Costly Attack

Thirteen months since Khadgar visited Stormwind and all had been quiet on the Burning Legion front. No more signs, no spies found infilitrating the council or any other city. Nothing but silence which put the Queen on edge the longer it went on, waiting for so long for something to happen and getting nothing in return. That was until a messenger arrived on this day, running at the speed of light and pushing their way through the council to almost collapse in the middle of the throne room, exhausted. "Yo-your Grace!" The messenger cried, eyes wide with horror. "They're here!"

"Who are here?" One of the council said, a little annoyed the meeting had been interrupted so rudely.

"Demons... In Westfall! They're attacking Sentinal Hill, your Grace! You have to do something!"

Victoria looked over to Sera who nodded her head without having to be asked, gathering half of the Royal guards and marching her way out the Keep. "With me!" She commanded, pointing at several more the further down she got.

"Don't worry, my General will take care of this." Victoria watched Sera hastily make her way out the Keep, looking back down at the messenger. "Send word to Liadrin as well. I could use her Paladins to face the demons at Sentinal Hill. The Light purges those dark beings, so hopefully she will be a valuable asset."

"And she will provide healing to those who are injured." Cyndia said, standing beside her Queen who agreed with her.

"I'll go ask her now. Thank you, your Grace." The messenger bowed his head and shot out the Keep just as quickly as he did on his way in.

Cydnia leaned closer to her Queen who's mind began to race with a thousand thoughts. "Don't worry, your Grace. Sera and Liadrin are more than enough to take care of the Demons in Westfall."

"I hope so.." Victoria muttered, looking up at her Captain. "I really do hope so."

Liadrin arrived with her entire army of Paladins that were stationed in Stormwind and around Elwynn, looking over to her two commanders Alonso and Wilfred. "Lead our men." She said, looking back to the handful of priestes with them. "I will take our priests and head into Sentinal Hill to get the civilians out of there and heal the wounded."

Wilfred nodded his head to the Highlord. "Will do."

Alonso saw the Stormwind banner in the distance and recognising some of the soldiers fighting there. "The General has already engaged them." He said, making their entire group ride towards Sera to lend her some aide.

"Glad you could finally make it." The Night Elf said, dodging a cleaving axe from a Felguard, slicing her glaive through its abdomen. "There are a lot more here than I was informed. I have serveral soldiers pinned down by felhounds, packs of them were roaming around but they managed to gather them all. Thing is, now they are the ones who are being gathered by those beasts."

"We'll see what we can do." Wilfred said, patting Alonso on the shoulder and having their entire retinue of Paladins move towards where Sera was pointing, cutting down several felhounds and freeing up some of the soldiers so they could help out their General.

Alonso peeled off from the Felhounds they were killing, taking a group of Paladins towards a Doomguard who was commanding several demons towards the General who in turn was too preoccupied with an army of imps that were attacking from out of nowhere. "Intercept them." Alonso told a group of his soldiers. "The rest of us will deal with their commander."

By the time Wilfred had cleared the Felhounds, he heard a loud bang and looked over to Alonso who was dealing with the Doomguard. "What was that?" He asked, looking up at the sky when it began to light up a bright green and following the trail of three giant rocks falling from the sky and come crashing down nearby. "Infernals..." He muttered, watching as both Sera's group and Alonso's were preoccupied with other things. "Everyone, on me." He said to the Paladins behind him, charging towards the Infernals who were taking shape where they crashed.

Alonso looked back to Wilfred when he heard the crashing of infernals, watching as he stood off against the Infernal, watching them try to cut down one of the three that loomed over the battlefield and having his attention off the Doomguard he was fighting for a bit too long, feeling a sharp pain in his abdomen and looked down at a blade sticking out of his stomach. "Light.. Save... Us." He muttered, collapsing to his knees when the blade was pulled out of him and wiping away the blood the flowed freely from his mouth, watching his world go black almost instantly and falling to the floor, lifeless and unmoving.

Sera looked over to the Doomguard just as they pulled the blade from Alonso's back, cutting down the group of imps in front of her and watching the noble Paladin and loyal friend collapse to the ground. "No..." She said under her breath, looking into his lifeless eyes despite being at a distance. "Your sacrifice won't be in vein, brother." She said, spinning her glaive around so it was pointing in front of her and charging towards the Dreadlord.

