing. He didn't find them to have any lack of skill, quite the contrary, he could see they were skilled fighters. He was unamused by the fact he had to watch over them, something any lackey of the Scourge could do.

The first of the ten warriors fell in combat, sealing his fate to be resurrected as a mindless minion. As if on cue, a Val'kyr appeared beside Athrodar, ready to raise the fallen Vrykul into a mindless minion of the Scourge whilst awarding the victorious fighter with undeath and incredible power. The Val'kyr were ascended female Vrykul, originally warriors of the light created to serve Odyn by bringing the spirits of the glorious dead to the Halls of Valor. The Scourge counterparts however, were agents of the Lich King, serving their master by raising countless dead at once whilst bestowing power to others.

"Helga." Athrodar glanced up at the Val'kyr that gently flapped its wings by his side. "You know what to do." She set off to do what she knew best. She raised the fallen Vrykul into a wretched being of the Scourge, barely representing his former glory, whilst awarding the victor with immense power and turning him undead, to serve the Lich King for as long as he can fight.

This went on with the eight other combatants, the victors granted power and the gift of undeath, whilst the slain were raised into mindless Scourge minions. The angelic being, once completing her duty, flew off back to Icecrown Citadel, back to the Lich King until she was called upon once more. Athrodar looked at the five unworthy Vrykul, cursed with the blight of mindlessness. "What do you call them, Thane?"

"The unworthy are called Vargul, my Prince."

He glanced up at the Thane that towered above him. "I see. Well, the Lich King would like you to dispose of them in any way you seem fit." His gaze met the five unfortunate souls who had be turned into the wretched beings. "He doesn't want those who had failed him to remain in his army." A thought crossed his mind, making him grin slightly. "Use them as practice for those who wish to serve the Death God."

Athrodar span on his heel, walking over to his Deathcharger that awaited him, only to be stopped by the Thane. "Will you be going so soon my Prince?"

"Yes, good Thane. But I will return in -"

The voice of the Lich King entered his mind, stopping him mid sentence. "Return to me, Prince Athrodar. We have an unwelcome guest in our Citadel."

Athrodar shook his head quickly, forcing himself back to reality. "I will return within a fortnight, have more warriors prepared for me in the meantime." Without looking back for a reply, he set off on his Deathcharger at full speed back towards Icecrown Citadel.

The trip back from Northrend was a quiet one, despite the victory they had in Dragonblight. The substantial amount of losses from both armies dampened the mood when they set sail with six empty ships. Most of their forces were already in Northrend before they set sail from Tirisfal Glades and Eversong, only to return back to their respected territories with a much smaller force than they set off with.

Upon arriving at Eversong Woods, Liadrin was met by Thalina almost instantly, the Magister throwing herself at her and embracing her in a tight hug. "Welcome home Liadrin!" Her mood was a pleasant change for the Blood Knight Matriarch considering what it was like on the way back home. "I take it you were victorious?"

Liadrin gave her a small smile. True they were victorious, but it came at a heavy price. "Yes, we were." She looked at Thalina, not knowing how to put what happened there in a way that wouldn't devastate her. "Look, Thal..."

Thalina looked around, noticing how small of a force was left. "We lost so many, it's going to take forever to rebuild our army." She looked around, searching for Sera but not finding her. "Did I miss Sera? Where is she?"

Liadrin closed her eyes, knowing what she was going to tell her would pain the Magister. "Thal... She didn't make it."

Thalina remained strong, looking at her friend and not showing her any reason to believe she would break down into tears. She instead shook her head, looking down at the ground. "How did she die?"

"A massive skeletal dragon froze her in one breath." She put a hand on Thalina's shoulder. "She pushed Athrodar out the way of the frozen attack."

Her head shot up, a single tear rolling down her face. "She saved the one person she looked up to more than anyone. I don't think it's something he would forget anytime soon." She looked at Liadrin who avoided her gaze, telling her that something else happened. "Liadrin, what is it? Athrodar is fine, right?"

Liadrin didn't know how to put it lightly, she couldn't even form the words to say it, instead opting to shake her head at the question. This caused Thalina to step back a couple paces, stumbling to the floor before curling up into ball, hugging herself whilst rocking back and forth, not wanting to believe that he had died, again. Liadrin ran over to her, kneeling down beside her and pulling her close, trying to calm her down but knowing it wasn't going to be easy.

Liadrin hummed some old Thalassian songs in her ear, knowing that it would do little to calm her at this moment, but it was something that would distract her long enough to not cry as well. She lightly cast holy spells on Thalina, soothing her the best she could. When she had calmed down enough to form a sentence, she stared off into the sea with teary eyes, wanting to know what happened to him. "How did he..?"

Liadrin rest her cheek on top of Thalina's head, following the Magister's gaze into the ocean. "That bastard Arthas took him from us." She grit her teeth in anger. "Again. But we will get him back. Trust me when I say I will get him back for you, Thal. We all will."

Thalina nodded to the best of her ability, considering she was pressed again Liadrin in a tight embrace. "And I will help you get him back." Before Liadrin could argue, she carried on her point. "He brought me back to Silvermoon during the siege and look what happened. I will not stand by again when I can do something."

Knowing better than to argue with her, she remained silent, staring off into the ocean with her, still holding her close in order to comfort her. When she did eventually speak, she decided to change topic. "How's little Tana? Is she giving your mother a hard time?"

Thalina let out a little chuckle. "She's a baby Liadrin, my mother loves her more than me at this age. But if you want to know, she's been an angel from what I've been told."

Liadrin snorted, not believing her. "I helped bring her into the world, I could see on day one she was a mischievous little one." She smiled as she thought back to a memory. "Much like her father was when he was younger."

Thalina smiled as she thought back on some fond memories as well. "He was, yeah. Though, most of his pranks were done to me, with the help of my beloved brother." She shook her head. "But he was sweet when he wanted to be. Those are the moments I long for."

Liadrin rubbed her arm, slowly starting to stand up. "Come on, let's get you home, you need to rest and clear your head. I, on the other hand, want to see that little one of yours and teach her the ways of the light, seeing as you want to rush into combat more than anyone I know."

"She's not even been on this world for a year and you're going to teach her the ways of the light." Thalina shook her head. "I almost regret naming you the godmother."

Liadrin poked her ribs, causing Thalina to squirm about. "You love me and you know it." She looked towards the horizon, seeing the city walls of Silvermoon. "Besides, I also want to see her adorable little ears. Oh and her eyes! Her big, innocent eyes make you forget about the bad in the world."

Thalina gave her an incredulous look, not believing what she was hearing. "Lady Liadrin, Matriarch of the Blood Knights and badass Paladin, brought to her knees by my child."

Liadrin pouted at her, crossing her arms in the meantime. "She's adorable okay? I can't help it."

Thalina gave her a beaming smile of victory, pulling her close as they got closer to home. "We're almost there, then you can have her all to yourself for a while."