Felo'Melorn

"It would be nice to see Vol'jin again."

Athrodar yawned and nodded his head slowly, too tired to actually respond and trying to stay awake whilst Sylvanas wandered their bedroom, shedding one piece of clothing every time she passed his line of sight. "It would." He said, yawning.

"Catch up with him, see how he is doing with the whole Warchief thing." Sylvanas looked over to Athrodar who had his head rested on his fist, but his eyes were closed. She cleared her throat and grinned when he was startled awake. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" She asked innocently.

"No, no. I'm fine." He whispered, stretching forward and taking hold of her hand, making Sylvanas look down at the gesture before they both shared a smile. "Come to bed, let me hold you." Athrodar saw her smile a little wider. "Let me make sure you are well protected in my arms."

"I can't." Sylvanas told him when Athrodar dragged her towards the bed slowly. "I have a few more things to do, making sure our daughters are sleeping for one. Getting dressed into something more comfortable is another thing." She leaned down and kissed him lightly. "I will be five minutes more, ten tops. I promise."

"I can't promise I will be awake." Athrodar told her, slowly drifting off to sleep when his hand fell out of hers. "I will try..." He muttered, hearing Sylvanas chuckle as the last thing before falling asleep completely.

"Then I guess I'll just have to cuddle up in your arms manually." She told him, smiling at her now sleeping husband. "I'll let you sleep now." She whispered, leaning down and kissing his forehead. "You've had a tough day."

After leaving for just over ten minutes and coming back, Sylvanas climbed into the bed beside her husband and moved one of his arms around her just before there was a knock at their door. "Titans... Now what?" She said under her breath, climbing out of the bed and opening the door to find Darion standing there, looking as angry as usual. A common trait for most Death Knights she found out the day they came to her court years ago. "What? He's sleeping, it's been a long day. Can't you just come back tomorrow?"

"No." Darion said, pushing his way into the bedroom which annoyed the helpless Sylvanas who had lost her ability to come toe to toe with a Death Knight. "Wake up." Darion kicked the bottom of the bed, jolting Athrodar awake.

Athrodar groaned and looked up at the glowing blue eyes staring down at him, unfortunately they were not the pair he had got lost in countless times in the past. "Oh fuck sake." He said, sighing and sitting up to look at Darion who stood over him. "What do you want, Darion? I am no longer a Death Knight, you can't tell me what to do."

"No, but I think we all know who is back." Darion folded his arms in front of him when Athrodar rubbed his eyes to wake himself up. "He has asked for you. I don't know if he knows you're alive or not. But I presume he does know."

"Brilliant." Athrodar muttered.

"Hold up." Sylvanas said, standing in between both Athrodar and Darion. "He's not going anywhere. I told you this, we are both done with the Lich King and anything to do with undeath." She looked back at her mate and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "Every time he comes up against the Lich King, he has either been killed or has come seriously close to being killed. I don't want that for him any more, not after all we've done."

"He doesn't care." Darion told her. "One way or another, he is going to see Bolvar. Even if I have to drag him there myself."

"Then I am coming with him." Sylvanas told him, reaching for the knife hidden in the draw beside the bed, pointing it at the Death Knight. "And don't even think about stopping me."

"Fine." Darion said, walking towards the door. "We're leaving in ten minutes. Meet me outside the Violet Citadel and then we can leave."

Once Darion left them, Sylvanas placed down the knife and turned to face Athrodar, brushing her hands through his hair when he leaned forward and kissed her stomach, stroking his hair when she heard him sigh and press his forehead to her belly. "I know." She whispered, keeping her hands in his hair. "Another thing we have to deal with."

"I already miss our bed. The tide coming in at night and laying beside each other in the sand during the day." Athrodar smiled at the one pass time he had missed the most since this war started. "Curling up under a blanket on a cold night to gaze at the stars on the balcony of the spire. Staying there all night and waking up the next day in the same place, curled up under the same blanket and in each others arms."

Sylvanas closed her eyes and began to think about those days. Rare as they were, she kept them close at heart as it became the thing she looked forward to the most. "You seemed to miss out one crucial part of those times." She told him, smiling when he kissed her stomach again.

"Oh? What did I miss?" He asked, hearing her chuckle lightly.

