A/N: Hey, friends! So, since I know I'll be very busy for the next little while, I decided to start writing this chapter a lot sooner than I usually do. I actually started writing this one the day after I posted my last, which is a rarity, if not unheard of, for me! So, here we be: the chapter of this story I first ever thought of, all those years ago. It was this particular chapter, with several of these particular scenes, that led to the birth of this fanfic. So, read on, and enjoy! Keep in mind, this is part one; part two will come ASAP after!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Katryn Silverbane. All rights for World of Warcraft belong to Blizzard Entertainment, including places, events, and characters.

Of Blood and Arcana

Chapter Twenty-Five

Wicked Game Part I

"You go find some food, girl. I'll stay here."

It was morning. Katryn had spent most of the night up a tree, resting against the trunk. She had been too wired to sleep, because now the day was upon her: the day everything would change. She knew it. In her heart, she knew it. She had had a good long discussion with herself the previous eve, when they had come upon the hills Aryaa had told her about, and set up camp. Katryn had lit a small fire, climbed up into a tree to survey the area, wherein she had fallen asleep as some point. Before then, however, she had looked inward, trying to better understand why she felt the way she did, and how she could somehow use it to her advantage, in order to make a proper, intelligent decision, rather than rush in blindly.

She knew there were easy, and there were difficult ways of handling the current situation. Part of her wanted to race up, fling herself in front of Garrosh, and beg the others to let him live. But, that was an idiotic idea, and surely would results in his death, and perhaps even hers, in the end. She couldn't risk that. She had to be tactful, resourceful. Maybe she could convince the others to let her talk to him first? Would he want to talk to her? Did he feel the same way she did? Was that why he had saved her? She didn't know the answer to those questions, but for some reason, she didn't care. Whether Garrosh felt the same way about her – it didn't matter. She had accepted her feelings, and she knew she had to act, to try and do something, or she'd come to regret it for the rest of her life, she was certain.

She had wrestled with herself for hours, before a fitful sleep had claimed her. Now, she sat in her camp, listening to the sounds of Nagrand. The area surrounding her camp was gorgeous, as was the rest of Nagrand. The hills were a deep green, and the sky a brilliant blue. Trees, like those seen on the plains of the Barrens, dotted the landscape, and in the distance she could both see and hear a great waterfall. She made a mental note that, once this was all over, she would return to this place, and explore it more fully. This was the homeland of the orcs, and she felt she wanted to know more about them…for obvious reasons.

Katryn squinted up at the sky, exhaling. She felt changed, different somehow. She wasn't the same person she had been half a year prior. Her life was so drastically different from before, and she was so drastically different. And yet… she felt she didn't show it. Katryn sat up, looking down at her things resting in the camp below. Nimera would be back soon with her breakfast, she figured, and once the two had eaten, it would be time to get ready for the arrival of the forces of the Horde and Alliance. She had to be ready. Was she ready?

Suddenly, Katryn was overtaken by the urge to do something. She leapt from the tree, and strode across the camp to her things. Reaching into her bag, she found a small dagger, which she had found the previous night while searching for the food Aryaa had packed her. She turned the dagger over and over in her hand, watching the blade gleam in the morning sunlight, pondering. She felt different, so why didn't it feel real? The answer was simple: she looked the same as before. At least, it felt that way to her.

In one swift motion, Katryn raised the dagger to her hair, which had been loose from her usual ponytail, and hacked off a large chunk of hair, letting it fall to her ground. The lock, now resting just below her chin, tickled her skin, and she smiled. Her fingers twitched, and the dagger glowed to life, suddenly whipping around her head, as the remainder of her hair fell to meet the first clump on the grass below.

Katryn slowly fished a small mirror from the bag, and faced it towards her. She had had long hair her entire life, and now it rested barely below her chin. She felt her heart tug once, but pushed it down. She wasn't the same person she had been, why did she have to look the same? She had no intention of returning to Lunarfall, or even Dalaran, once this was over. She had to start over, in order to keep her sanity. She didn't want to be the same person she was before. Not that there had been anything wrong with her before, but that woman was gone, dust, now. Katryn stood, tossing her short hair over her shoulders, smiling up at the morning sun.