Whilst the fighting was going on outside Sentinal Hill, Liadrin was having a fight of her own inside the outpost, trying to round up all the civilians whilst telling them to leave their possession behind was a difficult task, more so than actually fighting. On top of that, she had a tag alone that she didn't know about until they made themselves known after several heated words were thrown at the Paladin. "Listen to the Highlord." The unknown guest said, ignoring the shocked look on the Paladin's face. "She is just trying to save you."

"Tanadia, what are you doing here!?" Liadrin yelled. "You're supposed to be in Stormwind!"

"I am your Princess, Liadrin. And I am here to make sure my people are safe from threats." Tanadia looked over to the civilians who listened to what she had just said and bowed their head to the Princess, ignoring Liadrin who had recoiled back a little at her use of her actual name instead of the nickname she had used her entire life. "Like the Highlord said, you all have to leave here now. Things can be replaced, your lives can't, now come on."

Liadrin watched the many civilians who were listening to their Princess, pack up and leave, only taking the essentials and following the rest of the civilians out of Sentinal Hill. "My Lady..." Liadrin said, hating the use of the title but knowing she didn't need to have Tanadia telling her off again for not addressing her as the Princess that she was.

Tanadia snorted at the title. "You don't need to call me 'My Lady' Li Li..." She said, looking over to her mentor. "I'm sixteen now, I am allowed to leave the city without supervision, though I guess it comes with the title of Princess."

Liadrin walked over to her protogé, placing her hands on her face and sighing at her. "Don't do that to me again, okay? At least let me know you are tagging along next time so I don't get the surprise."

Tanadia smiled and nodded her head. "Okay, Li Li." She said so innocently that it almost made the Paladin forget she was just told off by the Princess moments ago. "I just wanted to help."

"I know you did, little one." Liadrin kissed her on the forehead. "But like I said, just tell me next time. You know I can't say no to you."

Tanadia smiled at her, relieved she wasn't angry but now determined to help more people who need them. "So what do we do now?"

"Now we help the injured, clear out more civilians who refuse to leave and hope that the fight outside these walls finishes before we're done. Otherwise we may have to help them." Liadrin patted her arm. "But don't worry, if it comes to that I will keep you beside me."

"Have you seen your new sister yet?" Cyndia asked, being left alone in the throne room with the Queen who was distracting herself by cuddling Snow.

"I have not, no." She smiled when she remembered the conversation she had a while ago about Athrodar having another daughter because his family before him only had sons. "I knew I would have a new sister, I even told Sera that I would."

Cyndia smiled and laughed a little, sitting down on the opposite side of Snow and petting him. "What was she called? I don't think you told."

"Cedani." Victoria said with a smile. "Cedani Windrunner, their first to have a name outside of missing or dead family members. And a beautiful one at that too."

Cyndia's smile began to fade when reality set in. "It's a shame she was born into a world that is about to see an all out war..."

Victoria's smile faded just as the sentence was said, letting out a sigh and lowering her ears a little. "I know... But she is in a secluded part of the world, a village surrounded by nothing but trees for miles. Hopefully they won't have to fight."

"I hope so too, your Grace." Cyndia said, going back to focusing her attention on Snow. "Your other siblings are what.. Nine and six now?"

"They are, yes." Victoria laughed lightly. "They grow up so damned fast, they will be fully fledged rangers the next time I see them, I swear."

"You reckon they will all be rangers?"

"Of course. Both our parents are rangers, one is legendary and the other is Athrodar." They both chuckled with Cyndia shaking her head. "But no, I think they will be rangers. They will hear stories of the two of them and want to emulate our parents. I can't blame them."

"You never know... One of them might grow up to be a priest or a mage. Or they might grow up to be a strong warrior, preferring sword and shield over bow and arrow." Cyndia shrugged her shoulders at her Queen. "Athrodar's first born became a priestess, and a really good one at that."

"Only because Thalina's brother was a Paladin." Victoria told her. "That's just a priest with a big weapon."

"Speaking of big weapons." Cyndia said, catching a glimpse of Sera walking down the long corridor with a limp, using the butt of her glaive to stablise her. "She doesn't look too good, your Grace." She said when the General got closer.

Victoria ran to Sera's aid when she stumbled a little and collapsed down to one knee, lifting her head up with her hands so she was looking at her. "What happened?" The Queen asked, watching Sera close her eyes tightly.

