Taking Thelsamar: Part 1

"Stay low." Athrodar whispered to everyone around him, being crouched down in the middle of a circle they had formed. "We need to move from here," he pointed to just west of Silver Stream Mine located north of Loch Modan, "all the way down to here, staying in these trees the whole time."

They all looked to where he was pointing, recognising the crossroads on the map. "What about the road between us and the next set of trees?" Victoria asked.

Athrodar still brought her along, even after the argument both Sylvanas and him had. Amazingly, she managed to stay in the dark about it, not hearing the things he had said.

"We will have to cross three at a time. Two people will also have to be on look out to make sure no Alliance sees us cross this road."

Both Tauren Druids in the group volunteered to be lookouts, telling Athrodar they can keep watch in their flight forms. "Do we have a signal to wait for?" Velonara asked, being the one person Athrodar actually wanted there by name.

"Only when the attack is happening. We are the first to get in position, but we can't send a signal otherwise we risk giving away our location." Athrodar looked at everyone around him. "We just need to get there as fast as possible without drawing any attention to ourselves."

"Also," he said, pointing down at the map once more. "We need to watch our backs as Dun Morogh and Ironforge are literally just here." He pointed to the grass next to the map of Loch Modan, showing them how close they were to the Dwarven capital.

"How do we deal with the reinforcements if they come?" The young ranger asked, impressing Athrodar a little as she asked all the questions he would be asking.

"We will have to pull away from Thelsamar and attack them head on. If we're lucky they won't expect it, if they do... Well, then let's say we're in for one hell of a fight."

Athrodar led the group through the forest, looking up at the sky and towards the two Druids lazily gliding above them. "Do you think they will attack us from behind?" Victoria asked, keeping her voice low so they weren't noticed.

"There's a higher chance they will attack than not." He fell back from the front of their group, walking in tandem with the young ranger, leaving Velonara at the front to lead them. "But we have a plan if they do."

"Will it work?" She asked, looking over to him. "Will we win if they do attack?"

"The Horde will win, yes."

She frowned at his answer. "But will we win?"

He glanced over to the increasingly worried recruit. "Our job is to attack Thelsamar from behind. If we have to peel off and hold the Alliance at bay, then that's what we will do."

Frustrated he was dodging her question, she sped up her pace and walked away from him, moving to the middle of the group and hanging around other Farstriders.

Sylvanas sat on her skeletal horse in front of the Horde army, calling out Lor'Themar and Vol'jin to her side whilst she addressed Saurfang. "High Overlord, I want you to lead the remaining half of the Horde down the middle and straight to Thelsamar. I will lead my half east and give the signal for the attack."

Saurfang pounded his chest in a salute. "I will, Warchief." Sylvanas bowed her head at the Orc before pulling on the reins of her horse and marching east, being flanked by the other two Horde leaders.

Lor'Themar rode on a Quel'Dorei steed next to Sylvanas, eyeing her up and down as her quietness piqued his interest. "Did your little spat with Athrodar really affect you this much?"

Sylvanas glanced over to the Regent Lord. "It did affect me, but it made us both stronger." She looked forward, smiling a little. "We're closer as well, much closer than we were before."

Lor'Themar looked around their half of the army, nodding to Halduron when he noticed him but not seeing the Death Knight in question. "If you're so close, where is he?"

"Leading the southern flank, because I trust him more than anyone to lead them." She looked back over to Lor'Themar, watching him smirk at her. "I'm naming him High General and second in command of the Horde once we take Thelsamar. He has more than earned it."

Vol'jin, having remained quiet the whole time, pulled his raptor closer to the two of them. "If you say he has earned it, den I will not argue, Warchief."

Sylvanas bowed her head at the troll, looking back over to Lor'Themar. "Nice to see I have one leader on my side."

Lor'Themar laughed loudly, shaking his head lightly. "I have always supported you, Sylvanas. Silvermoon still remembers your sacrifice."

