Chapter Twenty-six: All that is Gold

A hot sun beat down on the barrens as Tyrande urged her tiger forward under the shade of a forest. More trees had returned to this land since last she was here and things were greener. Even so the scars of war remained on the land.

'Priestess Tyrande are you sure we should be leaving Ashenvale at this time?' asked a dryad who rode beside her. 'What if the Legion moves against us?'

'Furion has assured us that the Legion will be slow to move, Nara.' said Tyrand 'And these orcs who serve them may cause much destruction if they are not checked. We must find and remove them before they can spread their foul taint to these lands.'

Then she halted as the sound of hoofbeats came to her ears. Motioning to her troops, they faded into the surroundings. Soon enough a vast horde of centaurs appeared, clad for war. They rode onward and Tyrande trailed after them. As she did they passed villages where new centaurs came to join the horde.

'Centaurs? Here?' asked Tyrande. 'When last I came here the tauren dwelled in these lands.'

'Priestess that was forty years ago.' said Nara. 'Mortal races shift and change faster than we do.'

'Perhaps I have been too long in the forest, Nara.' mused Tyrande 'No matter, we will find them nonetheless.'

'Look!' said Nara. 'The centaur khan is leading his forces. This must be a great ride.'

'There has not been one of those in centuries.' said Tyrande. 'Come, let us track them and see what they are up to. It may be that this is some devilry of the Legion. Often times they work through lesser evils to achieve greater desecration.'

They followed behind the centaurs and past an oasis. Coming to a series of hills they saw a vast column of humanoid creatures. They had the heads of bulls and the warriors among them held massive totems. There were also many kodos, heavily burdened, and vast crowds of women and children. They were the tauren.

And with them were creatures like those Malfurion has described. Yet they were standing along the tauren. Together they formed a defensive line to fend off the centaurs at the chokepoint. At their head, on the back of a great wolf was a large greenskin. In his hand was a hammer, shining with the energy of the spirits. He sent forth bolts of lightning against the centaurs.

'There are the orcs.' said Nara. 'Or so I judge from Furion's description. Yet why are they defending these tauren?'

'Furion's letter described a savage race of monsters, fueled by demonic magic.' mused Tyrande.

'Do you think they may have corrupted the tauren?' asked Nara.

The caravan was away. The first wave of centaur were driven back from the pass. But a vast new tide of them was coming. The orc leader turned to the leader of the tauren, a big gray haired bull with a halberd. 'Cairne, the caravan will never make it in time!'

'Let the fury of the Earthmother deal with these wretches as they deserve!' cried Cairne.

Then he struck the ground with one hoof. Even as the centaur came forward the ground shuddered. The mountains on either side rained stones down on them. Many were buried while others turned and fled backward in terror.

The attack had been foiled. Now the tauren were beyond the reach of the centaur. But not Tyrande. For Centaur had the bodies of horses and could not go up rocky terrain with any speed. Thus the night elves scaled the heights and followed afterward.

'I believe Furion was mistaken.' said Tyrande. 'That orc was wielding the spirits of the land. No wielder of unholy power may do that.'

'Then the humans sought to deceive us?' guessed Nara.

'Perhaps.' mused Tyrande. 'Or they may have misjudged an old enemy. I have not met them and Furion seemed to trust them. So I will withhold judgement. The question now becomes: What of our mission?'

Reaching the height, they saw the orc and tauren leaders conversing. Eventually the orcs went one way and the tauren another. Nara raised a spear. ''The orcs are separating from the tauren? Shall I give the order?'

'No.' said Tyrande. 'We will follow them for a time and watch. But first I must speak with that tauren chieftain. There is something familiar about him… ' She rode her tiger down into the midst of the tauren who looked up in wonder.

The leader came forward and bowed. 'Priestess Tyrande, it has been nearly a lifetime since last I saw you.'

'I take it then, that we have met, old one.' said Tyrande, no surprised.

'Yes indeed.' said Cairne. 'Though small wonder that you do not remember me. I was a young fool boy, and had much less gray in my hair. What may the tauren do for you?'

