Ironforge: Securing The Entrance

"Move up the catapults." Sylvanas ordered, sitting atop her skeletal horse. "We should prepare the siege, for the off chance they're not ready to open the doors."

"We could send people up the same way Athrodar and his group entered the city." Viraleth suggested, standing beside the Banshee Queen.

"No, we don't know if they were captured because of that."

"If they were captured." Viraleth added. "There hasn't been any demands, so they must still be in the city somewhere."

"Or maybe they don't know it's him." Even after she said it, Sylvanas knew there was a small chance that would happen, having already met the Dwarven Council. "Either way, nobody is going up there."

Viraleth watched a few of the siege engines move into place, glancing over to Saurfang who was inspecting the gate. "Gnomeregan is being sieged by Nazgrim." She muttered, having been told this the day before by the High Overlord.

"He's capable of it." Sylvanas told her, looking over to Victoria who was talking to Serathea. "They won't hold out for long. Unless they figure out how to make food out of thin air."

Viraleth followed Sylvanas' gaze and saw the Princess laughing at something Serathea told her. "She will be fine, my Lady. I'm sure she is more than capable of defending herself in there, especially after your training sessions with her."

"And yet, I feel like something is going to happen." Sylvanas told her, watching the last two siege engines move into place. "Speaking of." She rode forward and towards the siege engines. "Soldiers of the Horde, your Warchief is speaking to you!"

Every soldier saluted to her, standing to attention as their Warchief spoke. "Behind those gates is an enemy that has not tasted defeat. They have not lost a battle to the Horde, but that does not mean they are an indestructible force!"

Sylvanas paced left and right atop her skeletal horse, looking at each individual soldier in front of her. "They are cowards, fighting inside a fortress because they can't face the might of the Horde in the open field. They are cowards because they sent an assassin to kill Warchief Hellscream!"

The Horde cheered, spurring Sylvanas on. "We will show them what it means to lose, we will show the entire Alliance what it means to fight the full might of the Horde!" She unsheathed her blade pointing toward the catapults. "Prepare to fire."

Sylvanas grinned as the catapults were loaded and were aimed at the gates. "Fire."

As one, all the siege engines fired on the gates, the Horde cheering collectively as they all hit their target. As soon as they did fire, they set up for another volley, this time firing without needing to be told.

Athrodar heard the impact of the siege engines throughout Ironforge as the sound rumbled in the great halls. "The siege has started." He whispered to Elaria who was focused on the surrounding area.

"Do you think I could open my own inn? You know, once we take Stormwind."

Athrodar raised an eyebrow at her. "You want to open your own inn?"

"Yeah, why not?" Elaria pointed down at a group of Dwarves running towards the front gates. "They're moving, time to scout the rest of this section."

Both of them began to climb down from the top of the building they were perched on, Athrodar whislting to the three Dark Rangers with them and watching them appear from the shadows, moving to their next target.

"So why an inn?" He asked the Night Elf once they reached their next destination. "And why Stormwind? Why not open one here in Ironforge?"

"Because I want a place to call my own, a place to hang out with friends and a place to settle down and stop this life."

Athrodar pulled on her arm, stopping her mid climb. "You're going to stop this?"

"I've been thinking, a lot." She climbed onto the roof, helping Athrodar up soon after. "You died, my sister died and your daughter died. I don't want to be the next one to die, so I'm making a plan."

"Are you taking Luna with you?"

"Of course!" She leaned back against a chimney top. "She gave me the idea."

Athrodar scanned the section of Ironforge they were in, frowning at something Elaria said. "What about Clara?" He looked back to the Night Elf. "Does she not factor into your decision?"

Elaria smiled a little. "Of course she does." Her voice was low and soft, remembering the Human Mage. "But her death drove me to seek revenge more than retire, and I got my revenge during the Northrend campaign."

Athrodar's gaze returned to the part of the city they were in. "Well, whatever you decide to do, I'll come by and visit whenever possible."

