The Last Stand

"Same again." Elaria said, pointing to her glass.

Athrodar frowned at the Night Elf, climbing down the last two steps that led up to rooms he had rented for his group and making his way over to the bar. "When did you wake up?" He asked, sitting beside Elaria.

"An hour ago." The Night Elf told him, thanking the bartender and downing the glass of bourbon before asking for another shot. "I never got to spend much time with her. Especially the last couple of years before her death."

"You can't hold that against yourself." Athrodar told her, placing a hand on her back and watching her flinch. "She dedicated her life and undeath to protecting Victoria when she joined the Forsaken, spent countless hours by her side through many fights and the less than fun political situations."

Elaria smiled a little, looking down at the refilled glass of bourbon, picking it up and swirling it around before taking a sip this time. "Remember how simple our lives were when we were assassins?" She asked, looking at the rows upon rows of bottles on the opposite side of the bar in front of her. "Sure we weren't always safe. But we weren't in danger of dying whenever, done as we wished when we weren't back at Ravenholdt Manor and ate, drank and fucked our way into a coma a few days before our task was due to be complete."

Athrodar smiled at her summing up of their time as assassins. "Albeit simpler times, I don't want to give up what I have now to go back to that." He saw Elaria's smile sadden. "And I don't think you do either. At least not with Luna in your life."

Elaria shook her head. "Of course not. But if something happens for her to no longer be in my life, I might not be able to stop myself from drinking until I'm dead, or I go back to Ravenholdt Manor and pledge myself to the assassins once more." She glanced over to Athrodar who frowned at her. "I'll see if I can talk Ravenholdt about keeping my memories of you and your family, but I will want to remove the bad and the..." She sighed, downing the bourbon in her hand. "The painful memories."

"I hope it doesn't come to that." Athrodar said, placing his hand on her arm now. "You are my family. My children will always need their aunty Elaria, especially when the years catch up to Sylvanas and I." His smile saddened this time, looking down at Elaria's glass that was refilled once more. "Though that is hopefully centuries away."

"When they're old enough, you could talk Sylvanas into disappearing with you and me." Elaria suggested, grabbing the bartender's attention when she stuck up her hand and ordered a drink for Athrodar. "Along with Luna, we could just drop off the face of Azeroth and explore the far corners of this world. I know you both won't want to stay in the same place all the time, I can already see that you want to get back out there and fight."

Athrodar smiled again, looking down at his drink and picking it up. "It wouldn't be a bad idea. Sylvanas loves her children, but if they leave home and begin to make names for themselves, she will want to move on too." He shrugged his shoulders, looking towards the stairs leading to the rented rooms and finding them to be empty. "I catch her from time to time staring out the window of our bedroom, looking out at the sea when she thinks I'm asleep or not looking." He stroked a finger around the rim of his glass, losing himself to the thoughts of a possible new future.

"She might accept." Elaria said, knocking her glass against Athrodar's. "Fuck knows I would if my children left their homes and I was in one place for the rest of my life."

Athrodar chuckled and shook his head. "That's because you don't like sitting in one place."

"True." Elaria said, pointing at Athrodar with her glass in hand. "But I have to admit, staying in Windrunner Village for the last few years has been good. Luna has enjoyed spending her time near the Sunwell and it seems to reinvigorate her when she comes home. If you know what I mean."

"Yes... I know what you mean." Athrodar shook his head and took a sip from his glass. "I always know what you mean..." He trailed off, looking out the nearby window and at the streets of Dalaran. "I'm thinking Pandaria." He said, looking back to Elaria. "As a place we can disappear. We barely touched it when we went there, I'm sure there are many places to explore."

"I wouldn't mind the mountains of Kun-Lai Summit." Sylvanas said, placing a hand on Athrodar's back and kissing his cheek. "I just have one question."

"Shoot." Athrodar said, looking over his shoulder at his wife who snaked her arms around him.

"Why are we planning places to visit under the assumption that we're disappearing?" Sylvanas asked, pressing her cheek against his and looking down at the glass of bourbon in his hand. "And why are we drinking in the morning?"

"I'm drinking because it numbs the pain of losing my sister." Elaria told her, glancing over to Athrodar. "I'm not sure about him."

"I'm just drinking so she doesn't feel left out." Athrodar kissed Sylvanas lightly when she pulled a stool over to sit beside them. "And we are planning places to visit for when our children grow up and leave the nest." He placed a hand over Sylvanas'. "I hope it's not for a long time, but that's what we were discussing."

"I hope it won't happen for a long time too." Sylvanas told him, looking over to Elaria. "How is Luna and Thal?"