"It's just a shame they also remember the Sunblade betrayal. Athrodar fought against his family that day, yet their betrayal is held against him." She looked over to the Regent Lord. "I hope now that I am Warchief, the mistakes of his family will no longer be held against him."

The Regent Lord bowed his head. "I will make sure the people know the truth, Warchief." He looked down at the ground, only now noticing they were crossing the dried lake. "How long until we're in position?"

Sylvanas looked back to the army then forward to where they were going. "An hour, maybe two. It all depends on how quick we move as an army."

Athrodar and his group had crossed the road splitting the forest they were in and the forest they are now, trusting the two Druids flying above them as they ran through across the forest floor.

"We should be where we need to be in twenty minutes." Athrodar told them once they took a quick five minute breather. "That gives us roughly thirty minutes rest once we do get there."

"Why don't... We rest for... Twenty minutes... Instead of... Five." Victoria hunched over, trying to catch her breath. "Just for the.. living members... in the group."

Athrodar looked over to Velonara who shrugged her shoulders. "It's your decision, Athrodar."

He sighed, nodding his head slowly. "Okay, you get a ten minute break before we get moving."

Victoria watched him walk over to the only Dark Ranger in their group, deciding to follow him and listen in on the conversation.

"If we do get ambushed," she heard Athrodar say, "I need you to take Victoria with you and find Sylvanas."

"Are you sure?" Velonara asked, placing a hand on his arm to get his attention. "I can fight with you."

Victoria got closer, hiding behind a nearby tree to listen in some more. "I know you can, Vel. But we will need reinforcements to deal with their reinforcements as I am almost certain we can't hold them back."

The young ranger watched the Dark Ranger nod at his request. "I will bring her to Sylvanas if we get ambushed."

Athrodar placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you. And remember to bring back reinforcements, we won't survive without them."

As he stepped away from the Dark Ranger, she called his name to get his attention once more. "How come we weren't told any of this during Clea's debrief?"

Athrodar smirked, catching a glimpse of his not so hidden recruit before turning to face the Dark Ranger. "Because it's not a certainty we will face reinforcements. But I believe the Alliance are up to something."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Unless you can give me a good reason why they're giving up so much land to us, I believe we are walking into something that will cost lives." He began to walk away from her, stopping by Victoria's tree. "I'm just trying to save as many people as I can."

Victoria stared wide eyed at Athrodar who was looking back at her. "And if preparing for an ambush saves lives, then I am doing something right."

"How did you know I was here?" She whispered to him, watching him tap her leg with his boot. "Oh."

"How much did you hear?"

She opened her mouth, getting ready to lie to him, but lowered her head when she figured he already knew. "All of it..."

He smiled, watching Velonara walk past the two of them and join up with the rest of the group. "Then you know I am sending you back to Sylvanas if we are attacked from behind."

She nodded in understanding, smiling up at him. "I can understand why you want to do that. I'm not ready to hold off an entire Alliance reinforcing army with you. I would be safer with Sylvanas."

Without even thinking, Athrodar placed a hand on her face and rubbed his thumb on her cheek. "You're learning." He smiled a little, lowering his hand off her face. "I need to tell you something. Before anyone else tells you."

Victoria tilted her head and frowned at him. "Tell me what?"

He sighed, looking down at his hand that he was flexing for no reason other than as a distraction for himself. "Sylvanas and I had an argument half an hour before we left, an hour before they left."

She looked down at his hand, closing it with hers. "What happened?"

He laughed a little, rubbing the palm of his hand and looking up at the clear blue sky. "I said a lot of things that I now regret, thinking about it. I think I was just jealous when it comes down to the why."

Victoria began to laugh at him. "What do you have to be jealous about? You're the Queen's consort, she loves you more than anything." She saw him look at her, his face a little pained. "What? She does.. Right?"

"I thought that at first, until she met you. The ranger who looked like her daughter." He laughed at how stupid he sounded. "I was jealous of you because you stole, from what I could see, my Queen's heart."

