Eastspark Vehicle Workshop
Wintergrasp
Small campfires illuminated the otherwise desolate frozen lake. Rayne stood between two patches directing traffic for the rest of his troops as they hauled in giant parts from the nearby supply ship.
"All metal parts to the workshop. All wooden parts just up north. Wait for Marcus and he'll escort you to your destination," directed Rayne.
Upon arriving at this blue beach, the Templar soldiers were greeted by their superiors. Each of the Knights carefully chosen by Rayne himself combined their skills and abilities with the sheer numbers provided by the paladin's personal regiment. Samuel and Zariyana utilized the unique priest ability to lighten the loads of each massive siege part so the soldiers could save some of their strength. Cayden provided portals between each workshop to quickly deliver products exactly where they needed to be with little exposure to the open and potentially prying eyes of their enemies. Narula was scouting over in the western side of the area. Her attunement to nature gives her a distinct advantage over some of her comrades. With just a whisper she could communicate with the plants underneath the snow and find any unwanted parties in the area.
The only one left was Weasel. Rayne had sent him out nearly an hour ago and he hasn't come back to report yet. The night was just seeping in and he still needed time to work on one final tinker before the battle began. It was a vital step in his overall plan and without it, they would be highly encumbered throughout the attack.
"Hey Rayne!"
The squeaky voice coming from below caught the paladin's attention, just not his eyes. He was still commanding the troops ensuring they were headed in the right direction. The line led up to a wide gap that stopped everyone to a slow halt.
"Com'on guys, keep moving –"
"Hey!" Shouted the voice from below.
"Findle!"
Rayne knelt down to meet his engineering mentor. The sour look on the gnome's face would take more than just an apology to sweeten up.
"What's the big idea?" Findle whined. "I came all the way out here to this snowy wasteland to offer my genius and assistance and you're brushing me aside because I'm a little vertically challenged?!"
"You know it's not like that Findle," Rayne chuckled. "But I do apologize."
"Eh, don't worry about it," the gnome waved. "Still, I've never seen you so focused without an arclight spanner in your hands. Things have gotten pretty intense, haven't they?"
The paladin nodded.
"I really appreciate you coming all the way out here to help us. We truly couldn't have done this without you."
"Stop kissing my lug nuts kid," blushed Findle. "You had me at here's your gold. Now, where do I set up shop?"
"The engineering workshop just up the path," Rayne pointed while standing back up. "Marcus will show you the way."
"Great, I've got a lot of stuff to do and not a lot of time to do it."
"I'll be there in a little while to help as well," the paladin replied. "I've also got a new tinker I'm going to need your nimble fingers to assist with."
The gnome raised an eyebrow.
"It's not any more of those tiny rockets, is it?"
"No, no," The paladin laughed. "It's nothing like that. Just a little something to help me control the flow of battle."
"Sounds expensive," Findle said while scratching his chin. "Do you have all the parts ready?"
"Of course," Rayne smiled. "I've been working on this one for a while. I just need to splice a few wires and solder some diodes. Shouldn't be more than an hour of your time at most."
"Well, let's see how far we come with these other little tinkers you have me working on," the gnome sighed. "Come on boys. Let's get to it!"
Findle marched across the snowy trail with his two assistants following close by. They carted up a few crates of various engineering wares. The night was still young but they had plenty of work left to finish before they could launch their attack on the fortress. A lot of time and money were being spent on this operation. The paladin had to be careful not to waste either.
"Yo boss."
Rayne lowered his eyes and caught the familiar grin of the stealthy gnome under his employ staring back at him.
"Weasel!" Rayne shouted. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for your scouting report."
"Yeesh," sighed the gnome. "I would have come back earlier but I was dealing with a little problem."
Rayne was interested. It wasn't in Weasel's nature to be lazy or late. Something must have happened that required further investigation.
"What did you see?"
"The enemy's trying to scout our location. I caught one of those freaky green fel eyes floating around the eastern mountains where Zanneth and the others are going to be posted."