'We have come in search of information.' said Tyrande. 'We were led to believe that a scourge of demon worshipping greenskins had landed upon our shores. However we have seen them defend your caravan. So we have come to question our information.

'What can you tell us of the orcs who you traveled with?'

'Scourge?' laughed Cairne. 'The only scourge which besets my people are the centaur. They have multiplied in the years since you left and driven us out of many of our villages. We are nomads now and battle is rarely far off.

'Some weeks ago we were hard pressed by the centaur. However, the young Warchief, Thrall, came to our aid. Together we fought off the centaur. But we were forced to abandon our villages, for the centaur had driven off all the game.

'Thus we began the journey here to Mulgore. Warchief Thrall offered to escort us. We are deeply in his debt. I fear that had he not come to our aid we should have been overrun and cut down by the devils. Their speed is terrible on the plains.'

'That I know too well.' mused Tyrande. 'And this confirms what I have begun to fear. We nightelves have become lax in our guard. No matter. I would speak with this Warchief. Tell me, Cairne, where was he bound?'

'He sought the Oracle of Stonetalon Peak.' said Cairne. 'He wishes to achieve the destiny set before his people.'

Tyrande paused. 'Then we will shadow him and judge for ourselves the nature of his kind. Quickly, Nara, we must follow.'

Thus they were off.

Quel'thalas was a land of marred beauty. At first glance Malfurion thought it looked far better than Dalaran. Yet as his gaze flickered over the beautiful trees they came to an abrupt end. As they neared the areas the scourge had been through he began to feel like something was wrong. He didn't know what it was, yet.

'So this is the homeland of which you spoke, Prince Kael'thas.' he said.

'Yes.' said the Prince sadly. 'You should have seen it when the Sunwell still stood uncorrupted. Now it has been blighted by the undead. A new leader always masked and covered in red, leads them now.'

'You have Druids of your own, do you not?' asked Malfurion, for something about the land seemed altered.

'Yes.' said Kael'thas. 'We are connected to the land of Quel'thalas, much like your own people. We shaped it to our liking and communed with the spirits, creating harmony. The trees themselves protected our capital during the Second War. And later the Scourge invasion. They paid a heavy price.'

'Show me the worst part of this land.' said Malfurion. 'The place where the corruption is strongest.'

'It is here, the Dead Scar.' said Kael'thas, motioning to a wide line of blight which led into the distance. 'Here the Dreadlord Mal'ganis carved a path of destruction. Since the corruption of the Sunwell the land which he walked has begame blighted. Fel spirits arise and must be beaten back regularly.

'Those who die here rise again.

Still, compared to Dalaran the damage was minimal.'

Malfurion closed his eyes and let his mind stretch out across the land. It was as he had feared. His suspicions proved true. 'On the contrary, the damage is far more insidious in this place, Prince Kael'thas. The spirits have not fled. But it is as though they are too weak to act. They are confused like they have never known corruption or hardship.

You said your druids created harmony. What did you mean by that?'

'We have worked for a long time to create a land with few dangers.' said Kael'thas. 'In the heart of our realm there are almost no predators, yet the deer do not overpopulate. I am not very knowledgeable on the subject, but I could introduce you to our Druids.'

Damn it. 'I see. I see all too well.' said Malfurion. 'Your people have played god, young Kael'thas, and they have paid for it dearly. This land may have appear healthy, but it was not. It was fat and pampered. Living things only reach their full potential well allowed to stand on their own.

'By shaping the land into your idea of a paradise you have weakened the spirits. They can no longer heal themselves. With the Sunwell gone all this realm is fading. It will be a difficult task to restore it.'

'How long?' asked Kael'thas.

'I do not know.' admitted Malfurion. 'I cannot without first understanding how far your people have tampered with nature. When there is more time I would speak with your druids, I must know what they have done and how it may be mended,

'And also discuss with them the ethics of a druid.'

Prince Kael'thas remained silent for a long moment. '…I understand Lord Stormrage. I will arrange a meeting at once.'