Victoria widened her eyes, covering her mouth with her hands. "And both Sylvanas and I rubbed it in your face by being around you more often than not." She saw him nod, slowly and hesitantly extending a hand out towards him. "I'm so sorry.. I never planned to..."

He waved his hand. "It's fine. After blowing off some steam and spending some alone time with her, we sorted several things out and I promised her I'd tell you something."

She retracted her almost fully extended hand. "What else do I need to be told?"

"Her love for you is real. It's been only a week, but I can see and those closest to her can see that she will do anything to keep you safe." He smiled a little, placing a hand in his pocket. "I on the other hand, find it difficult to express my feelings to anyone outside of Sylvanas."

She looked down at his hand that he offered out to her, watching it slowly open to reveal a sapphire necklace, one similar to the one Alleria gave Sylvanas. "Is that for me?"

"The day we arrived in Greenwarden's Grove, I had this made by our blacksmith with a piece of sapphire I was planning on giving to Sylvanas as a ring." He dropped the necklace in her awaiting hand. "But I know how much she cares for you and I figured if you stayed in her life just that much longer, she would be all the happier."

Victoria looked at the necklace, smiling brightly when she rubbed her thumb over it. "It's beautiful. You really didn't have to... Wait." Her smile was replaced with a frown. "You were going to make a ring for her? As in, a proposal?"

"Ah... Not exactly." He closed her hand around the necklace. "See, neither of us really want a marriage. But I was planning on giving her a ring that I would etch runes on, binding us together as if we were... 'Married'." He shrugged his shoulders. "But making her happy by keeping you in her life is more important."

She slowly moved forward until she was inches away from him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "You must really care about her."

Athrodar slowly moved his arms around her, smiling at her words. "She's saved my life in more ways than I could ever know. I love her because of that."

"So this recruit that you have stolen from me..." Lor'Themar glanced over to Sylvanas who was pretending she couldn't hear him. "Why her?"

"She's... Special." Sylvanas looked over to the Regent Lord briefly and watching him slowly nod. "It's hard to explain, but I think she will become an excellent General some day."

"Has it got anyting to do with ya tinking she is ya daughtah?" Vol'jin grinned at both elves when they looked over to him. "Rokhan heard ya fighting with Athrodar da night Garrosh was killed. It has been on ma mind since den."

"What is he talking about?" Lor'Themar asked, pulling his Quel'Dorei steed closer when she didn't respond. "Sylvanas?"

She let out a long sigh. "Remember when the emerald dream began to leak some green mist around Azeroth?" She saw the Regent Lord nod. "Well, those who were affected had dreams that, if gone on long enough, turn into nightmares."

"And you were affected by it, if I remember rightly."

She nodded. "I was. Anyway, from those dreams came my past, except I was resurrected back to life as well as my Dark Rangers. We immediately rushed home and were greeted by our people like heroes.

"Time passes and I find Athrodar and tell him that I love him." She looked over to Lor'Themar who looked interested in the story. "I won't go into much detail but we got married and had twins, one of them being a girl who looked exactly like that recruit."

"Aahhh..." Lor'Themar nodding his head when the pieces clicked together. "So you saw her in this dream, then a year later she turns up literally on your doorstep and you begin to think it's your daughter?"

"To sum it up, yes." She looked down at the reins in her hands, rubbing a thumb across it as she began to think of something else to say. "I don't think Athrodar believes me."

"To be honest, I can understand why." He held up his hand when she shot him a quick glare. "I'm not saying you're lying, but I can see his view point as neither of us have seen this dream."

Viraleth came riding back from where she was scouting, stopping in front of the three faction leaders. "The way is clear, my Lady. The Alliance are holding out in Thelsamar now, they've begun to barricade themselves in."

"Dis is going to be a long fight." Vol'jin looked over to Sylvanas who was looking back at the army behind her. "Warchief?"

"How many mages did you both bring?"

"All of dem." Vol'jin said, looking back at the army.

"Grand Magister Dawnstrider brought eighty percent of our mages, leaving the other twenty to defend Silvermoon." Lor'Themar looked over to Sylvanas. "Why? What do you need them for?"