"Really?" The paladin pondered.
If they had a warlock in their midst it would prove difficult to assault them head on. Fel magic was wily and unpredictable. Anyone that summons demons to do their bidding was not someone Rayne trusted to join his team. Jean must have planned for every contingency if he's got one of those aiding his defense. Or he was merely getting desperate.
"Do you know if they spotted anything?"
"Not much," Weasel replied while casually picking his teeth. "Just a full moon."
The paladin raised an eyebrow. He looked up to the sky and noticed only a half moon lurking above. It took him a moment to realize what the gnome had meant by that statement. The image instantly materialized before his mind could stop it in time.
"By the light," Rayne groaned. "Must you taunt them like that?"
"Meh, I figured they deserved it," shrugged the gnome. "They weren't being very conspicuous about it either. It's like they're not taking us seriously. Looks like your plan is working boss."
The news was inspiring. If their forces had taken the rumors about the Templar Knights seriously than it would put them at an extreme advantage. The only variable in the equation was Jean. They may have met only once but even he may have trouble believing anything he has heard about the Knight's follies on Northrend. It could be that they have a couple of loose cannons in their midst that aren't as sharp as the other knives in the drawer. Or it simply could mean that he wasn't worried about the attack in the slightest and was merely taunting Rayne to act.
Weasel's new intelligence was both a benefit and detriment. It gave them a little insight on the enemy at the added cost of revealing their presence in the area. Rayne wasn't expecting to pull off a complete surprise attack but it would have been nice if the option was still available.
"Thanks Weasel," Rayne began. "Findle's in the workshop. We're going to need your specific engineering expertise to aid in the demolisher construction."
"Roger that," the gnome replied with a growing grin. "I've got just what he needs to spark his imagination."
Weasel took off north without a second's hestiation. Rayne continued to guiding the rest of the troops into the encampment. Thankfully, their work was almost completed. They would need all of the rest they could get for the attack tomorrow. The paladin wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight but with the lives of hundreds as well as his closest companions at stake, it was a worthy sacrifice.
Sunreaver's Sanctuary
Dalaran
"Stop her - !" Cried the guard before getting pounced by the full weight of Emerald's tackle.
The tiger drove the elven soldier to his back and slammed all four paws into his armored hide. The beast quickly fled forward through the open alcoves as instructed with his master following closely behind.
Another pair of guards were just outside the main road. The young elf tucked the hood over her head and continued running at full steam. She knew exactly what she needed to do and was determined to see it through to the end.
"Left Emerald!"
The guards crossed their halberds as they approached. The tiger burst forward driving its full weight into the guard's kneecap. He collapsed on the ground shrieking about his newly dislocated appendage. The second raised his weapon preparing to impale the foul creature. A pair of boots landed abruptly on his collar driving his attention away. Lorelei crouched against the resonating impact of her jump while clutching against the guard's helm to keep her balance. She twisted her body sending the guard reeling in the direction of her choice with his back against the nearby wall. The young elf kicked back with both legs and drove his armored frame into the unforgiving structure behind him. His helm left a resounding ringing into the night's air as consciousness was brutally stolen from him.
"Let's go!" She ordered.
Only two guards were left at the path's exit. They were responsible for ensuring no Alliance members were allowed to enter their sanctuary. Admittedly they were amongst the toughest of the lot. However, Lorelei did not risk her life and status just to back down in the face of a challenge. Her heart had been crying out clamoring for the attention she truly desired. There was no way her journey was going to end here.
Emerald leapt into the air veering left near the wall. The guard had anticipated this attack and planted his halberd into the ground. The finely sharpened blade awaiting the soft intestines of the green beast as it rapidly approached.
"Now!"
The tiger kicked off the wall and continued to soar towards the unsuspecting right guard. Lorelei dashed underneath and delivered a devastating sweeping kick to the back of the left's unarmored knee. Her body followed through with the spin as she drew the bow slung on her back. The blunt edge near the handle caught the throat of the fallen guard. Air was ripped from his body. He wheezed against the blow begging for more of it to enter his lungs.