Everyone expected her to return to normal after this. They treated her as if her words didn't matter, as if she wasn't right in the head. But, they were wrong. She couldn't return to normal, and maybe now, they'd see that. Katryn was still herself, but she wasn't. And she was alright with that. This wasn't some rebellious teenage faze, this was what she believed in. Light be damned if anyone told her otherwise. Anduin knew it, too. He had believed in Garrosh, as had Velen, Alexstrasza, and several others. They had seen it, they knew it was real. Just like she did.

She removed her mage robes, letting them fall to the ground beside her. Beneath, she wore a simple brown and grey tunic, which she honestly preferred, anyway. With a flick of her wrist, her staff flew to her hand, and she began to pack up her belongings. As she did, a shadow passed overhead, and Nimera landed nearby with a dull thud.

"Hey, girl," Katryn patted the hippogryph, who cooed at her softly, before devouring the rodent she had caught for her meal. Katryn grimaced, but let her be to finish. She returned to her tree, climbing back up, perching herself as far out as she could. From up there, she could see Grommashar. She could just barely make out the forms of orc warriors as they moved throughout the fortress. Her eyesight wasn't good enough to see where Garrosh might be, but she knew this was the right place. She could hear the clinking of forges, hear the creaking of wood, and the roars of the orcs below, and it sent a chill through her. She had interacted with so few orcs since Garrosh, even since coming to Draenor. It was strange to see them again.

Katryn strained her gaze, "Garrosh… where are you?" Her whisper carried through the wind, and she half hoped it'd reach him, somewhere within, but she knew full well how foolish it was to assume such a thing. She exhaled, closing her eyes, feeling the sun beat down upon her. She felt her body begin to relax, and she wondered if perhaps she could squeeze a nap in before it all began. She was so tired…

Then there was a horn.

Katryn's eyes flew open at the sound, her body going rigid, nearly falling from the tree as she did. She clung to the branches, her heart racing, as she struggled to see where the sound came from. All at once, as if by magic itself, she was met with a sight. Below her, an army seemed to materialize out of thin air. She realized after a moment, that they had come from beneath the rocky walls of the surrounding cliffs, under her camp. From where she sat, they could not see her, thankfully.

"There they are!" She cried out, not loud enough to startle anyone to her presence, but loud enough to let Nimera know. The hippogryph immediately leapt to attention, soaring over to her, coming to rest at a hover, just below the tree. Katryn quickly jumped from the tree, landing on the back of the hippogryph, who returned her to her camp. She hurriedly grabbed her things, flinging them over Nimera's saddle. "Go, girl," she instructed the beast, "I can make it my own way from here. You get to safety. If I need you, I'll whistle, okay?" Nimera seemed displeased with her plan, but nonetheless, the hippogryph took off, sailing away into the morning air, leaving Katryn standing on the cliff-face, watching as everything began to unfold in front of her. Delwyn's voice was the first she heard.

"Come on, men, we have to keep moving! Grommashar is ahead!" The night elf sat atop her Death Charger, clad in deep ebony plate armor, with her two handed sword held, amazingly, in one hand. She used the weapon to point in the direction of Grommashar, and her fellow solider yelled a battle cry in response. Beside her rode Aereus, on his own charger, and Yrel, on an Elekk. Khadgar rode behind them, atop a simple horse, with his staff out, resting on his lap. Suddenly, he looked up, towards the cliff, and by definition: Katryn. She quickly threw herself behind the tree, holding her breath. After a moment of heart stopping panic, she elected to believe he hadn't seen her, and let her breath out in a whoosh. As she gathered herself, she heard another voice cry out. This time, it was Thrall.

"Garrosh! We have come for you!" The shaman's voice echoed across the plains of Nagrand, and the sound of dozens of feet ceasing to move echoed along with it. As everything creaked to a halt, so did the sounds of Grommashar. Katryn sat, her back to it all, resting against the tree. The voice she heard next sent a stab through her heart, like an ice pick.

"Ha, Thrall, are you foolish enough to think you can enter my realm, my fortress, and stop me?"