"We would have sex just before it got dark. Made sure it wasn't quick either. It was slow, passionate and we gazed into each other's eyes the whole time." She looked down at him, tilting his head up whilst keeping her hands in his hair. "That's what made those nights special. I miss them too, but it is definitely something we should do when this is over."

"Back on the balcony of our spire?" Athrodar asked, watching Sylvanas nod and receiving a long kiss from her. "I would love that."

"Then we stick to each other like wet clothes on skin throughout the rest of this war. Keep each other safe and most importantly, keep our family safe." Sylvanas sat down on his lap and cupped his face in her hands. "But first, we are heading back to Northrend."

"That we are..." Athrodar muttered, his mind drifting off to think about why the Lich King wanted him now.

"I love you." Sylvanas whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek shortly after. "So much."

Athrodar closed his eyes and smiled when Sylvanas buried her head under his chin and into his neck, stroking her back and pulling her a little closer. "I love you too."


Victoria looked around the huge, magically enhanced room in the middle of the Violet Citadel. "They're still not here." She whispered to Thal'ena who rolled her eyes at the predictability of it.

"Of course not. I think your parents are tired of meetings for the week, so they are probably having a meeting of their own in their bedroom." The Magister leaned back in her chair and began to smirk. "Probably with their not so servant, servants."

"Oh please." Victoria shook her head. "They're more professional than... Actually you're probably right."

"Is this everyone?" Khadgar asked, looking around the many, many faces present.

"My sister isn't here, nor my brother-in-law." Vereesa told them, rubbing her arm and looking around the room. "Should we wait a little longer for them?"

"No." Victoria told her. "They know the plan already, this meeting is for everyone else."

Khadgar nodded his head. "She's right. Since we are expecting nobody else, I shall begin explaining why I brought you all here." Khadgar waved his hand and summoned a map of Suramar. "This, for those who haven't been in the loop for one reason or another, is Suramar. Our next target." The Archmage looked over to Rhonin who nodded and waved his hand this time, making the image of Suramar zoom in on the city itself. "This entire city is what we are here to take. Now, we do have Liadrin helping out the Nightborne Arcanist we have made contact with, and so far we have freed, or at the very least, helped some of the other Nightborne out with their mana addiction."

"Who is the Arcanist?" Tyrande asked.

"A Nightborne named Thalyssra." Khadgar told her. "She has proven to be very -"

"You trust her?" Tyrande now asked, the High Priestess raising one of her long eyebrows at the mage. "I advise you shouldn't. She and her order stood with Elisande, saving themselves whilst the rest of us had to fight to survive after the sundering... After the War." The High Priestess shook her head. "No, this would be a mistake to trust her. She and her Nightborne are almost as bad as Azshara herself."

"Whatever past you share, I have been informed that she is just trying to save her people and destroy the Night Well." Khadgar looked at Tyrande who listened to what he had to say, but managed to hide it from her facial expressions, keeping the look of someone who doesn't trust the Nightborne.

Victoria let out a small sigh, leaning on her fist that was propped up on the table. "Why are we here?" She asked Thal'ena, having the Magister shrug her shoulders.

"I thought we would have avoided this like your parents." She glanced over to her Queen. "Just saying, we've heard this all already. We could slip away and check on Tanadia and if they ask why we're leaving, just tell them that you are checking on your sister." She began to grin at her Queen. "Simple as that."

"Okay." Victoria whispered to her. "I'll see if I can slip away."

Thal'ena watched her Queen stand up from her chair, that was luckily placed near the edge of the room so she was behind the more 'important' guests. "Smart..." She muttered when she saw Victoria sidestep slowly towards the door, watching her open it slowly and now smiling when the Queen slipped out. "My turn." She whispered to herself, emulating her Queen's movements, though with less success as she got the attention of an advisor or two.


Tanadia smiled at her mother who was holding onto her hand. "I am fine, mama." The priestess said, closing her eyes when Thalina placed a gentle hand on her cheek.

"I know, honey. But as you said, I am your mother and I am allowed to worry about you." Thalina brushed her thumb across her cheek and moved her arm around her shortly after. "And since we're in this bed, waiting for your father or at the very least, being told you can leave, I am going to make sure you are safe."

