AN: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING WORLD OF WARCRAFT! ANY REAL IN GAME CHARACTERS AND WoW BELONGS TO BLIZZARD! NO COPY RIGHT INTENDED! IT'S A GREAT GAME! :) I really hope you guys comment and let me know how you feel or like the story! I love your comments, they always make me smile!
Echo dug her feet into the ground and yanked Jaina back. Trying to remain calm, she signed.
'Jaina, we must wait. Rushing into things will not be the answer. In fact, it may kill us. Arthas will not get far if he is traveling by land mount. Remember, he needs the army platoon that is built at the side of Lordaeron waiting for ALL of us.' Jania's electric blue eyes slowly darkened and her breathing became normal.
"You- you are right. Of course you are right."
Echo sat Jaina down on her bed and patted her hand. 'I am sorry for your lover's home. I know you loved that place too.'
Jaina let out a small sob and nodded. Salem gently crawled onto Jaina's lap and purred, trying to comfort his master's friend. Echo held her as she cried, she began making plans…
After about an hour, Echo pulled Jaina close and told her, 'Jaina, follow your master's order. Take flight to Brill, you may catch him. I am going to report to Master Fahrad quickly and inform him of the changed plans. I will take flight and meet you at Lordaeron. Now go!' Jaina looked hopeful and grabbed the Rogue's hands in a prayer like position.
"Thank you, my dear friend."
In a swirl of violet, gold and azure, Jaina ported out to follow her orders.
Echo dressed quickly in her gear, poisoned her blades and stocked up on her newly made explosives. Something was going to happen, and it was not entirely good. Salem vanished. The Rogue dashed through Dalaran and to Kael'thas' room.
Echo banged on the door till the golden prince opened the door, half dressed. Echo looked up and felt the blush rise.
"Echo? Do you have any ti-" Kael'thas' eyes were dim from sleep but focused on Echo in the door way.
She signed quickly.
'Change of plans! Arthas has left to Lordaeron early, he may attack. I have to go. I came to say goodbye, I am sorry I can't see you off to your mission.'
Kael'thas tensed and sighed angrily.
"And you have to leave? Don't follow, Echo. His brash nature just may kill you." Kale'thas grabbed Echo's arms gently and tried to avert her from the problem.
His eyes actually widened and held worry. Echo gently touched Kael'thas' cheek and swiped her thumb under his wide eyes.
'I promise to come back. But I need to go.' Kael'thas gently put his hand over her and smiled lightly. The prince leaned close and touched his forehead to her and smiled a little wider, his faint breath fanned her masked lips. They had gotten considerably closer over the months. His eyes azure gazed into her silver ones, the shadow casted from the curtain of golden hair he casted when he leaned in made his eyes look even more, dare she say, intimate.
"You better, my dear friend."
God almighty, please just kiss me…
After that, Echo left Dalaran and traveled deep into the Alterac Mountains till she finally came across the Hillsbrad Foothills.
Echo dashed hard through the civilians and workers till she reached the Ravenholdt Manor. The darkness of the night seemed to stretch everywhere from the outside to the inside of the Manor.
Echo was slightly surprised that her Master was awake. Even more shocking and annoying was that Reeves was with him.
"Whitefeather? What are you doing here? You are not to report to me ti-" Echo moved her hand rapidly and both Rogues were silenced as she signed.
'Arthas has left to Lordaeron already! I think he plans to attack!' Both Rouges froze and Reeves snarled.
"Damn that boy! He may free one of the undead! I have to report to Shaw now!" Reeves, in the first time that she had known him, was actually looking panicked now.
When Reeves disappeared, Echo looked to Fahrad.
"Whitefeather… I know you are to report to me and leave tomorrow, but we can't have this mission slip up. Go, now. The mission is still in hold just scheduled earlier than planned." Echo saluted.
Just as Echo was about to leave, he stopped at her master's voice.
"Whitefeather, you are the best student I have every trained in my many years of teaching. Don't die. I would like to congratulate you when you get back." Echo raised a brow.
'Congratulate? Congratulate me on what?'
Fahrad smirked and for the first time since she began her training with him, he bowed to her then stuck out his hand.