His voice rang out, reaching even her ears, as if he stood directly beside her. Katryn felt tears spring to her eyes, and she didn't even try to stop them from falling. She hadn't heard his voice in months. Months. Over a half a year. Now, he stood only several hundred meters from her. Here, in Nagrand, in Draenor. He really was here. For some reason, she had gotten it in her head that it wasn't real, that he wasn't here. They had gotten it wrong, and he had escaped somewhere into Azeroth. And yet… there he was. She couldn't see him, but she could hear him, hear the hatred in his voice – feel the betrayal. Katryn let her head hang, tears streaming from her eyes, hardly daring to make a sound.

Why was she here? Why did she love him? Why?

She didn't get a moment to wonder any further, when Garrosh suddenly roared, above al the noise, all the others – his voice was all that was heard.

"WARSONG! BRING ME THEIR HEADS!"

Katryn exhaled, letting her pain leave her along with it. It was time.

Below, Delwyn shouted at Yrel, "Yrel, blow open those gates. Let us take Grommashar!"

"Yes, Commander!" Katryn peeked out from behind the tree, to see Yrel turning to the army, consisting of both Horde, and Alliance. She also took note that beside Thrall, as he had said he would, stood Durotan, and Draka, unknown to them, his parents.

Yrel raised a hand above her head, turning on the spot to face Grommashar, bringing it swinging down to her side. "Fire the Siege Engines!"

All at once, there were flaming balls of rock and metal flung from the tanks flanking the army, hitting mark on the great door of Grommashar, shattering it. Katryn was mildly amazed they managed to get such a good hit on the door in the first try. As the smoke cleared, there was little left of the front door, but at the same time, orc warriors began to pour out of Grommashar, battle axes ready, screaming bloodthirsty cries at their enemies.

Delwyn placed a helmet that had been sitting in her lap on her head, raising her Run Blade above her head, crying out, "Alliance and Horde, advance!"

Chaos erupted.

The sounds of metal on metal, rending flesh, the breaking of bones, and the hot, coppery smell of blood and fire filled the air. Yells from both sides, of the dead and dying, ripped the air apart like knives. Katryn felt a chill pass through her, but she knew what had to be done.

"I have to move."

She stood, stretching her limbs. This was going to be the furthest blink she had ever done, and she hoped it would work. It was a good two hundred meters from where she stood now, and she had to time it properly. While she couldn't see him, she knew Garrosh was probably up at the top of the fortress, hidden behind another huge door, which she was able to see from where she stood. She shut her eyes, clearing her mind. This was going to take a lot of her energy. It had to be perfect. Her hands began to glow a soft blue, and it cascaded down her body enveloping her in a warm light. It tingled through her like electricity. Not long now…

"You will never take Grommashar!"

Garrosh's voice pierced her thoughts nearly causing her to lose focus. Katryn twitched, but forced herself back down to her state of concentration. She couldn't fuck this up. Below her, the battle raged on, slowly climbing up, higher and higher, into Grommashar. Soon, they would arrive at Garrosh, and she would be ready. At least, she hoped she would be.

Delwyn yelled over the sounds of insanity, her layered voice sending a wave of cold over the entirety of the area. "Give the order, Yrel. Destroy the gates, and get us in there!" There was a desperation in her tone, and Katryn did her best to keep her eyes shut. Through her astral projection, she was able to see what was going on, even if she wasn't looking at it with her own eyes. She could see the army had made its way up, and now stood, facing the final gate, a trail of dead bodies in their wake, many of them orcs. Some fighting continued below, but it didn't matter to them. They had one mission: end Garrosh Hellscream. Delwyn, still atop her charger, weapon drenched in the blood of orcs, sat tall and regal, ready to face down the orc warrior, and former Warchief of the Horde. Beyond the door, Garrosh could be heard, laughing at them, mocking them.

"Come, pigs; I'm waiting!"

Delwyn called back to Yrel once again, and as she did, Katryn's eyes flew open, magic glowing so brightly it blinded her. "You heard him, blow open the gates!"

The residual bang from Katryn teleporting into Grommashar was only partially drowned out by the sound of the siege engines hitting the gate with another deafening blow, sending debris flying everywhere, and smoke rocketing up into the sky. Katryn herself landed in a heap on the ground, falling backwards onto her rear, gasping. She looked up, and realized she had overshot a little, and was not seated in the middle of Grommashar, a good few minutes trek from where everyone else was. She paled, panic rising in her throat like bile. She had to move.