"Okay." Tanadia whispered cuddling up to her mother just as Victoria made her way into the infirmary.

"Good, you're awake." Victoria said, sitting at the bottom of the bed and placing a hand on her sister's leg. "Have you seen our father?"

Tanadia shook her head. "I thought he would have been with you." She said. "Is he not?"

"He is not and I am too afraid to go look for him since I may walk in on something... Scarring." Victoria shivered, making Thalina chuckle in the meantime. "Glad you think it's funny, Dawnstrider. You haven't walked in on them."

"Are we so certain he's in the Dalaran?" Tanadia asked, looking at her sister. "For all we know, he has returned to Stormwind with Sylvanas and our sisters to spend time with them before the attack."

Victoria rubbed the back of her head. "Although that does sounds like something they would do, I think they would have told us." She shrugged her shoulders. "No matter, I am here to stay with my sister before we move out to take Suramar."

"Are the Legion there?" Tanadia asked.

"Uhm... Not per se, no. We are attacking the Nightborne who are using the Nightwell to commune with the Legion and to draw power and stop our allies in Suramar from toppling their rulers." Victoria tried to think of another way to word it. "We have allies in Suramar and they are going to help us defeat the bad guys in their city."

"But... Why can't we talk to them?" Tanadia asked. "We may need them in order to defeat the Legion, if we can show them that they are in the wrong, they could come over to our side." The Priestess looked over to her mother who just smiled at her. "I don't know how I feel about killing people who aren't with the Burning Legion."

"They might not be demons, but they have and are working with them." Victoria told her, gently patting her leg. "They are still a threat to us because of this."

"I wish papa was here." Tanadia told her sister. "He could explain why we are going to attack the Nightborne instead of getting them to see reason."

Victoria sighed. "Yeah... I wish he was here too."


"This place is a lot colder compared to our last visit." Sylvanas whispered.

"The last time we visited, we were undead." Athrodar reminded her, glancing over to his wife who was shivering and placing his cloak around her. "Here. I know how easily you get cold."

"What about you?" She asked, still shaking though not nearly as much. "You'll freeze to death."

"I'll be fine." Athrodar told her with a smile. "I have grown resistant to the cold over the years." He saw her continue to shiver and placed an arm around her, rubbing her arm to try and keep her warm. "Besides, if he's going to kill and raise us, I won't be needing a cloak to stay warm anyway."

Sylvanas narrows her eyes at her mate. "Not funny." She told him elbowing his ribs at the same time.

"Ow! Okay, I apologise." He kissed his wife on the temple, looking up at Darion who was leading the way up to the Frozen Throne. "We may need to be ready for a fight."

"I know." Sylvanas whispered to him. "That's why I brought my bow and swords."

"Good. I hope we don't, but we may need it."

"Hurry up." Darion said, standing at the top of the steps leading to the Frozen Throne.

Once they reached the top of the steps, both Athrodar and Sylvanas took a deep breath. "This is going to be one of two things. A quick conversation, or a drawn out one." Athrodar muttered.

"Why are we here?" Sylvanas yelled, her voice carrying towards Bolvar who sat on the Frozen Throne. "You have plenty of Death Knights out there who can do whatever it is you want of us."

Bolvar stood up, picking up his hammer and walking down the steps of the Frozen Throne. "You are here, because I have an offer for your Royal Magister. But she would never willingly come here if asked, so you two are the next best thing."

Athrodar frowned. "We are here because you want to speak to Thal'ena? I don't -"

"There is a sword - an artifact." Bolvar told them. "It will only respond to a mage, one who is capable of wielding it." The Lich King stood in front of both of them, his blue eyes piercing what little defense they had. "You are both here because she will only believe what I say is true if you see it and survive."

"But why her?" Athrodar asked. "Why not Rhonin or Jaina or Khadgar? Why Thal'ena?"

"Because it responds the most to someone of a fiery nature. This artifact will also greatly boost the wielder's ability to control fire and we both know what she can do when fueled with rage." Bolvar looked over to Sylvanas who remained unconvinced. "You want to see it, don't you?"

"It wouldn't hurt." Sylvanas told him. "After all, this is why we are here, right?" She looked over to Athrodar. "Unless there's something else?"

