Rise of Silverpine chapter 25
I do not own Warcraft or ASOIF
The trio trekked through the blood-colored lands of the Draenei realm, all of them on edge.
If the Prophet's vision was indeed to be true, simply killing a single demon and everything should be over. Jaime, however, had a hard time believing any of it. Being the oldest and arguably the most experienced of the group, it was not easy for him to change his ways, especially suddenly having to trust in magic.
As he walked, he observed the lands around him. The ground was blood red, yet unevenly-colored, there been patched in the same azure color as the previous isle. The trees were pine, some with blue leaves, other normal looking, yet a no small number were simply shattered, their tops fully missing if the tree stood at all. The local wildlife was not any better. Jaime could have sworn he saw a walking flower more than once and that was the most normal looking creature around.
He did not know why he was truly doing this. He was supposed to simply observe and learn, a task in his mind more suited for Tyrion. He was definitely not supposed to try to liberate an army of elves from a demon on an island cursed by a weird combination of science and magic. They have left Blood watch nearly a day ago, in the early hours of the morning and were not heading for a graveyard of some sort that also doubled as an outpost. There, they were supposed to find a draenei woman to guide them into the elf base through some mountain paths filled with giant spiders.
The commanders back in the Watch went over this several times and Jaime was uncertain what he preferred. To have to fight an army of elves or to go through a lair of enormous beasts.
"The sun is setting and our destination is still not in sight." Idly commented Jaime.
"Do you ever stop complaining?" questioned Valeera.
"All I am saying that at the very least those Draenei could have sent someone to lead us there. Even the map that they gave us is so basic, it is laughable."
"Well, you can stop now. I can see a graveyard on that small rise to the right." Said Elida, unsheathing her sword and getting off the road, dropping into a light crouch as she began going up the hill, her companions mirroring her. The two elves' red and black attires easily masked them, but the kingsguard gold armor stood out like a sore thumb.
Eventually, they made it up the rise, the elves having come first breathing an audible sigh of relief before sheeting their weapons although those on the other side did not. Four draenei stood against them, the three that were conscious looking ready to fight.
"Easy, we are friends." Spoke up the youngest of the group, the Silverpine elf moving forth slowly and with one arm raised high in peaceful gesture, she handed a scroll to one of the females, the one clad in mail armor, a mace and a shield in her hands.
Tense moments lowered before the woman said something in their outlandish language and the other two calmed down.
"Rest, we will begin in a few hours, after night falls." She said.
The Lannister had to wonder just how much one can rest in a graveyard, but eventually his eyes landed on a stone bench and he hurried to sit on it. The three draenei began a hushed heated discussion in their language, the large male beginning to sort to some red sticks 'Explosives' Jaime had to remind himself. Valeera laid on the ground next to the Westerosi, using her massive red cloak as a sheet seeing as there was no more space on the bench, Elida having taken a seat at his other side.
Both elves looked like they would soon doze off and seeing as they have walked the entire day, perhaps it was not such a bad idea. Even he felt tired for in the end, they had no mounts. The man unlatched his shoulder plates and leaned forward, crossing his hands and propping them up on his legs, trying to get some rest.
The trio was roughly awoken hours later, the moon high up.
Jaime realized he had fallen asleep in his unnatural position on the bench, his back hurting. Stretching gingerly, multiple pops of bones resonated, slightly muffled by the clicking of his armor.
"I do not think we were introduced. I am Vindicator Corin." Said the heavily-armored Draenei woman. "This is demolitionist Legoso." She continued, gesturing towards the male "And scouts Jorli and Loryi."
Jaime felt the woman's gaze linger on him. He thought about introducing himself, but remembered that their names were all included in the scroll of the Watch commander. The more he thought about it, the more his head began to spin. Everyone seemed to be aware of him, all of the draeneis' eyes constantly wandering to him. He tried dismissing it as curiosity for the different one since there were hardly any humans on the isles and yet his two companions hardly received the same treatment, which was strange, especially seeing as theirs was a race that had rather hostile interactions with the locals.
Still, eventually the party set off, only the vindicator and demolitionist coming along. It was the Draenei woman leading the way into the dark night. The Lannister man had to recognize it, there was a certain… corrupt beauty to everything around, the dark night filled with twinkling light from the many scattered crystals around. They did eventually reach a river, a very glowing blood red-one.