The world moved in slow motion, her feet exploding beneath her, as she raced up the steps, passed the fallen bodies of orcs and humans, Draenei, gnomes, goblins, night elves, and so many others. She raced passed fires, weaponry, death, and destruction. She raced towards the one thing she wanted. She had to get there. She had to. Ahead, the small force led by Yrel and Delwyn has entered through the gate. Voices reached her as she drew nearer.

"You're a fool to come here. You think after everything, you can kill me?" Garrosh sounded bored, ad Katryn could just barely make him out through the throngs of people. He sat upon… was that a throne? He looked to different, from what she could see. He wore simple brown pants, like those he had worn in Pandaria, but no shackles bound him that day. Beside him rested Gorehowl, his signature weapon, and the same weapon wielded by this world's Grommash Hellscream. Katryn ran closer, hardly making a sound. Garrosh's face was fixed upon Delwyn and Yrel, who stood at the front of the group, weapons drawn. Katryn was almost upon them, now. Soon…

Delwyn spoke, her voice as icy as the Lich King himself. "We are here to bring you to justice, Garrosh. It is time to pay for what you've done." Metal clanked as she readied her sword before her, and it glowed a dull icy blue. Yrel slowly removed her hammer, waiting beside the night elf.

Garrosh threw back his head, cackling maniacally, "Justice?" He looked back down at the group, his face filled with so much ancient hatred. "You don't know the meaning of the word." He paused, his face thoughtful for but a moment, before it became twisted – demented, even. "But, I do know one you are familiar with…" his lips curled over his tusks, as he sneered at them, "…death." He stood, grabbing Gorehowl from beside him, getting ready to charge them. "FOR I AM YOUR DEATH!" Finally, Katryn reached the group, her heart in her mouth.

It was time.

She blasted forwards, using all the strength she had left to shove her way through the crowds of soldiers gathered. Some moved, others stared in shock as she barreled into them, almost tripping.

"Out of my way!" She yelled, which caught the attention of many around her, including a very surprised Khadgar, as she practically vaulted over him to get to the front of the group, using her staff as a pole vault. As she blew passed him, she heard Khadgar yell after her, screaming her name over the commotion.

"KATRYN! What are you doing here?" She ignored him, and broke passed Yrel and Delwyn, who both looked stunned at the sight of her. She didn't even look back. She couldn't; not when what she had wanted to see for months finally stood before her. She came skidding to a halt, newly short hair hitting her in the face, chest heaving, feeling the stares of dozens of other upon her. But, she didn't care. She took the deepest breath, and yelled as loudly as she could.

"GARROSH!"

Her voice echoed across the stone, causing a nearby flock of birds to take off. It ripped the sky open like a Titan, piercing the very air they breathed in. It was a single name – his. Filled with so many different emotions, from pain, to relief; joy, to exhaustion. There was a stunned silence, as everyone around them stared in awe. Katryn, who stared at Garrosh, her eyes filling with angry tears, and Garrosh, who stared at her, his face somewhere between amazement, and sheer horror. Gone was the anger in his eyes. He stared at her, disbelief all over his face, as if he couldn't believe she was real, either. He didn't speak at first – maybe he wasn't able to? He just continued to stare at her, and she was reminded of all those times they had spoken in the past, and it made her heart ache terribly. Finally, Garrosh spoke, his voice barely audible.

"… Katryn?" His face softened, and he looked confused at her presence. He gazed at her face, yellow eyes meeting pale blue, and they held for a moment. There was a tenderness in the look, but just as soon as it happened, it vanished. Garrosh shut his eyes, opening them again, fixing her with a look if steel. "What are you doing here?"

Katryn, who was somewhere between screaming and sobbing, cried back, "I came here to talk to you." Her voice broke. Light preserve her, she hadn't been ready for this. Gone was ay sort of plan she had had in mind. All she wanted was to see him get out of there alive, more than anything else. "Please, Garrosh, enough! Please, stop! Come with us calmly. It doesn't have to end like this!" Her voice really did snap at the end of the statement. Behind her, she heard the others shuffle, some unsure of what to do. She heard Khadgar softly call out to her, but she refused to turn. She had to speak to Garrosh.