"We got the demons, my Lady... But it came with a price." Sera shook her head, gripping onto her hip as it hurt like hell. Luckily she wasn't bleeding, but she did take a big knock or two. "Alonso and Wilfred are dead, my Lady. I'm so sorry."

Victoria watched her General clench her teeth in pain, looking over her body for any cuts or stabs and finding none. "Are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

"My side." Sera watched Victoria begin to examine her side, having her tunic pulled up so she could look at it more clearly. "My Lady. Alonso and Wilfred are dead." She told her for a second time, expecting a much different reaction than this. "They were slain by the demons. Alonso stabbed in the back and Wilfred died protecting civilians whilst they were under attack by felhounds."

"I heard you and I will mourn when I am alone. They were close family friends Sera and I will miss them greatly, but now is not the time to mourn." She looked at her General who's gaze fell from her. "Are my people safe?"

"Liadrin is leading them to Westbrook Garrison where they will stay the night whilst we send out patrols to look for any demons who slipped through our lines. If it's clear, they will return home tomorrow." Sera grimaced in pain when Victoria touched a sensitive spot on her hip. "Right there it hurts." She shook her head and let out a small laugh. "Serves me right for getting knocked on my ass when I wasn't looking."

"Where are they now?" Victoria asked, her voice softer now than it was as she let the news of Alonso and Wilfred sink in. "I want to bury them somewhere nice, where the sun will shine down on them everyday and I can visit."

"I will get somebody to pick out a spot just like that, your Grace." Cyndia said, standing up and making her way out the throne room.

"There were so many of them..." Sera muttered, burying her face in her Queen's shoulder. "Every time we cut two down, two more showed up."

"I have a bad feeling this is only the beginning." Victoria whispered to her, stroking her General's hair.

"Someone has to tell your father." Sera whispered back to her, holding onto her Queen now. "He loved them like brothers. They visited him often when he retired, though it slowed down in recent years."

Victoria bit the inside of her cheek, trying to not let the emotions of it all overwhelm her. "I willgo tell him myself. I sent Liadrin out there with her Paladins... I should be the one to tell my father that they died."

"Do you need someone to be there with you?" Sera asked, trying to stand up but having the shooting pain in her hip and collapsing back down onto one knee.

"Not you." Victoria said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You need to rest, I will get some healers to you once you are in bed." She helped her General up onto her feet, placing a hand on her chest and kissing her lightly. "Just answer me one thing?"

"Sure." The General winced at the pain, but looked into her Queen's eyes when she saw sadness in them.

"Did they suffer?" Victoria asked, referring to Alonso and Wilfred.

"No, my Lady. It was quick, how I'm sure they would have wanted to die in that situation." Sera held onto her hip and used her glaive to keep herself propped up whilst she walked with her Queen to their bedroom. "So you're going on your own?"

"I am." Victoria said, looking at her General. "I only want to bring you, but you're too injured to be of any help... No offence."

Sera shook her head. "It's okay. The only thing I have to do is rest. And lay in bed... Bored."

Victoria chuckled lightly and pushed open the door to the living wing of the Keep, making their way to her chambers. "I'll be a couple days, hopefully you should have healed by then if you allow the priests to do their thing and listen to them."

Sera smiled. "I'll listen to them."

"I can't put you down." Sylvanas said in a cutesy voice, smiling at Cedani in her arms. "You are too adoreable to be anywhere else but in my arms. Yes you are. My best creation."

Athrodar rolled his eyes and laughed lightly, watching Sylvanas rub her nose against their daughter's. "Sometimes, I think you forget that I helped make our children."

"I don't forget." Sylvanas told him, keeping her gaze on Cedani. "I just don't include your involvement when it comes to our children, because they are my precious gems."

Athrodar continued to laugh, shaking his head and stepping behind his wife, kissing Sylvanas on the cheek and hugging her from behind whilst looking at their daughter. "I love you." He whispered in her ear, pressing his cheek against Sylvanas' shortly after.

"I love you too." Sylvanas whispered.

Knowing he had to ask, Athrodar squeezed Sylvanas' waist a little in his hug. "Are you talking to me or our daughter?"

"Oh definately our daughter." Sylvanas said, looking over her shoulder at her husband. "I guess I love you too."

"Yeah... Thirteen years together has kept our love so strong." Athrodar muttered, kissing Sylvanas on her cheek once more. "If you need me, I'll be with our son. He has been asking me all day to take him fishing with Elaria and I."