"Emerald!"
Lorelei called to her pet as she blitzed down the main road. The tiger pushed off the fallen guard that unfortunately took the brunt of his half-ton weight and followed his master. They raced east through the empty streets. Small lights illuminated the path from both sides. The young elf's boots meticulously slapped against the paved road in quick succession.
The only way out of town was either by flight master at Krasus' Landing or the Violet Gate that will teleport the user down below to the Violet Stand. The flight master was the ideal choice that would take her right where she needed to go.
"There she is!" Called a guard from the Sanctuary entrance. "Stop her!"
There was no time to lose. Taking the flight master would several impeded her progress. She needed to lose these guys fast.
"Com'on Emerald!"
Lorelei charged up the staircase. Tall blue windows decorated with images of books, trees, and the sun were wonderfully crafted into the panes. A floating triangular crystal hung in the center of the circular shaped room. The young elf tugged on the tuft of her pet's hair as she gave the magical device a mighty slap.
A trickle of white energy quickly enveloped her entire body. The world around her started to fade. Gravity no longer clung to her. She slowly lifted into the air. Sounds of charging footsteps in the distance faded. The majestic city of Dalaran disappeared before her very eyes. Everything became washed in a sea of purple. Lorelei's toes slowly descended onto solid ground. The blurry landscape quickly became clear. A large purple barrier surrounded the immediate area. It paled in comparison to the massive ruins around the perimeter. Two tall columns abruptly stood out against the damaged and decaying architecture. Monsters roamed the lands to the south and east of this position.
The young elf quickly retrieved the map she had stolen from the command room. She had carefully marked the path just in case she found herself in a precarious position. The quickest path to Wintergrasp was through the western hills along the border of Dragonblight. She tucked the map back into her cloak and made a break for the mountains. With her bow still in hand, Lorelei nocked and fired off several arrows to the north towards the Ironwall Dam. If her pursuers happened upon this place, they will most likely believe she had ventured towards Icecrown instead of her true destination.
Snow packed the steep mountains. Thankfully the young elf came prepared. She retrieved a pair of climbing hooks and started her ascent. It was quite the distance to the top of the ridge; even more so with the distance she had to pass to get to Wintergrasp on foot. She'd be lucky to reach the fortress by daybreak. Despite the looming look of despair staring down upon her, Lorelei did not falter. All of the decisions in her life had been made by others or needed their approval. This was the first time she truly chased something that only she held dear. Nothing was going to stop her now.
Eastspark Workshop
Wintergrasp
Rayne sat under the leafless tree carefully twisting the arclight spanner. He screwed in the final bolt that locked the metal housing frame in place. Thanks to the zoom feature on his goggles he was able to ensure precise adjustments. Accuracy was crucial when you're working with something this tiny. Findle did most of the hard work thanks to his genetically endowed hand size. The only thing left for the paladin to do was secure all of the tiny wiring within the protective metal plates.
They were only able to finish and test four of them but it was just the amount they needed to make this work. Findle promised to make more of these the second they got back to the shop. He was already talking about how they were going to revolutionize battlefield combat as they knew it. Best of all, he had already given it a name: the Communication Headset with Automatic Transmission. With this device strapped to your ear, you could freely speak with any other device on the battlefield from miles away. This would allow Rayne to update his strategic command from the four key points in Wintergrasp; the engineering workshops.
The moon was high overhead. Midnight leered back at Rayne. After finishing two more of these tinkers he needed to go back in the workshop and begin installing the units on each siege vehicle. Unfortunately, that's an area where his engineering mentor was physically lacking.
"Raymond," called the soft voice. "What are you doing up here?"
The paladin's attention quickly darted from his engineering device to the beautiful night elf standing before him. He was so engrossed with his work that he didn't even hear her footsteps trotting along the thick snow.