"Both still asleep I hope. They need the rest if we are to head out today." Elaria downed the bourbon, stretching her hands above her head and leaning backwards to stretch her back too. "Your sister walked by here earlier, she looked to have something in her hands that she didn't want to let go."

"Oh?" Sylvanas tilted her head, looking around the inn just to find her sister who clearly wasn't there. "Did you see where she went?"

"Probably the Violet Citadel? I don't know, I didn't keep tabs on her." Elaria watched Sylvanas get up and begin to leave. "Tell her I said hi."

"You know she won't say that, right?" Athrodar asked, watching Elaria nod. "Good. You should probably slow down though, I need you alert if we are leaving today to go look for them."

"I'll be fine. I have a high metabolism or something... I'll be drunk for a couple hours but good to go when we're out there." Elaria looked over to a bowl of nuts and dragged them over. "With some help from these bad boys."

Athrodar smiled. "Some things never change."

Tanadia looked back to Victoria who was being pulled by Snow, smiling a little as she slept in the cart and looking over to the Forsaken beside her. "Do you know if we are near a village?"

"I know the druids are to the north in Val'sharah, we are heading there as we heard there are some powerful demons up there." Tehd looked forward to the Demon Hunter leading them. "He doesn't talk much so don't worry if he is silent."

"I don't talk much, because I don't like talking to you." Marius grumbled, looking over his shoulder at both Tanadia and Tehd. "I won't be going right to the druids, they don't take well to Demon Hunters due to our Lord Illidan. If what I have heard about the state of this planet is true, your sister should be welcomed instantly if Malfurion is there."

"She has been working with the druids in the Park district in Stormwind..." Tanadia muttered, looking back at her sister who continued to sleep. "Thank you for this, both of you. When we crashed on the Broken Shore, we didn't know if we would make it... Three days later and we have run into you two and you're helping us find a healer for my sister."

"She is Lady Windrunner's daughter. Though I may not visit Undercity often and she is living now, I feel like I still have to protect her, for the Dark Lady." Tehd now looked back at the Queen. "The Dark Lady cared for us whilst she was Forsaken, so I will do the same for her daughter until she is safe."

Tanadia began to walk across a lake that took them to Val'sharah, looking back at Snow who was reluctant to cross at first but then done so only because the priestess promised him he could go hunting for his next meal. "Looks like we are resting here then." Marius said, sitting on a nearby rock far away from the group and cleaning his warglaives. "For an hour at least."

Tanadia detatched the cart her sister was sleeping in, crouching down beside her and gently shaking the Queen to wake her up. "Vic, we are stopping in the forests of Val'sharah, okay? Snow is going hunting for his lunch and we will start going again in an hour."

Victoria nodded her head slowly, hearing what her sister was saying but not computing it completely, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. "What time is it?"

"Just gone noon." Tanadia told her, placing a hand on her leg and pouring some holy magic into it. "I can feel this leg is getting slighlty better, but it will need expert hands if it is to heal properly."

Victoria smiled at her sister, placing a hand on her cheek. "You are doing the best you can. I am proud of that."

Tanadia smiled and rested her head on the side of the cart. "I think we are getting close to a village that will help you. Then we might be able to return home."

"That would be good." Victoria told her, stroking her sister's hair when she noticed the priestess looked tired. "How much have you slept?"

"A few hours here and there." Tanadia told her, covering her mouth with her hand when she yawned. "I'll rest when we get to a place that will help you, I promise."

"Good, thank you." Victoria said with a smile, looking over to Tehd who was going through a small bag on his hip that contained stones and smaller bags of powders. "Found anything out about our two guides?" She whispered to her sister.

"Just Tehd. He doesn't summon demons despite being a warlock, instead he just likes hunting for them, like we already knew. He also is helping us because he wants to keep the daughter of the Dark Lady safe." Tanadia looked over to the Forsaken who pulled out a book and began to read it to pass the time. "I trust him, but that Demon Hunter... He doesn't seem to like, well, any of us."

"They are an unknown to us. We don't know what they have done to be like that, but whatever it was, it's changed them." Victoria looked back at her sister, cupping her head in her hands. "I know you said you'll do it later, but sleep here until Snow is back and we're ready to go. Please, for me?"

Tanadia smiled and nodded her head. "Okay. Just until we have to leave."

"You didn't find her, did you?"

Vereesa shook her head, sighing and sitting down on a nearby chair. "No..." She looked over to a bow she had brought back with her. "She was there though, I know she was."

Sylvanas followed her sister's gaze, widening her own when she laid eyes on the bow. "Is that..?"

