Varian stepped through the portal into the hut, tensed at first and ready to defend himself should this be a trap but nothing happened. Vol'jin observed everything from a position near the entrance of the hut so Varian nodded his head in thanks at him and when the darkspear chieftain did the same to show he appreciated the gesture the king of Stormwind focused his whole attention on his son. Jaina joined Vol'jin at his spot by the entrance.
The darkspear trolls had already started the ritual, one male at the head of the bedding intoning it, the other, a female holding Anduin down as he lived through a rather violent nightmare. Varian kneeled next to his son and his heart ached at how sick and frail he appeared even if he still looked more like a creature than a human being. Anduin struggled for every breath, the wheeze horrible to hear. When Varian took one of his son's claw-like hands in his, holding it, the prince seemed to calm down somewhat although his body was still being agitated by seizures.
"He's burning up with fever" he stated rather helplessly at what his son was going through. The female darkspear troll smiled at him in understanding.
"Te fel magic isn't an easy foe" she replied kindly, cooling Anduin down with a new round of wet cloths. "But ya son is a fighter"
The king looked back at his son as he felt the slightest squeeze of his hand and Anduins glowing green eyes locked with his. His gaze was a bit unfocused but Anduin was fighting hard to hold his failing body long enough under control. Varian saw his son's lips forming the word "father'' then his eyes rolled back in his head as a quite heavy seizure let him go rigid and the pained scream hurt Varian down to his very core. The seizure seemed to go on forever and after it had passed Anduin laid on his bedding quietly. Way to quiet for Varians liking as a terrible apprehension grasped hold of his heart. In that moment Anduins eyes flew open and he started to gasp for breath, wheezing and ragged, but apparently he was getting no air into his lungs.
"No!" Varian shouted horrified, grabbing his son and helping him into a sitting position. Anduins claws digged rather painfully into the king's arms as he fought to breathe desperately but Varian didn't care that he himself got hurt.
"Anduin please" he begged in distress. "Fight! Don't… don't you dare leave me too"
He saw tears running down his son's cheeks as his attempts to breathe got weaker and weaker and the sadness Varian found in Anduins eyes was breaking his heart. A last shiver seized the prince's body then he sank lifeless against his father.
"No, I won't let ya die!" the female troll exclaimed determined and pressed her glowing hands between Anduins wings against his back.
Confusion was the first thing Anduin was aware of as he opened his eyes again and found himself standing on a stone bridge surrounded by thick jungle. The strange thing was that everything seemed like a far away dreamscape and as he looked at his hands and found them almost lucent he realised he was dead
But where was he now?
Anduin lifted his head and saw a being that resembled what he knew should be a loa floating over the end of the bridge he was facing.
"I don't understand" he mumbled puzzled. "Why am I here? I'm not a troll"
The loa let out an amused snicker as he came floating near.
"Bwonsamdi didn't come for ya, lil' prince" he explained raising his hand and pointing past Anduin.
The prince turned around to see the ghost of the female darkspear troll he vaguely remembered aiding him while he fought for his life. Behind her something that looked like some kind of portal or passage.
"I came ta trade ya soul against hers. She wants ta join good ol' me so you can live"
"No!" Anduin exclaimed, shaking his head running up to the female troll. "Don't do this. I don't want you to trade your life for mine. You…"
She just smiled and laid a finger over Anduins mouth, stopping him from speaking.
"Don't be sad" she replied calmly. "It's good how it is. I can be with my son and you can be with ya father"
Anduin wanted to counter that she hadn't the right to decide for him, that her son certainly didn't want her to die like this but the scenery behind the passage way captured his attention. Like hypnotized he saw his father holding his lifeless body close and the anguish on the older man's face made fresh tears fill Anduins eyes as he began to weep. He saw Jaina crying too and even Vol'jin seemed somewhat sad.
"Go back to te world of te living lil' prince" Anduin heard the loa of death say then he was pushed back through the veil.