Sylvanas chuckled and nodded her head. "Okay, stay safe. And I do love you."

Athrodar smiled. "I know." He said, turning to go get Tahnir but hearing a knock on their door. "I'll get it."

Opening the door, Athrodar looked at Victoria who stood still for a few seconds before breaking down into tears and hugging her father. "Dad..." She said, burying her head into his chest and holding onto him tightly.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Athrodar asked, looking back at Sylvanas who placed Cedani down in her cot and making her way over to their daughter who appeared out of the blue.

"Alonso and Wilfred..." She sniffed, shaking her head and gripping onto the back of his tunic tightly. "Demons attacked Westfall and they died... I'm so sorry."

Athrodar frowned at Victoria, pulling her off him a little so they could look at each other. "Wait, what happened? Go over it again, but slowly."

Victoria walked over to the nearby couch with her parents, Sylvanas pulling her in closely so she was leaning on her whilst telling them what happened, sparing no details on what she was told plus what she knew before hand and everything else inbetween. Once she had finished telling them everything she knew, she looked over to Athrodar who stood up and began to walk away, brushing a hand through his own hair before picking up a nearby picture and throwing it against the wall.

"Athrodar!" Sylvanas yelled when she saw it smash, hearing Cedani begin to cry as the loud noises upset her. "Step outside." She told him, looking over to Illana who ran into the living room they were all in and holding up her hand. "Alonso and Wilfred died." She told her mother-in-law when Athrodar stepped out onto the balcony.

"What do you need me to do?" She asked, looking over to Cedani who was still crying and making her way over to the baby.

"Please." Was all Sylvanas said when she saw Illana pick up her baby, walking out of the room and looking down at Victoria who's ears were bent down in sadness. "I'll talk to him. Your father isn't good at feeling sad, so this was somewhat predictable..." She placed a hand on Victoria's cheek and rubbed her thumb across it. "I'll go calm him down, it shouldn't take long before he comes back in here and will need you with him."

Athrodar sat on the bench on the balcony, clutching onto his head tightly and shedding a few tears at the loss of his friends. "I should have been there..." Athrodar muttered, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I could have kept them alive..."

"Or you would have died with them, my love." Sylvanas said, closing the door to the balcony behind her and sitting down beside her mate, taking hold of his hand and kissing the back of it. "The best we can do now is mourn for them." She whispered, kissing his shoulder as she stared at his face. "I'll be here as long as you like." Her voice was soft and sincere. "All day and night if need be."

"You don't have to -"

"I do." Sylvanas interupted him, placing a hand on his far side cheek and turning his head to face her. "You know I don't like you hurting and right now you are in pain." She placed a soft kiss on his lips and tilting his head down so she could press her forehead against his. "So take as long as you need, I am staying here with you no matter how long it takes."

Athrodar was pulled into Sylvanas' chest when he began to let it all out, feeling her stroke his hair, back and just hold onto his whilst she rocked back and forth. "It's okay..." She whispered, kissing Athrodar on the top of his head and humming a song to him. "Victoria wants to bury them somewhere nice, where the sun will always shine on them." She told the great love of her life. "Somewhere we can visit whenever you want."

"I just wish I could have spent more time with them." Athrodar muttered, keeping his eyes closed whilst Sylvanas continued to rock back and forth.

"I know, baby." Sylvanas felt sad too, she had always liked Alonso and Wilfred for how loyal they were to Athrodar and herself, managing to keep her emotions bottled in for as long as possible until a couple tears rolled down her cheeks. "I will tell Tahnir that you can't take him fishing today." She said softly, trying to keep her voice calm even if her eyes were telling a different story. "I'm sure he will understand if Victoria tells him why."

Leaving the balcony, Sylvanas opened the door and smiled a little at Victoria who was standing nearby, wiping her eyes and nodding towards Athrodar so the young Queen could be alone with im. "Go to him." Sylvanas said holding the door open for Victoria who quickly made her way to Athrodar, hugging him tightly and being hugged in return by her father.

"I'm sorry, dad." Victoria whispered.

Athrodar shook his head. "No, don't be. You were protecting the people of Sentinal Hill, I don't blame you." He held onto his daughter tightly who went back to crying into his chest. "I don't blame you." He repeated, having his daughter in his arms was all he needed to calm him as his family was practically complete, minus the young priestess who visited only recently.