"Her bow." Vereesa confirmed, watching Sylvanas pick it up and brush a hand over it. "Thas'dorah, our family bow."

Sylvanas' hand made it to one of the hawk heads engraved on the bow, feeling her heart tighten as her mind flashed back to the day Alleria left. "Do you have to go? It's the middle of the night and I don't trust that human, Alleria. Your place is here, with your family."

Alleria smiled and placed a hand on Sylvanas' cheek. "You will always be in my heart, Lady Moon. Vereesa too. But I have to do this, these orcs have slain many of our kin... Our brother died to them when they -" Alleria sighed, lowering her head and looking at the bow in her hand. "I have to go. Someone has to stop them from killing any more innocent lives."

Sylvanas stepped forward and hugged her older sister. "Come back to us when it's over, okay? It won't be the same with you and Lirath gone. We're all Vereesa has and I don't want her to lose her Lady Sun." She pulled back a little and brushed a thumb across her sister's cheek. "Promise me you will come back?"

Alleria just smiled at her sister, looking passed her and towards Vereesa who was sleeping on a couch. "Look after her, okay? She is still young, she will not understand why I have gone."

Sylvanas blinked hard when the memory faded, looking back to her sister who has a warm smile on her face. "What do you plan to do with this?" She asked, ignoring the lone tear rolling down her cheek.

"I was going to give it to you." Vereesa told her, standing up and wiping away the tear on Sylvanas' cheek. "You're the eldest now. Alleria would want you to have it."

Sylvanas placed the bow down on the table she picked it up from, hugging Vereesa shortly after. "Thank you, Little Moon." She whispered, holding onto her tightly. "She is out there, we will find her."

"I know." Vereesa whispered, holding onto her sister tightly as well. "We will find her soon."

Athrodar made his way out the inn, leaving Elaria to talk to Luna who had come to interrupt their drinking, stepping outside to get the sun on his face and looking over to a group of rangers making their way passed him. "Viraleth?" He asked, tilting her head a little and watching the lead widen her eyes and smile at him when she recognised him.

"Athrodar? Why are you here?" Viraleth asked, hugging him when she made her way towards the elf. "Where's Sylvanas?"

"She's with her sister at the moment." Athrodar told her, pulling back and looking at the Scout Captain of Silvermoon. "How have you been?"

"I'm good. I'm sorry I didn't visit often, I have been busy with the remnant of the Scourge near the borders of the Eastern Plaguelands." Viraleth frowned at Athrodar, noticing he didn't answer her question. "Why are you here?"

Athrodar sighed, knowing he had to tell her. "Victoria and Tanadia are missing." He held up his hand when Viraleth was about to talk. "Wait, hold on. They aren't missing as such, we know roughly where they are, but we haven't found them yet."

"Do you need help?" Viraleth asked him. "We were sent here to scout out Azsuna, perhaps we can help with finding your daughters too."

"That would be fantastic, thank you." Athrodar smiled at the Scout Captain, though it began to sadden when he remembered what he saw on the Broken Shore. "She recently lost Sera. We don't know if she knows, but we found her head along with the rest of her guard and several other soldiers. She might just need to see a friendly face and yours might be the one she needs to see."

Viraleth nodded her head slowly, though her gaze was on the floor. "Sera was a good soldier. A fantastic General to her Queen. She deserved better, but I know she died to protect her Queen and Princess."

Athrodar placed a hand on Viraleth's shoulder. "We believe so too." He looked over to the Violet Citadel. "If you have time, Sylvanas would love to see you here and know that you are looking for our daughter."

Viraleth looked over to the Violet Citadel and smiled. "I'll go find her, thank you."

Athrodar watched the Scout Captian walk off, looking into the inn and finding Elaria on her own at the bar again. "I'm going to have to drag her away from the bar, aren't I?" He asked himself, sighing and walking back into the inn.

"Luna said Thal is stronger than she was last night, but still isn't fully recovered." Elaria told Athrodar the moment he returned to the seat beside her. "She should be good to go later today, around nightfall."

Athrodar sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's not good. We'll be falling behind by another day as I can't see anyone wanting to go look when it's dark."

"Sylvanas might." Elaria told him, spinning around on her stool and facing the door to the bathrooms. "Right, I need a piss and then I need to hit something. Drinking isn't working for me."

"Lovely..." Athrodar muttered, watching the Night Elf walk towards the bathrooms and spinning back around to face the bar once she was gone. "What did she say?"

Sylvanas smiled and placed her new bow on the bar. "Alleria is still alive." She told him, taking hold of his hand. "Vereesa didn't find her, but she did find our family bow. Thas'dorah, the legacy of my family. Vereesa passed it to me when I saw her and I love it." Her gaze fell back to the bow. "I feel closer to Alleria with it in my hands... Like she is with me."