Malfurion realized something. He had seen a misuse of Druid magic which he would never have caught without the help of arcane. If Kael'thas could not teleport he should have stayed in Lordaeron. It might have been years before he got this far. In that time the druids of Quel'thalas might have made things even worse.

'Prince Kael'thas.' said Malfurion suddenly.

'Yes?' asked Kael.

'This… teleportation magic of yours has proven very useful.' said Malfurion. 'With it I have been able to cover a length and breadth of ground that would otherwise have been impossible. I am beginning to think that arcane magic may have uses. Under controlled circumstances, of course.'

'I am glad.' said Kael'thas. 'I only wish we had not mismanaged the situation. Have you ever made mistakes like this?'

Malfurion smiled. 'Enough to fill an eternity, young Prince.'

Varimathras led them over the rise and through the trees. As Snarlmane emerged blinking into to new sunlight of a dawn long delayed his jaw dropped. He saw the sun rising over a city of stone. Yet this city was not human. The buildings were like those of Forest Trolls, but they were hewn of stone. It was surrounded by a great wall of boulders set in place by hands larger than any troll.

Snarlbane could not speak. Never before had he seen so great a structure. The humans had built such things, but he viewed those structures with hate and fear. For where they stood also stood soldiers with sharp swords and dangerous spells. Yet these walls were patrolled by forest trolls. Huge ogres stood guard by the gate.

'Behold, Snarlmane.' said Varimathras. 'The domain of King Mug'thol. Lord of the Kingdom of Creeps.'

'What is this?' asked Snarlmane.

'This is the Capital City.' said Varimathras. 'Or it will be. It has been named Creepdom.'

'How…' asked Snarlmane, 'how was this made?'

'The heavy lifting was done by ogres. Under my instruction of course.' said Varimathras proudly. 'They are great and strong. And the hands of forest trolls are masterfully skilled when they set themselves a task. Yet they have need of a people who are skilled at both melee and ranged.

'Come, there are others who have assembled.

'See, there is Chieftain Murky.'

He pointed to where a host of murlocs were emerging from the nearby river. Snarlmane rushed down to meet them and brandished his sword. 'Who are you?'

The leader, a small green murloc, made a noise. Snarlmane scratched his head. 'I do not understand.'

'He and his people offer you their greetings.' said Varimathras. 'They hope that they may unite with you in common cause.'

'What use could murlocs be?' asked Snarlmane.

'They are not as strong as you.' conceded Varimathras. 'But they are skilled waterers. With their aid, the rivers of Lordaeron may be seized, and power mustered to resist our common foe.'

'The Alliance.' guessed Snarlmane.

'Yes.' said Varimathras. 'They kill you for sport. They hunt you to thin your numbers. They slaughter your children that they will not grow up and avenge you. Join us Snarlmane. Let us band together and work to avenge the unforgivablle injuries that have been dealt to all our races.'

'We will…' Snarlmane remained silent. 'We will join.'

Murky made a noise of his own.

'Excellent. Follow me.' said Varimathras. 'King Mug'thol will give you opportunity for plunder and glory. A great assembly has been made.'

Varimathras led them into the city. The doors were all made tall enough so that ogres could walk within. Yet there were also seats and tables meant for smaller creatures. Snarlmane saw a place where trolls and ogres were drinking together.

On they went until they entered the largest building. Within was a great circular chamber of huge size. And sitting at the far end was a massive ogre, larger than any Snarlmane had ever seen. He wore a suit of black armor and leaning against his throne was a massive mace. In front of him was a stone table which only reached up to his knees. But it was tall enough that it reached Snarlmane's breast.

'King Mug'thol the last two of the delegation has arrived.' said Varimathras.

'Good.' said Mug'thol, voice booming. 'Wait with.' Then he rose and stood even taller if that was possible. 'Me Mug'thol. Me mighty ogre king. But tiny humans always raid. They kill. They grab ogres and experiment till death. Me think we all unite! Then we smash puny humans and pretty elves!'