"Oh, hey Narula," smiled the paladin. He lifted the goggles from his eyes to get a much more pure look at the violet haired elf. It didn't matter how much snow or ice surrounded him. Her very presence always warmed his heart.
"It was getting a little stuffy inside of the workshop. I thought I'd come out here for some fresh air and finish up in peace."
"Does that mean I'm bothering you?" The night elf coyly asked.
"Not at all!" Rayne quickly replied. "You never bother me Narula. I just -"
Her tender laugh ceased the paladin's defense. She knew exactly what she was doing. Rayne had to keep his guard up despite his heart clamoring for the exact opposite.
The night elf took a seat just inches away from him and gently pressed her back against the tree. Her slender hands wrapped around her knees and held her delicate head. Long strands of her shimmering hair spread in an organized mess over her armor. It was like staring at her as if she was lying in bed; a sight in which the paladin had only dreamed of seeing.
"Is everything alright?" Narula posed.
"Yes," nodded Rayne.
He immediately felt regret stabbing his mind. The absolute last person he wanted to close himself off from was Narula.
"Well, no. I mean," he continued to stumble over every word. "I don't know anymore."
"You seemed troubled. Even earlier today when we –"
"About that," Rayne cut in.
He put down his tools and gave the night elf a sincere look.
"I'm sorry. I should have apologized earlier. It was terribly rude of me. I shouldn't have treated you that way. You, of all people, deserve better than that."
"Raymond," Narula said with a small giggle. "When did you get so formal with me? You have not been that way since we were children."
The paladin hadn't even noticed he had slipped into his old habits of overdoing speeches including apologies. It was a trait taught to him by his father and many of their trusted staff and acquaintances. He always said the main difference between a noble and commoner was the size of their tongue.
"I'm sorry," sighed Rayne. "It's just, there's a lot of things going on right now. Trying to wrap my head around all of them is proving to be quite the encumbrance."
"I know," the night elf replied while staring into the sky. "I have not been here as long as you have but the air here is different. All of the trees, plants, and animals are more guarded and frightened. This place doesn't just make your body cold but your heart as well."
The insights Narula provided were invaluable. She had a knack for explaining things that just seemed to make sense without being overly complicated like Cayden or overwhelmingly condescending like the Legend twins.
"I fear Northrend is attempting to grasp at you the same way Raymond. It worries me to think about what might happen to you when I am not by your side. All of us are here for you so please be more careful. If you need to rely on us, we will be there."
Her eyes slowly met his. They locked their gaze on one another as if the whole world melted around them.
"I will always be here for you."
Rayne's heart thumped loudly. The way she was looking at him; the way the words poured through her velvet lips was different. It was almost as if she was trying to say something else hidden beneath those kind words. His mind slowly cleared as he began opening up to her as he should have a long time ago.
"Thank you Narula," the paladin smiled. "I'm just worried."
"About the battle tomorrow?"
Rayne shook his head.
"About what I'm doing. I'm not even sure if I even want to be out here anymore. I remember when I was a child the reason why I wanted to become a paladin was to help people. Paladins were radiant warriors. Their aura's shined brighter than even the most noble of knights. I thought because of that, they were also the most powerful and in turn, the most adept at helping others."
The paladin stopped for a moment to take a good long breath. His memories were going places they hadn't traveled in years.
"I never really knew what I wanted to do as a child other than become a paladin. In a lot of ways, I still don't. I just get so much joy from making people happy it doesn't really matter what I'm doing. If everyone is smiling, I know I'm doing the right thing."
"You are certainly adept at that," the night elf smiled.
"Thank you," said the paladin. "But this is different. We're not fighting a common enemy anymore. I know we're not exactly friends either but that's one of the reasons why I didn't join the Valiance Expedition. I knew they would inevitably cross blades with the Horde over conflicting lands and that was something I did not want to be a part of. It's not what paladin's were meant to do. And yet, here I am, already contradicting myself by taking up arms against them."
Rayne put down the small communications device and rested his face into the palms of his gauntlets. The hardened strands of blonde hair tickled the tips of his fingers.