Elaria stretched out her arm above her head. "Good. I couldn't run an inn without an undead elf visiting and drinking nothing."

"Fair enough, but I will come by to check in on you every now and then." He glanced back to her and saw the Night Elf staring off into the distance. "Okay, out with it."

"What?"

"You're thinking about something and you don't know if you should say." He looked back down at the guards running passed their building. "You avoid eye contact whenever something crosses your mind and you're embarrassed to say what it is."

Elaria threw a small stone at the back of his head. "Stop remembering stuff about me."

"So I was right?" He glanced back at her with a smirk. "What is it you are thinking about?"

"I think Luna likes me."

Athrodar frowned, looking back down at the guards patrolling passed them. "Of course she does, she seems like the type who would make friends with anyone and not judge them."

Elaria sighed. "No, I mean I think she likes me."

Athrodar looked back at the Night Elf and saw her looking distant again. "Oh..."

"Say something other than 'oh'."

"Well what do you want me to say?"

"Tell me if I should pursue this, or if I'm way in over my head."

Athrodar turned around and faced her. "Do you like her?"

"Yes!" She blurted out, all too quickly. "I mean... She's cute, fun to be around and she takes care of me, knowing I apparently can't take care of myself."

Athrodar raised an eyebrow at her. "Apparently can't?"

"Okay, fine. So I can't take care of myself." She folded her arms and stared at him. "So what should I do?"

"Personally, I'd say go for it." Athrodar shrugged his shoulders. "She seems perfect for you, considering she is the only one who can stop you from being yourself."

"Nothing wrong with being myself." She muttered, flinching when several loud bangs were sound in the great halls once more. "How long until they've breached the doors?"

"A few minutes, a few hours... There's no knowing. But with two dozen siege engines, it shouldn't be longer than a day." There was another bang that occurred a lot quicker than the Horde could load the catapults, making both Elaria and Athrodar look at each other.

"What was that?"

Athrodar looked up when several rocks fell from the ceiling, hearing several Dwarven war horns echo through the city. "I don't know, but it has the Alliance startled."


The dust cloud cleared a little in front of the Horde army, Sylvanas moving her arm away from her eyes. "Did it work?" Viraleth asked, moving to the front of the army.

"I think so." Sylvanas said, pushing away the dust cloud in front of her. "Gazlowe, did this work?"

The goblin engineer sent forward several of his kin, tapping his fingers against his arm as his nerves were getting the better of him. "Any time today, boys!" He yelled, glancing over to Sylvanas who was trying to see through the dust.

The sound of a Dwarvish war horn blew inside Ironforge, three sharp breaths before the sound of gun fire. "Charge!" Sylvanas cried, taking out her bow and letting loose a dark arrow through the dust.

As one, the Horde let out their war cries and charged towards the gates, running through a large opening in the doors that was created by several explosives placed in front of it.

The sound of steel clashing on steel quickly echoed in the mountain, followed by screams of those who were stuck with sword, axe, spear or arrow. "Saurfang, hit the right flank and push through with your orcs!"

Saurfang lifted his axe in the sky. "Soldiers of Orgrimmar, break their spirits and crash into their lines!" The High Overlord let out a war cry before charging into a group of three dwarves, cleaving all of them with his great axe.

Viraleth kept a close eye on Victoria who was standing at a distance, letting loose arrow after arrow into the Dwarves. "My Lady." She looked over to Sylvanas. "Allow me to enter Ironforge with a group of Rangers and find Athrodar."

"You're not the Scout Captain anymore. Send Kalira, you have to lead the Dark Rangers." Sylvanas let loose another dark arrow, glancing over to her Dark Ranger-General. "Now, Viraleth."

"Kalira!" The Ranger-General yelled, watching the Scout Captain run to her. "Gather some sisters and go into Ironforge. You've been tasked with finding Athrodar and his group."