'I be thinking dat be sounding fine by me.' said a voice. Snarlmane suddenly realized that a one-armed troll had been standing near him all this time. His eye was also put out. Didn't trolls regenerate? And how had he been unseen until now? 'But what be with dis round table.'

'Table symbolic, Zul'jin.' said Mug'thol. 'No head. So no one can sit at head. Table mean that all who sit at are equal. We swear oath. No longer fight eachother. Now fight only alliance.'

'I'll be joining it.' said Zul'jin.

Murky made a noise.

'Mug'thol not understand.' said Mug'thol.

'Murky is saying yes.' said Varimathras.

Snarlmane decided he did not want these people as enemies. Better as friends. 'We gnolls will join. We will taste man flesh.'

'Then we now make Kingdom of Creeps!' cried Mug'thol. 'I King Mug'thol! You Sir Zul'jin the Sneaky.'

Zul'jin blinked with his one good eye. 'I be thinking I be wanting a different-'

'You Sir Zul'jin the Sneaky because me say so!' bellowed Mug'thol.

Zul'jin sighed. 'Fine.'

'You Sir Murky the Slippery.' said Mug'thol to the murloc.

Murky said something, No one understood. 'Murky likes his name.'

'You Sir Snarlmane the Savage.' said Mug'thol.

Sounded fine to Snarlmane. But how had he known their names?

'Why does he be the only one getting a decent name?' muttered Zul'jin.

'Mug'thol say all decent names! Mug'thol King! Mug'thol smash all who disagree!' said Mug'thol.

Zul'jin eyed him in irritation. '…Right.'

'We take easy target first, work on teamwork!' said Mug'thol, scooping up his mace. 'Alliance have small garrison at Stratholme! We go smash then take Stratholme and lands around! When we have, we make our own!'

This was going to end in a lot of blood. Just the way Snarlmane liked it.

It was not the court of a King Varian was led to but the hall of a Bandit Lord. The leader, a gray haired man with a beard, was speaking with his advisors. He wore a weatherbeaten cloak around his thin form. His skin was tanned, and his fingers were scarred. He looked more like a bandit leader than a Lord. Then again, reflected Varian, he probably was one.

'-armies of the Alliance are on the move.' said one of the leader's advisors. 'I'm sure they'll burn and rape like always.'

'They don't seem to be doing any burning, though.' said another. 'Maybe they'll come and go.'

'I'd thought the bastards had forgotten about us by now.' muttered a third. 'It'll be bad business mark my words. I expect they want something.'

The leader raised his hand. 'Hold. Who is this, Blackmoore?'

Blackmoore bowed. 'King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind. He is leading an army and wishes our help with some business.'

'Let him speak for himself then.' said the leader.

Varian walked forward. 'We do indeed have need of your services. However, we bear you no ill will and the enemy we face is one to all that live.'

'No ill will?' asked the leader. 'Our King was thrown out and made a beggar in the wilderness and you want us to help you?'

'King Pernolde was-' began Varian, before stopping himself. He had been about to call the man a traitor. Apparently they knew what he was about to say, judging by their dark looks. 'The situation was dire. Drastic action was taken and those who took it were overzealous.'

'He was always a fair ruler to us.' said an advisor. 'When the assembled hosts of the Horde were coming down on us he negotiated a way for us to be spared. Then that bastard Thoras Trollbane burned Alterac City to the ground. Set himself up, too.

'Course he wasn't expecting Terenas to cheat him and put his puppet Prestor in charge.'

'I'm guessing that's why Prestor disappeared, and Thoras left the Alliance.' noted another.

'No honor among thieves you know.' said the third.

Varian felt his blood boil. To have a noble King such as Terenas dismissed as a thief infuriated him. But he kept his temper in check. Nothing would be gained by lashing out right now.

'And anyway why should we care about the Alliance?' asked the first. 'They've got no right to rule over us.'

'…There have been many mistakes of the past.' said Varian 'However-'

'Mistakes?' asked a man. 'I suppose it was also a mistake what happened to my daughter. If your definition is wide enough, anything can be a mistake. So I suppose it was a mistake that we accepted the Horde going through our lands without a fight.