"Try to hop on the stones to the other side. If you fall into it, get out as fast as you can." Said Corin in a whisper. Taking a second look at it, Jaime saw that it was rather shallow, but it was probably poisoned or worse.
They did as the draenei woman suggested, all three females having no trouble with it. The blue-skinned male stumbled a little, but only because some of his precious explosives nearly fell into the waters. Jaime, however, outright slipped on the mossy stones, his hand managing to find stones above the water to prop himself up, his face stopping but a hand away from the red liquid below.
Gingerly for a man his age and stature, he made it to the other side meeting the flat and annoyed gazes of his two elven companions.
"Sorry about that one, wanted to get a closer look at the water." He said, a grin on his lips. Valeera only shock her head while Elida sighed exasperatedly before turning and walking away, the two draenei a few meters forward.
Half an hour later the group of five reached a mountain pass, carcasses of massive spiders lying on the ground everywhere, all in different states of discomposure.
"The scouts have been clearing the pass for well over a week now, but new hatchlings come from hidden eggs every day. Be on your guards and keep quiet." Said the demolition expert, his goggles glowing in the dark.
Slowly, the party trekked ever up the tight pass, only the occasional spider barely bigger than a mutt appeared and even then, it was quickly and silently put down with a dagger, courtesy of Valeera.
"Ok, we are here." Whispered out the vindicator, coming to the end of the pass after nearly an hour of walking. They were high above the valley, a massive glowing red crystal in the distance directly upfront.
"Their main base if right next to the Vector Coil. If we climb on the ridge to our right, we should be able to sneak all the way up to where Sironas is. There should be no sentries because of the spiders."
"Should?" questioned Jaime.
"Yes, should. And remember, do not harm any elf. We will reason with them after Sironas is dead and the less animosity that they hold towards us, the better."
"You will have to excuse me if I find it hard to believe that an entire army would just stop and listen to us five if we simply kill one woman." Responded the kingsguard.
"This is no mere army. These are blood elves, highly sensitive to magic. If anything, their entire system should be in shock for several seconds after her death seeing as they draw magic from her, no matter how minor it is." Spoke up Legoso. "And besides, she is a Man'ari Eredar, the race that commands the Burning legion. It would not be completely out of the question to simply assume that she has them all under a spell."
"The amount of ifs and maybes in all of this is too much for my liking." Returned Jaime.
"Velen trusts in the success of this endeavor. He has lead our race for thousands of years and I believe that his vision is true."
"But I don't and have no reason to. This is a suicide mission."
"Will you stop complaining and get your ass moving already…" grumbled Elida before beginning to climb the rise to their right with surprising agility despite the armor, sword and shield that she carried, the rest following quickly. Jaime was the last and for a long time, the Westerosi knight wondered whether or not he should really follow. In the end, wounded pride would not let him back down from a challenge, especially from a place where young girls would march without a second though.
They nearly crawled around the edge when they eventually made the climb, more and more of the Sunhawk camp coming into view. Jaime had to wonder if he was really observing an army camp seeing as there were hardly any fortifications. The soldiers themselves were not all that better, either.
Their swords were small, their armor - next to non-existent. Large, floating red crystal were scattered everywhere in circles of stone, bound by chains as energy flew in every direction from their cores. Between the cliff that they were on and the large ruin containing the largest of the crystals stood a woman that looked like a Draenei, skull ornament adoring her clothing as azure energy shot towards her extended hands.
"I hoped she would have at least gone to bed by now. Who stands this late at night doing things?" mumbled Valeera.
"Well, there is us." Cockily replied Jaime, a small smirk on his lips although his green eyes looked serious.
"Five guards around the perimeters, four at each approach and another two at each sentry crystal." Whispered Elida, ignoring the Westerosi man's comment. "Still, there are no mages in sight so that's a plus."
"Not counting the Eredar, that is." Corrected Valeera.
"Duck!" whispered in a hurry Corin. As they all laid glued to the ground, the draenei vindicator began laying out the plan.
"Me and lady Elida would be the strongest against Sironas. Legoso must get to the Vector Coil and plant his explosives whether we are able to negotiate with the Sunhawks or not. That thing must be destroyed. The rest of you are to provide cover and remember – do not kill anyone!"