"I would like to Congratulations on passing and becoming Master Rogue." Echo froze and even though the timing of the event was sudden and poorly placed, she smiled and shook his hand with gratitude.
So that was what Reeves was on about earlier.
'The pleasure to train under you was my honor, sir!' Echo felt him pat her back and direct her to the Flight Master at the end of the Hillsbrad.
"I will report to Shaw that you are done with me. I have taught you all I could and everything I know. Now go, finish up with the mission and become a Grand Master when you finish with Shaw. I figured I was going to tell you this tomorrow in case your died, but now is as good time as any time." Echo gave him a blanched and unimpressed look.
Oh geez, thanks. I feel much better now.
That was the last time that Echo saw him as she departed from the Hillsbrad Foothills to Brill for one of the most life changing experiences or nightmares she was about to face.
The flight to Brill was only 30 minutes compared to the 9 hour walk or 5 hour ride. Maybe Arthas took to the ground as a way to think of a plan? Hopefully so.
I really hope you didn't do anything drastic, you knuckle headed princeling.
The wind was cold, sharp and strangely refreshing. The night was almost over and the very contrast of the opaque orange lightening sky in the far east was a sign that a new day was arising.
Brill was a very small town, it reared to the city of Lordaeron and the flight towers that stationed the Zeppelins... the sight of tower made a sense of nostalgia kick in; after this mission she was going to visit her family. No stopping her mind, her master's words made her worry for her life and she needed to see them again.
Echo spied off in the distance the once proud home of Lordaeron… it looked like it was going up in shambles. She glanced back to Brill below.
She saw Jaina from far below, she was the only Mage in the small crowd of soldiers. When she reached Jaina, she could tell her fried was nearly inconsolable.
"He has not arrived as of yet. But I did spot him close, maybe about a 10 minute journey from inside Silverpine Forest." Jaina walked close to Echo as she looked around the small crowd of soldiers.
'We need to guard Lordaeron till he arrives.' Both women lead the forces of soldiers to the gates of the infected city.
The minutes ticked by as the stationed soldiers grew more fidgety and uncomfortable. The break of sunrise began its ascension over the land, it was a deep red color.
Blood red… an omen of impending death.
Echo glared at the sky till one of the soldiers got rowdy.
"Hey! Why the hell are we taking orders from two women? Our city is in shambles and we are guarding a city of death from a Mage and a-a… thief!" Other soldiers' drily glanced from the panicking soldier to the women.
Echo glared and Jaina looked really uncomfortable and just as irritated. Echo walked up to the soldier and her icy glare made him back up a little.
She started to sign and Jaina got the message, she started to feel annoyed and courageous in terms,
"Yes, your city is infected. And yes, your city may never be the same again, but it is your duty as soldiers to defend whatever humanity and home you have left. These women you so easily disregard happen to be an apprenticing Mage Jaina Proudmoore, under the Archmage Antonidas of Dalaran and M-Master Rogue, Echo Whitefeather, of Grand Spymaster Mathias Shaw. We are not to tread lightly with this world changing situation at hand; your prince on the other hand ma-may not and do the same as you are doing now- being brash and fearful. We have come to defend and protect whatever may be left of Lordaeron. So silence your tongue, it may be your downfall!"
The soldier shut his mouth and bowed lightly at Jaina and Echo and apologized. Many of the soldiers stood at end with their guards up, waiting for orders.
Jaina smiled lightly, despite the time and place, and gently patted Echo's back, "Hey, I didn't know you are now a Master Rouge… when?" Echo held a finger to her masked lips and smiled.
"You earned it well, my friend."
The time for giggles and smiles was over as Arthas' large figure grew out from the entrance of Brill to the city's entrance where Echo, Jaina and the soldiers stood at guard. But he was not alone. A large platoon of soldier followed him on horseback.
There were more soldiers!? Where!?
"Jaina!? Echo!? What on Azeroth are you all doing here?" Jaina glanced down in a sad sigh and began to look frustrated.
"Arthas, you must stop. What you are doing is a massacre. Please." Jaina pleaded. He would not listen and pushed past.