"One of the reasons why I had initially tarnished the Templar Knights reputation was to find the right people to help. I knew that anyone who was willing to take our assistance had to be desperate beyond comprehension. When your backs are against the wall and you have nowhere else to turn, that is where you'll find the purest form of sincerity."
"The Alliance appears to be adamant about securing this fortress," Narula stated. "I am sure their intentions are noble, otherwise, they wouldn't have depended upon you to assist them."
Her lips pursed forming a tiny but still noticeable smirk.
"Knowing you, I am sure you would have at least entertained a request from the Horde if they asked for your assistance."
"I wouldn't exactly go that far," laughed the paladin. "I'm not the biggest fan of their politics or strategy. The way they do things is a bit too savage and barbaric for my tastes. Though I hold no love for the Horde, I do not wish them harm either. The last thing I'd want in this world is for someone to hate me so I couldn't allow myself to feel that way towards others."
"You are too kind Raymond," the night elf smiled. "Although I feel as others who carry the Templar Knights banner do not share your sympathy or compassion towards the enemy."
"I know," Rayne sighed. "I couldn't impose or burden them to change who they are for my sake. I understand that in order to move forward towards where you desire to be, sometimes you have to be willing to fight. Their strength aids us all towards a common goal. I can do nothing but respect that even if I may not share their sentiments."
"If only your wisdom could be imparted upon everyone I am certain Azeroth would be a better world for all life."
Narula paused while carefully sliding her hand over the hardened plates of the paladin's gauntlet. She gazed upon him with her glowing silver eyes and continued in a stern but compassionate tone.
"You are destined for great things. The world will never know a greater champion than you Raymond Templar."
Electricity pulsated through Rayne's body. The conduit of energy bursting through his hand exploded with each thump within his chest. Narula was always a constant source of stability and inspiration. His heart raged calling out to her within his mind. She had never been this close to him and yet still stood so far away. Rayne could not find the courage to pursue it any more than he has already traversed. However, this time it was different. Something else was blocking the path.
"Thank you Narula," nodded the paladin.
His morose tone proved that not even her words could penetrate the armor surrounding his conscious.
"But I don't think it's in my heart to be a champion of this world. I was always taught that those who have power have the inherent responsibility to use it towards the preservation of life and defense of those who cannot do so themselves. I don't know exactly how to describe it but I feel my calling lies somewhere else."
The paladin stopped for a moment. His heart pulsed rapidly as thoughts began flooding through his mind. Maybe it wasn't just somewhere else as he originally believed.
"Maybe I'm just venting," Rayne sighed. "I know what must be done and what is expected of me. That is the duty I swore to uphold when taking this mantle. However, I don't think I've ever asked myself the question about what I want to do versus what I should be doing. A lot of things will change after today. I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to cross that path yet."
A puff of white mist exited the paladin's throat. The cold air continuously bore down upon him yet he couldn't feel anything but warmth when sitting next to the beautiful elf that could always make his heart flutter.
Rayne took a deep breath. He looked into his beloved's eyes and saw exactly what awaited him. The words finally came to his lips. He turned his head away and stared briefly at the glorious moon above before sinking his eyes back down to the soft snow below. This is exactly where his heart wanted to say.
"I never wanted to become a hero but before I knew it, I had already become one."
The paladin sulked as the weight of those words collapsed upon him. Though he had an incredible prowess towards the light, he did not wish to follow the same path as his brothers in arms. Everyone has different goals they wish to achieve. Rayne wished he didn't have to complete them with a sword in his hands. If there was any other way, he would gladly take that burden. Unfortunately, he was smart enough to know the difference between dreams and reality.
"I'm sorry Raymond."
Narula's words caught the paladin off guard. He affixed his eyes upon hers and listened intently as she continued.