"Yeah, yeah…" mumbled the Lannister knight.
"Wait for it… wait for it… now!" all five jumped at once. Completely bypassing the first line of sentries. While the two agile elves outright jumped, Jaime in his heavy armor slid down the hill before breaking into a run.
He soon found himself facing an elf clad in light leather armor, a mask on his face, a sword and an axe in his hands. Blows were exchanged and Jaime found his opponent surprisingly skillful. The Sunhawk had managed to catch Jaime's sword with the hook of his axe, unsuccessfully trying to disarm the kingsguard. The blood elf tried slicing at the blond with his sword seeing as his opponent's weapon was caught only to be surprised when Jaime blocked the offending piece of metal with his forearm plate armor. Pushing the sword aside, the Lannister quickly delivered a punch to the elf's face, freeing his weapon in the process. The kingsguard then buried the pommel of his sword into the elf's stomach before turning to his next opponent.
He saw Valeera fight off two guards at once, using her green dagger that can pass for short swords only for blocking, instead trying to knock her opponents unconscious with kicks. The human's green eyes focused on the two large groups rushing towards them and he knew that this must end quickly. Never been one for following orders, Jaime turned towards the Eredar.
The demon was constantly altering between teleporting a short distance and throwing some spell at the two women fighting her, holy magic repelling it each time. Each time either of the two females got close, the Eredar would simply teleport away. Seizing his chance, Jaime rushed behind Sironas, ready to deliver a massive wound if not outright split her in two. Yet his sword met only thin air. The accursed demon stood now a good five meters away, a hateful expression on her face. Pulling her arm back as one would pull a bow string, green fire emerged in her palm. Jaime got ready to dodge, to get out of the way, for he knew that he possessed nothing to be able to take the spell head on.
And yet, he did not need to. An ornate sword suddenly burst forth from the Eredar's chest, her feral scream reaching far and piercing all. As Sironas's body collapsed to the ground and began disintegrating, the small form of Elida was revealed, the elven hand of Silverpine giving the human a smirk before she gave a mock bow.
"You are welcomed."
"I had it." Grumbled Jaime.
"Of course you did."
The Sunhawks around them were all on the ground, some clutching their heads, others – their chests while some were simply propped up from the ground on their hands, breathing heavily. A blond man in spiky armor was the first to rise, his demonic-green eyes beginning to lose their color slightly although a hateful expression remained etched onto his features.
"Reform the line, you idiots, and get ready to attack! And keep the elves alive! I will deal with those traitors!" shouted the blond.
As the group of five was suddenly cornered by the elven army as most regained their strength although looking wobbly on their feet, Elida suddenly stepped forth.
"You do not have to do this!"
"Shut up!" responded the elven male.
"No, you shut up! The Sunwell is restored and Prince Kael'Thas is dead! Search your senses and you will know it to be true!"
"Even if it is, those fools in Silvermoon would never let us return!"
"There are other places to go and even the Draenei are willing to offer you safe passage away from this land!"
"Enough of this! Chaaaaaaa-" the elf commander's scream was cut short as an arrow was imbedded in his neck. A red-headed elf then almost shyly came forth, removing his mask, a crossbow in his hand.
"Is… is it true? Is the Sunwell restored? Can we get off of this light-forsaken island?" he questioned.
"Yes." Spoke with determination Corin. All draenei knew it for a fact for it was Velen and a Naaru that restored the most sacred place of the blood elves to its former glory.
"But where can we go? You mentioned places. Silvermoon will not accept us." Further questioned the now de-facto leader of the Sunhawks.
The party of five remained silent for a long time before Elida spoke up.
"Come to Silverpine."
Thousands of kilometers away, a certain red-headed queen felt a massive headache forming in the back of her mind.
Both the Warcraft movie and WoW:Legion trailer coming out in one day, GET HYPEEEEEEED.
I kind of got the whole idea from when the Ironborn surrender Moat Cailin, so yeah, hurray for blatant rip off although no bad end this time. It might seem that the Sunhawks surrendered rather easily, but they have been there since pre-TBC and this story start early Wrath and it has already been four years? Basically, it has been a bloody long time for a small army of elves to be stuck on a poor corrupted island with a demon for a commander.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it.
Thank you for reading.