Athrodar saw her smile and moved an arm around her, pulling her in closer for a half hug. "Did you talk to Viraleth? I just saw her a moment ago and told her to talk to you."

"About what?" Sylvanas asked, looking for the Scout Captain. "I haven't seen her in months, I have so much to say to her."

Athrodar smiled at her excitement. "I know. I told her to find you because she has offered to look for Victoria whilst she is out there. Her company have their own task, but they will also help look for our daughters or any clues to where they might be."

Sylvanas closed her eyes when Athrodar kissed the top of her head, smiling brighter due to what he just said. "I will want to talk to her before we leave. I want to thank her for her help and a few more things... more personal."

"Anything you can tell me?" Athrodar asked.

"Sure. I won't, but don't worry... It's not all about you." Sylvanas grinned at him when she heard him sigh. "You know I talk to Viraleth about everything. She is my oldest friend, we speak about you and our family a lot."

"Sometimes, I wonder if she is married to you too whenever she visits."

Sylvanas kissed Athrodar on the cheek and hopped off the stool. "She is. But she is mine, you're not allowed to touch her." Picking up her bow off the bar, she kissed Athrodar again before stepping out the inn. "Love you."

"Yeah.. I love you too.." Athrodar grumbled, looking over to the the barkeep and ordering himself a drink.

The heat of fire raged everwhere, smoke was filling up the cabin and the sound of clashing steel, screaming and shouting filled the eardrums of the priestess. Tanadia looked around to try and find her sister, only watching Sera and the rest of the Royal Guard fight of waves upon waves of demons, both winged and non, all of them fighting with such ferocity just to get inside the cabin. "Victoria!?" She yelled, stumbling forward as her head continued to spin after hitting it when they crashed.

"Tana!" Sera yelled, catching a glimpse of the priestess. "Get down!" She commanded, watching the priestess look behind her and fall to the floor just as a fel guard swung its giant axe, the Night elf throwing her glaive at it and watching as the weapon impaled itself in the demon's chest. "Where is your sister!?" Elaria now yelled, picking the priestess up before yanking her glaive out the demon.

"I... I don't know!" Tanadia yelled back at her, frantically looking around the cabin in search for her sister, spotting a boot sticking out of some rubble and running over to it. "Vic!" She cried, pulling some debris off the body and letting out a sigh of relief that she had found her sister, shaking her body when Sera helped her get more of the debris off her. "Vic, you need to get up!"

The Priestess pulled on her sister's arm, noticing one of her legs weren't moving and gently putting her back down. "Sera, I need your help. Where's Snow?"

Sera put her index finger and her thumb in her mouth and blew a sharp whistle, having Snow run to them and looking back down at Victoria. "He's here, what do you need?"

"Put my sister on his back. She has a broken leg and can't walk, so we need him now more than ever." Tanadia helped Sera lift her sister up onto her feet and then helped her onto Snow, all the while Victoria's head was still spinning and their voices were echoing, finding it hard to stay awake. "We need to get out of here!" She cried when two fel bats burst into the cabin nearby. "Victoria needs to rest and I need to examine her."

Sera looked around at the demons closing in around them, swallowing hard when she knew what she had to do, nodding her head at the Princess. "Go. We will hold off the demon horde. Victoria needs to get to safety, just like you said." The General looked over to her Queen and took hold of her hand, getting her attention the best she could and kissing the back of it. "My Lady, we will hold off the demons. Tanadia will get you to safety and we will be right behind you, okay?" She saw her Queen lazily nod, knowing she didn't fully understand what she was saying but understood just enough. "Go, now!" Sera commanded Tanadia, watching the Princess and Queen ride off on the back of Snow, being chased by a couple of felhounds.

Looking around at the few remaining guards, Sera sunk her glaive into a nearby doomguard that ripped off the door to the cabin one of her guards tried to shut, pulling her weapon out of its chest and looking behind her just as another guard fell to the demons. "This is it..." She thought, parrying a strike from a fel guard and sticking her glaive into a felhound just beneath it. "I will die with honor today."

Four... three... two... Sera looked around as the last guard standing fell to the floor, gripping onto her glaive tightly and letting out a blood raged, death welcoming roar before charging into the ranks of demons in front of her, cutting down a felbat and another fel guard before having two spears pierce her chest, looking up at the two demons who stuck her with their weapons and gritting her teeth tightly and throwing her glaive at an eredar lord who presented himself behind the demons, just missing her mark and cutting his cheek before having her world go black as death's embrace took her.