"We will use fire to smoke them out. If they want to hide from us, we will make sure there is nowhere left to hide." Sylvanas turned her gaze towards Viraleth. "Send word to Saurfang, tell him we will use fire mages on the first attack."

Viraleth pulled her skeletal horse alongside Sylvanas'. "What about Athrodar?"

The Banshee Queen sighed. "He will just have to do his best under the circumstances." Viraleth bowed her head to her Queen, riding off towards Saurfang.

"We are here." Athrodar whispered to his group, looking up at the two Druids gliding through the sky above them and whistling at them. Once they landed, he made his way over to them. "I need you both to scout south and towards Dun Morogh. Report back if you see any movement."

As both Druids took off once more, Victoria made her way over to Athrodar who was crouched by a tree, waiting for the signal to attack. "Can I ask you something?" She kept her voice low due to how close they were to Thelsamar.

"Sure."

Sitting down next to him, she looked towards Thelsamar whilst placing her hand over the necklace she now wore. "Yesterday, you said both you and Sylvanas had fears. You told me hers, but you never told me yours."

Athrodar moved from a crouched position to a sitting position, deciding to get comfortable before the attack. "I never told you because I didn't want anyone to know it."

She smiled a little, resting her head on his arm. "You can tell me. I won't repeat it to anyone, I promise."

He looked down at her and saw she had a hand over her heart, looking up at him with a smile. "I'm afraid of being alone."

She frowned at him. "You're always alone, at least when you're not with Sylvanas. I see you walking the camp by yourself most of the time."

He chuckled lightly. "Not in that way. I'm on about being alone, having nowhere to call home... Nobody to talk to, to hold, love or care for." He smiled sadly, not noticing he was holding his knife until he looked down at his hand. "I was almost like that more than once."

She looked at up him wide eyed in awe of his confession. "What happened?"

"I died..." He muttered, blinking hard a couple of times before looking down at her with a small smile. "I was already undead at the time, but I died for a second time and was plunged into eternal darkness. For the first and hopefully last time, I was alone."

She leaned over to him and hugged his arm when he stared off into the distance. "You're not alone anymore. Sylvanas and I will make sure of that." She closed her eyes when he moved an arm around her.

When Athrodar heard her sniff, he looked down and saw she was quietly shedding a few tears. "Woah, what happened?" He asked, watching her shake her head with a smile.

"Nothing... It's just, my dad used to do this with me when I was younger. Sit in a forest after bow practice and watch our village in the distance." She held onto his arm tighter when he went to remove it. "You're not him, I know that. But the last week has been one of the best weeks in a long time because you remind me of him."

"Minus the being undead bit, of course." He joked, hearing her laugh a little. "Can I ask you something personal now?"

"Isn't everything I've told you personal?"

"Yes, but this is something I need to know." He saw her nod of approval before asking. "If you were to get killed, would you..." Athrodar laughed a little, not knowing how to phrase it. "This is more difficult than I thought it would be."

She placed a hand over his when he began to rub the palm of it. "Yes. If you're going to ask if I would like to be brought back, the answer is yes."

Not expecting her to give that answer, Athodar frowned at her. "Okay, now I need to ask why?"

"It's like I've said. My parents aren't here anymore and both Sylvanas and yourself have been the closest thing to family in the last week than I've had since they died." She shrugged her shoulders. "If being brought back as a Dark Ranger brings us closer, I'm all for it."

"At least I know, should the time come when I need to do it." He looked toward Thelsamar, leaning back against the tree. "Now we wait for the signal." Just as he got settled, he felt Victoria begin to move. "What are you doing?"

"Resting." She said, laying on her side and placing her head on his leg. "You may have forgotten that the living need to rest after running for twenty minutes."

"Right, sorry. Rest, I will tell you when we need to leave." He heard her yawn, slowly taking off his cloak and draping it over her.

"Thanks dad..." She muttered, resting her eyes and pulling the cloak around her.