"That is a journey you must cross on your own. Your life and the choices you make are your burden to bear. I cannot speak for you nor can I make those decisions. You must think carefully about what it is that you truly desire. Following a path that you did not make for yourself is the greatest injustice one can inflict upon oneself. This is not merely about what you choose to do or who you choose to be. You also have to think of those whom you lead. They believe that your cause is worth following. You inspire them to be better than they could be alone. That is why we chose you to be our leader and that is why you must think carefully before every decision you make."
Her hand slowly glided up Rayne's arm until it casually rested upon his shoulder.
"You are my dearest friend and most noble companion. I will always walk proudly alongside you wherever you may go but I can never lead the way."
The night elf slowly stood up. She casually dusted off the fragments of snow sticking to the leather straps of armor.
"Please try and get some rest tonight Raymond. You have a big day tomorrow."
Narula slowly walked away from the paladin. His eyes did not follow her. Rayne heard her faint footsteps trailing off into the distance. He always looked to the night elf to inspire and encourage him. Her words have often been the source of great insight and hope. However, tonight was anything but. She had hit him with the hammer of reality and its weight knocked the wind out of his thoughts.
The paladin wasn't upset about the abruptness of her comments. It was because he knew that she was right. Rayne had believed he was doing everything correctly when in reality it was merely halfheartedly. Everyone was desperate to find their calling in life and here he was dragging around friends from every corner of the globe while still searching for his.
Moisture slowly evaporated from his mouth. The paladin thought back to the moment he shared with another elf inside Findle's shop. Her words had touched him in a way that made him feel happy, cheerful, and most importantly, desired. His mind was conflicted as emotions began waging war with one another. Despite being in love with Narula for as far back as he could remember, a tiny part of Rayne's heart had slowly started to consider the young elf's bold offer.
Mountain Border
Icecrown
Tiny frozen claws of moisture dug into the small bits of exposed skin on the young elf's face. She had traversed these mountains for most of the evening. All of the survival training afforded to her by her expert teachers had paid off handsomely. She almost glided along the ridges with little need to stop as she approached the goal ahead.
The towering fortress of Icecrown Citadel stood behind her. Its massive spire stood out brilliantly in what was left the pale moonlight. The ominous stronghold made the surrounding area feel much colder and sinister as Lorelei continued to trek. Even the fear of death by the dreaded Lich King's hand did not impeded her resolve. The young elf's heart carried her through the thick snow banks and rigid mountainous terrain. It was as if she were another person entirely.
Lorelei's mind drifted to the last time she had spoken with her brother. His disparaging tenor was in full force that evening but did nothing but strengthen the young elf's resolve. She soon realized that in Jean's presence she became weak and timid. Her utter reliance on her brother's strength was downright sickening. If she even so much as changed her hairstyle or conversed with a new friend it was harshly met with disapproval and disdain.
However, Rayne was different. His compassion and understanding was beyond that of any mere elf within the walls of Silvermoon. He carried himself with a regal elegance that wasn't intimidating and yet, should be imitated. The paladin inspired her to be something more than she could ever hope to be on her own. She wanted to be just like him; confident, powerful, and brave. Even when faced by her own rudeness during their initial meeting he did not falter and maintained a calm demeanor. No one else would have done the same. That was just one of the many things that drew her heart to his.
The peak of the mountains were just up ahead. Lorelei continued to push with Emerald close behind clawing his way along the path. She could start to make out some ancient gray and bronze structure in the distance. Mighty walls stood nearly twenty-feet high with dome shaped towers on every corner. A mass of red banners adorned with the black curved symbol of the Horde hung symmetrically along various points. The highest peak of the fortress appeared to be built along the edge of the mountain itself. That had to be where Jean was stationed. There was no other place around this frozen desolate landscape fit for someone of his standing.
Light began to crest over the eastern hills. The sun would soon be making its appearance. Any guards stationed below would be able to spot her from a mile away. She quickly dashed along the rocky surface hopping from one flat point to the next. Jean would more than likely freak out at her presence but if she arrived before the attack began than he would have no choice but to confront the young elf and deal with their issues head on. It was the only thing she could think of to save Rayne's life.