Kalira saluted. "Yes, General."

Viraleth watched her gather a handful of Dark Rangers and fight her way through the thinnest part of the line before slipping away into the city. "Clea." She said, glancing over to the now Dark Ranger recruit. "Time for you to show your loyalty."

The Dark Ranger saluted her, though hating every second of it. "General."

"Keep the Princess safe with a small regiment of Dark Rangers I am stationing with her."

Clea opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it until Viraleth asked her what was on her mind. "I was told I would be in the Queen's group when we assaulted Ironforge."

"You are. Victoria is the Princess and she is a part of Sylvanas' group until she is capable of defending herself in a siege." She looked over to the Princess. "When you're ready, ranger."


Athrodar and Elaria took turns firing an arrow into a group of Dwarves, hiding behind a wall and letting loose another arrow. "Every time we kill one, three more show up with guns."

"No shit!" Elaria yelled at him, taking cover as a hail of bullets hit her wall. "Where are the other Rangers!?"

"Halduron -" Athrodar took cover as they shot at him, covering his head until it was over. "Halduron is on the other side of the city!"

Elaria let loose an arrow into one of the dwarves, hiding again when two of them shot at her. "What about the rest of our group?"

Athrodar let loose a frost arrow this time, creating a small explosion of ice that encased two of them. "I don't know!"

Elaria groaned in frustration, letting loose two arrows in quick succession and watching as the two dwarves she hit, got replaced by four more. "How did they find us anyway!?"

"They must have just been checking the areas and saw us." Athrodar began to count his arrows, closing his eyes and sighing. "I got seven left, you?"

Elaria took off her quiver and checked, sucking in air through her teeth. "Four."

Athrodar cursed silently, placing his quiver down next to him and taking out an arrow. "They will come for us when we stop firing."

Elaria looked around, glancing over to Athrodar who hid behind his wall. "Go."

"What?" Athrodar let loose another arrow, looking down at the five remaining in his quiver.

"Go." She repeated, letting loose an arrow. "You have Sylvanas and a daughter to get back to. I will buy you as much time as I can to return to them."

Athrodar shook his head, smiling at the Night Elf. "I promised you I will visit you at your inn. I'm not leaving you here so I can see you in chains or even dead." He let loose another arrow, hiding behind the wall soon after and looking over to Elaria. "You're my best friend, I'm not going to lose you."

Elaria smiled brightly, looking away from him and blinking hard. "Damn bullets are getting dust in my eyes every time they hit the wall." She wiped her eyes, hoping he didn't see she was actually welling up.

"Athrodar!"

Both elves looked behind them and towards Kalira and her group, as well as Halduron and the rest of their Rangers. "Where the fuck did you all come from!?" Elaria yelled, having another volley of bullets hit her wall.

"Kalira found us and she asked us where you were." Halduron sent forward his Rangers, all of them letting loose volley after volley of arrows into the dwarves, forcing them to retreat. "The Horde have breached the gates."

"That would explain where they came from." Athrodar watched the dwarves fall back, shaking Halduron's hand. "Thank you, we were running low on arrows and pinned down."

"Don't stay here for too long, we spotted a large group of Alliance coming this way." Kalira waved Athrodar over. "We have a couple minutes until they block off our only exit."

Athrodar pushed Elaria forward, looking back at the fallen Dwarves and taking in that small, but crucial victory for them. "We've distracted them from the main Horde army." He muttered, hearing the marching of several dwarves.


"Take the first district!" Sylvanas commanded, slinging her bow over her shoulder and pulling out her swords. "Claim the entrance to Ironforge! Trap them inside!" She ran into the nearest building with a handful of Rangers, watching them get cut down by a trap the Alliance had sprung on the Warchief.

"Call off ye Horde, Warchief!" One of the Dwarves commanded.

Sylvanas, after watching her Dark Rangers get killed, gave them all a cold smile. "I don't think so." The room began to get dark as well as her physical form disappeared and was replaced by her banshee form.