He, on the other hand, didn't look convinced. The old pain was back in his eyes, as he surveyed her. "Your efforts are wasted." He growled in the direction of those behind her. "These maggots aim to see my head on a spike!"

Katryn glanced briefly at the soldiers behind them, before turning back to Garrosh, her own agony apparent. A few tears fell, and upon seeing this, a crease developed between Garrosh's brows. Was he concerned for her? Katryn swallowed the painful lump in her throat. "But it doesn't have to be that way! Garrosh, please! Remember the journey to the trial, remember our talks, remember Anduin!" She sounded so desperate, but she didn't care anymore. This had to end. "We know you're capable of more than this! It isn't too late!"

Garrosh was silent. His expression was undistinguishable. She could see his yellow eyes flitting from her, to the army behind her. She opened her palms, showing her non-threatening stature. She wasn't his enemy, far from it. She prayed her knew that. In a last ditch effort to get him to listen to her, she cried out once more.

"I still believe in you!"

Her voice rang out like a bell, chiming in the wind. Tears poured from her eyes like a waterfall. Her limbs shook. Months had led up to this moment, and she'd die inside if it was wasted, if he was wasted, like this. She couldn't let that happen, she couldn't let him…

"It is too late." He sounded so broken, so defeated. Garrosh always played the role of commanding Warchief, or fearless warrior, but Katryn could see now just how broken he truly was, how mentally exhausted he had become. How done he was. It hurt her heart to see him in such a way. All he had wanted was to bring glory to his people, and he had made all the wrong choices…

"Garrosh…" She took a tentative step towards him, her heart aching to run to him, to hold him, to make sure he knew he was still able to fix everything. He just had to listen to her…

Garrosh saw her movement, and flinched away, causing her to freeze. He was too far gone, too angry… "They have come for me, and I am ready!" Garrosh roared suddenly, raising Gorehowl above his head, uttering a battle cry, that made Katryn leap back in horror. She fixed him with a stare, one of heartache, and betrayal. Upon seeing her face, he seemed to falter –

But it was too late.

"Come then, monster!"

Katryn went white. "Delwyn, no!" But it was too late. The night elf charged Garrosh, Rune Blade ready, icy and pestilence emanating from her pores. For someone clad in heavy armour, she was surprisingly quick on her feet, likely due to her training as a Sentinel. Garrosh, seeing the night elf racing at him, murder in her blue eyes, let out the rage filled roar of his people. It happened so fast, no one else beside Delwyn and Garrosh had time to react.

"LOK'TAR OGAR!"

The brown orc readied Gorehowl, and met the night elf halfway, their weapons crashing against one another, sending the two of them flying backwards, stirring up dust. Behind them, the soldiers and orcs began to cheer, chanting for their side, wishing death and destruction upon the other. Katryn screamed again, but it fell upon deaf ears. She watched in horror as Delwyn suddenly raised an undead minion from the very earth itself, and it launched itself at Garrosh, clawing at the air as it did. Disgusted, Garrosh swung Gorehowl once knocking the undead wretch away from his, sending it crashing against a pillar of stone, exploding into carrion and bone.

Katryn turned, desperately searching for help within those behind her. She found that Khadgar was staring at her, and the look he was giving her was filled with so much pain, even betrayal. She felt a momentary stab of guilt, but shoved it down, turning her back on the wizard. As she turned, she saw Garrosh fling Delwyn from him, and the night elf hit the ground hard, and the sound of a breaking bone could be heard, as he did. Garrosh now picked up a large boulder, and was readying himself to fling it at Delwyn, who lay on the ground, gasping for air, through what was probably a punctured lung. Katryn had seen enough.

As the boulder was thrown through the air, Katryn blinked forwards, planting herself between it and Delwyn, throwing up a shield. However, she was about half a second too late, and was knocked off her feet by the sheer force of the boulder bouncing off her shield.

"Agh!" She cried out, landing on the ground beside Delwyn, her head pounding.