"This is my home, Jaina. If it were Theramore, you would do as I am about to." Arthas sighed when Echo stood in front of him, blade gleamed in her hand.
'Don't make me use this, my friend. Please.' Echo looked conflicted and pleaded with her eyes to Arthas. The golden blonde couldn't help but look away.
"Please, don't stand in my way. Both of you, I beg you. I will fight you if I must, I want my home back from the sickness that has invaded it." Arthas lowered his head.
Echo placed her hand on his shoulder.
'Unsealing the gates, killing the infected and possibly setting them free will not solve anything. Your people could get better, setting the city's people free is a naught motive. More will die if the plague spreads.' Arthas glanced up at the shielded gate of his home and glanced back at Jaina then Echo.
"I-I'm sorry. I can't." With that, Echo was thrown out of his way, luckily she flipped onto her feet quickly and branded both her blades at the prince.
For the first time in her life, Echo felt true fear and pain for what she was about to do to what she thought was her friend. Arthas glared down at her and withdrew his claymore, pointing it straight at her throat.
"I will not let my home fall!" Arthas charged at Echo. The prince was beyond words. Just as she was about to sink one of her poisonous daggers into Arthas' leg, both were frozen to the ground abruptly by Jaina. And boy did the blonde look furious.
"Enough! I said enough already! No more fighting. We stand guard till Uther arrives." Arthas looked shocked by his lover's power and then processed the information.
"Uther?…" Echo looked surprised as well. The Lightbringer was coming? That may be a sign of hope.
With her last words, Jaina unfroze Echo and kept her eye on her lover. Echo couldn't help but be proud of her courageous friend.
Both women watched till the sun was completely out and no one came in or out of the city. It became noon when they heard it.
A foul and horrific roar of a cry echoed out from beyond the city walls. Echo and just about everyone else froze.
Echo looked to Arthas and Jaina, she ran and scaled up the wall, trying to remain cautious.
What laid beyond the gates was truly the most horrific site Echo had ever seen, and she had seen some shit in her short life.
The streets and building were filled with the Scourge. She could not spot a single human being left in the city.
Ghouls, Undead, Banshees, Abominations, Zombies… every breath of life was long gone. The Scourge now rule over the city of Lordaeron. Echo couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was like an abundant mindless army.
The plague created the Scourge.
Echo looked down and saw Arthas looking up at her expectantly. Echo made a motion for a rope.
To which a soldier quickly threw up to her, she tied the rope around one of the wall's guard rails.
She nodded to Jaina who let Arthas go.
The climb up the rope felt like an eternity till the prince reached the top. His breath never left his lungs and his grip became deadly on the stone.
Echo waited on baited breath till he spoke.
"No… Lordaeron is gone." Echo felt horrible. His entire home, his ruling land, was gone from Azeroth. She would never understand the pain he felt.
Without saying a word, Arthas scaled down the wall with Echo behind him.
Jaina stood patiently waiting for an answer.
"Lordaeron is gone… this mess… it's YOUR FAULT!" Arthas suddenly turned on Echo and almost decapitated her with a swing of his sword.
Jaina screamed in sudden fright. Echo kicked his feet out from under him.
"If you had let me go in, my home would still be standing!" Echo continued to dodge the clunky moves that the prince threw at her.
"Lordaeron is gone! Stratholme is under siege! My home is gone because you didn't let me fight for them in time!" Arthas was in near tears, a Paladin such as him; it broke Echo's heart slightly to see him like this.
"Arthas stop! Lordaeron has been gone for many weeks! It's no one's fault! Stop!" Arthas suddenly stopped. He glanced at Jaina. It was like the gears in his head suddenly started turning.
"Stratholme is not gone yet... You may be right." Echo's eyes widened.
BAD IDEA!
"Troops! To Stratholme! Remember, you follow the orders of your King, the name of Menethil!" With that command, it was like a switch from scared soldiers to fearless men. The men marched from the forsaken city to Stratholme. The march through the Western Plaguelands was horrific, no matter how hard both women tried to convince the prince he refused to yield and marched on with a look of determination on his face.