Letting out a Banshee scream, she stunned the dwarves inside the building and flew threw them, slaying them instantly and forming back into her physical self, using her Banshee magics to finish off those that survived.

Viraleth rushed to the building, moving out the way for her Queen as she walked out of it. "My Lady, are you okay?"

"Never better." She said with a smirk, having a small black glow on her fingertips.

As Sylvanas joined the rest of the fighting, Viraleth looked into the building and saw all the bodies laying there, both Dark Ranger and Dwarf. "Those poor souls." She grinned wickedly. "They never saw it coming."

The fighting went on for a few more minutes until the Alliance called a retreat, falling back to the Great Forge and allowing the Horde to celebrate their first major victory.

"Baine, Saurfang. Take your men and secure the area." Sylvanas looked around the rest of the Horde, watching both Orc and Tauren secure the entrance to Ironforge.

Unbeknownst to Sylvanas, Kalira had returned with Athrodar, Elaria and Halduron, reporting in to Viraleth who was talking to Victoria and Liadrin at the time. "Well done Captain."

"It was a close call." She told Viraleth, all four of them watching Athrodar make his way over to Sylvanas and hug her tightly. "He was alone with that Night Elf and both of them were very low on arrows."

"It's good that you found them." Victoria said, watching her parents hold hands and talk quietly to each other. "A couple more minutes and they might have fallen."

"They were pinned down by at least twenty guns." The Scout Captain told them. "I'm just amazed they survived as long as they did."

"If there's one thing I know," Liadrin began, looking over to Elaria who was introducing her sister to Lunarii, "Elaria and Athrodar bring out the best in each other. They could survive an entire army together if left alone."

Victoria continued to watch them, tilting her head a little when Sylvanas smiled and hugged him tightly. "What do you think they're talking about?"

Viraleth watched them share a few more words. "Probably that she's happy he's still here." She wanted to say they were talking about their engagement, but knew she wasn't in a position to tell others.

"I'm not going to leave you anymore." Athrodar told her softly, still hugging her. "For the rest of this siege, unless you need me to, I'm not going anywhere."

Sylvanas closed her eyes as they continued to hug, the two of them gently swaying. "After what you told me, I'm never letting you out of my sight. I don't know what I would have done if you were captured."

Athrodar chuckled lightly, pulling her off him and gazing into her Crimson eyes. "You would have destroyed every last soldier until I was returned to you."

"That's true." She leaned forward and pressed her head against his. "I would have marched into Stormwind itself just to get you back."

Athrodar glanced over to Victoria and the three women with her, looking back at Sylvanas. "Our daughter has an audience with her."

The Banshee Queen let out a small laugh. "Let them watch. I don't want to hide my love for you."

"I never believed you were."

Elaria made her way over to Victoria and co, bringing Sera and Luna with her. "I never thanked you." She said to Kalira, extending out her hand. "So, thank you."

The Scout Captain shook her hand and smirked. "It's not every day we get thanked by a Kal'dorei."

"Well you saved me from almost certain death, returning me to my sister and..." She looked over to Luna who smiled at her. "... And to someone I hope I can spend my life with."

Luna widened her eyes in shock, feeling awkward and taking hold of Elaria's hand to drag her away. "I've seen that look before." Liadrin said, glancing over to Victoria. "Though I will not mention it here."

Victoria wasn't paying her any attention, too busy watching Sylvanas and Athrodar share a few more words with each other. "I'm going over to them."

Before any of them could say anything, they all watched the Princess interrupt their time together. "She's lucky they care about her." Viraleth said with a small laugh at the beginning. "They would kill anyone who interrupted their alone time."

"You sound as if you speak from experience." Liadrin said.

"I have just been told a few times by the Warchief not to let anybody interrupt." She shrugged her shoulders. "It's safe to say, nobody has interrupted them unless it's an emergency."