Delwyn struggled to sit up, her faced with agony and concern. "Katryn!" The night elf reached for her, and Katryn opened her eyes, staring up at the sky, coughing. She glanced sideways at Delwyn, nodding once, indicating she was relatively alright. She struggled to prop herself up, as Garrosh spoke.

"Katryn?"

Katryn winced, she'd certainly feel that fall in the morning. "En…ough, Garrosh. This has to end!" She spat out some dirt, wincing again as she did. Garrosh continued to stare at her, his own faced filled with mild concern, but he still held Gorehowl in a defensive stance, regardless, eyeing Delwyn warily. Garrosh spoke directly to Katryn again.

"Katryn, are you –" He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, when he was cut off by yet another voice joining the fray.

"Garrosh!" It was Thrall. Where he had been up until that point, Katryn did not know. But, he was there now, and he looked the furthest thing from happy.

Garrosh's concern for Katryn seemed to ebb away for a moment, as he regarded Thrall. "Thrall… You are too late, old friend." His expression was somewhere between a sneer, and actually sympathy. Disappeared had his manic side – Garrosh just looked tired now.

Katryn struggled to her feet, as Aereus rushed to Delwyn, helping her away from the scene, and Khadgar came to Katryn's side, gently leading her away, as well. His grip on her arm was firm, but gentle. His face held empathy for her, but he also looked ready to chew her out.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly, as they moved to stand with the rest of the group, watching the two orcs. He turned slightly to her, gazing down at her.

Katryn looked at him, then back to Garrosh, her face blank. "Yes." She knew she was in for it later, but she still had a job to do, until then.

Thrall's face was etched with sadness, regret, and fury. "No. Enough, Garrosh! It ends here. You, and me." He fixed the orc with a cold stare. "I challenge you to Mak'gora."

Katryn felt all the colour leave her face. Mak'gora… A fight to the death. It was common amongst orcs, as she had read in a book, many years ago. It meant… No. She whirled to face Khadgar, begging him imploringly. "No! Khadgar, please! Stop him!" Her voice broke horribly. If Thrall was as strong as she had heard… Garrosh didn't stand a chance.

Garrosh looked pained, and his gaze drifted to her for a moment, before he faced Thrall once again. "Very well, shaman. We will return to the place it all began." He paused, looking almost remorseful. "At the Stones of Prophecy."

Katryn struggled against Khadgar's grip, who still held onto her. She realized now it was probably to stop her from running. "Garrosh, no! Don't!" Her voice sounded shrill, catching horribly in her throat. She stared at him, but he looked anywhere but at her. When she had cried out, he had flinched, but said nothing.

Durotan spoke next, his voice deep, and calming. He placed a hand on Katryn's shoulder, his compassion evident, despite the situation. "A Mak'gora has been challenged, little one. We cannot stop them now." The Frostwolf moved to stand beside Thrall, his great wolf pelt swinging as he did. The sun beat down upon them, casting long shadows. "I will stand witness for Thrall. Who will stand witness for Garrosh?" He addressed the entire area, for the orcs surrounding them had gone quiet, out of respect for the Mak'gora. When no one spoke, Katryn wrenched herself from Khadgar's grip.

"I will."

Khadgar paled, "Katryn, no!"

Katryn whirled to face him, hissing through her teeth. "I have to!" Somehow, she knew Khadgar understood, despite it all. The wizard looked to sad, but he nodded solemnly, saying nothing more. Beside him, Delwyn and Aereus glared at her, and she looked away. She knew she looked like a traitor, but she had something, someone, she believed in. She had come so far… Maybe… Maybe it would end differently. Maybe they'd all come to their senses, and let Garrosh be taken prisoner again? Maybe they'd actually listen to the August Celestials, and Velen, and Alexstrasza, and Anduin… and her. This couldn't have all been for nothing, could it? No. There was no way. She stared at Garrosh, willing him to look at her. Finally, he did, and she saw so many different emotions. The most prominent being… regret?

Durotan spoke again, "The mage has spoken. We have our witnesses." He addressed the group as a whole. "Let us go to the Stones."

A/N: Okay, that's the end of part one! I wanted it to be all one chapter, but that was insanely long. Part two is done, but I need to edit a few things before I upload. Stay tuned!