'But if we can't judge you for your mistakes, why can you judge us?'

'The destruction of Alterac was a tragedy.' said Varian. 'And your people are owed compensation. If you help me, I can see this place rebuilt.'

'Oh so now you're offering us compensation.' said one of the crowd. 'Provided we march to war with you. And sacrifice our sons to the meat grinder. We've seen that song and dance once before. It won't work twice.'

'I don't ask for an army.' said Varian. 'I just need someone who knows this ground. I will pay handsomely. And in aiding me, you will be ridding the lands of a great evil.' He paused as he saw their hard gaze. 'I understand what happened to you, believe me. I know what it is to be betrayed. To lose ones home. I watched my own father killed before my eyes. My people were made vagabonds in the wilderness.'

'Did you?' asked the leader, suddenly speaking. 'I have a similar story, King Varian. My house was burned to the ground by Trollbane's soldiers and I spents years scraping a living off rocks. It was a good day when I had enough to eat.

'Did you ever go hungry when you were fleeing from Stormwind? When you arrived in Lordaeron what hard labor were you put through to justify your existence? And what labor did you have to make to reclaim your birthright?'

Varian could say nothing. For he had never gone hungry. Even in exile, Lothar had ensured he'd had enough to eat. Nor had he had to labor as these people obviously had. King Terenas had treated him like an adopted son, and Arthas had been like his brother.

'You think that because your father was assassinated that you understand suffering.' said the leader. 'But you don't. You've never seen your own ribs. Everyone has always yielded and fawned over you. Favorite child of King Llane, like a son to King Terenas, a prodigy, a wise Prince even in youth.

'Hailed as a champion of his people because he had the decency to marry a peasant girl. Instead of throwing her back to the street.'

The reference to Tiffin was too far. Varian had heard scorn enough from the nobility and felt the cold eyes of Aiden on him as he defended his choice. And now he was being accuses of considering her no more than a common whore. His hand went to his sword-

In an instant, there were a dozen swords pointed at him from all directions. 'How dare you.' said Varian.

The leader smiled and arose. 'I dare much because I have little to lose. And much to gain.' Then he threw back his cloak. Beneath it Varian saw there was a shining coat of mail and a blue taberd. Upon it was the symbol of the Nation of Alterac. By his side was a royal sword. The bandit leader was gone and in his place stood a mighty Prince of Men. His eyes flashed, and Varian stepped backward.

'I am Aliden Pernolde.' said the Prince in a clear. 'Son of King Pernolde, the rightful ruler of Alterac. You offer to pay us handsomely for our assistance, King Varian. I say we talk price.'

King Terenas had been doing more paperwork today than he had in years. Still, he almost welcomed it. After his son's unofficial coup he'd found himself with time to rest for the first time in decades. It had been nice for the first few weeks, but soon he had found himself going mad with boredom. Now he was signing reports, arranging for promotions and such. In particular, he was giving orders to develop new farmland.

Then a door opened, and Uther entered. 'King Terenas we've just received a report from Stratholme. Our forces there have been attacked by overwhelming numbers of creeps. They had to retreat to the Scarlet Outposts. Stratholme is now in the control of a powerful Ogre Chieftain named Mug'thol. He calls himself a King.'

Terenas paused. Finally some action. 'This is very serious. Bolster the border forts. Repulse any assaults they make. Then call a council of our military commanders at Hearthglen. We must make plans to take that area back at once.'

Uther bowed. 'As you command, milord.'

Things were getting interesting again.

Author's Note:

So as one person pointed out, the last line of the previous chapter could have easily been the end of the fic. Unfortunately, I have a lot of subplots to run through. That said, is it just me or is Arthas getting demoted to extra in his own fic? Ever since Dalaran, he has steadily faded in importance.

I guess I want to give the rest of the alliance a chance to shine. And give Arthas a break.

Also, I've finally come to a decision regarding the orc campaign. I'm only going to show the parts of it that change. I wanted to show the whole thing, but there are so many subplots going on right now that I can't do it in this fic.