"There is something else, isn't there?" Athrodar now asked, looking over to Bolvar who looked directly back at him.

"There is something else, yes. A weapon that can be forged from the shard of Frostmourne." Bolvar's eyes pierced into Athrodar's soul. "Something that only someone close to Arthas could take up."

Sylvanas began to laugh at the claim. "He would never go near Frostmourne, nor whatever is left of that blade now at he is alive and has a family." She said, looking over to Athrodar who was actually thinking about it. "R-right?" She asked him, a little nervous now that he began to think about the offer.

"It would give you the power to defeat the Legion." Bolvar said, stepping closer to Athrodar.

"Get back!" Sylvanas yelled, pulling out one of her swords and pointing it to the Lich King. "Don't you even try to win him over. I will kill you before you taint him once more."

Athrodar shook his head to clear his mind, looking over to Bolvar. "Thanks, but I'll pass. Show us this weapon and we will get Thal'ena to come here. With guards, so you don't try to make her your Blood-Queen."

"Very well." Bolvar said, turning to walk back up to his throne. "You will find it in the Crimson Wing. Whatever is left of it from when you all came here to kill Arthas."

Athrodar took hold of Sylvanas' hand, leading her towards the Crimson Wing of Icecrown Citadel. "Do you know where you are going?" She asked him once they were alone, being mindful of the group of Death Knights tailing them as protection from the Scourge. "Athrodar?"

"Let's just get this over with and return home to Dalaran. I hate it here and coming back, especially to the Crimson Wing, is going to bring back bad memories." Athrodar looked over to Sylvanas who frowned at him. "I watched Lana'thel die there and going back... I just want this over with quickly."

"Then we best get moving." Sylvanas told him, holding onto his hand tightly as they walked the long, cold corridors of Icecrown Citadel.


Victoria paced back and forth outside of the Violet Citadel after her Royal Magister was taken from her by her parents, who had yet to explain where they were all day. "So you know nothing of this meeting?" She asked Hroki who stood outside with her, watching him shake his head.

"I don't, no. Sorry, your Majesty, I wish I could be of more use." Hroki watched her pace back and forth. "It must be important."

"So important they don't invite their daughter to join them?" Victoria shook her head. "No, they're discussing something that has to do with me, I know it."

Athrodar sat at the table beside Rhonin, both of them listening to Sylvanas tell Thal'ena about the artifact in Icecrown CItadel. "He says it will greatly enhance a mage's fire spells. And he has asked for you personally... after asking for us to go to him and discuss it of course."

"You told him I'm not interested, right?" Thal'ena asked, looking over to the one person she knows would back her up in her hesitation to accept anything the Lich King has to offer. "Athrodar... You told him I didn't want it, right?"

Athrodar looked down at the table. "It could help us defeat the Legion." He said quietly, hearing Thal'ena's scoff.

"Fuck me... You're joking, right? After all these years we've been away from him, the years we served under him. You're telling me you're considering working with that monster again?" Thal'ena shook her head, looking at Sylvanas who wasn't arguing with her husband. "You should both know what he put us through!"

Athrodar looked up at her. "It's not the same Lich King. Bolvar seems to have more control -"

"It's still the Lich King!" Thal'ena roared. "He killed my mother, twice!" She yelled at Athrodar who looked away. "Or did you forget, hm? It doesn't matter who wears that helm, they're all the same."

Sylvanas saw the Magister was becoming increasingly upset, placing her hands on her arms and keeping her in place whilst looking into her eyes. "Hey, listen to me. We will go with you to make sure you're safe. It's a powerful weapon, Thal'ena. One that will help protect our planet from the Burning Legion." She moved one hand up to her cheek and smiled at the Magister when she looked at her. "He chose you for a reason and we agree. You have so much potential, this weapon was made for you."

Rhonin sat forward on his chair. "Actually it was made for Anasterian and then his son, Kael'thas took it and reforged it after his father's death." He sat back when Sylvanas looked over to him, a little annoyed he brought that up. "You're right, it doesn't matter."

Sylvanas looked back to Thal'ena who was still unsure of this whole thing. "I will keep you company, okay? We both will. If at the end of this it means we will be much more powerful as a force because you're wielding Felo'melorn, then isn't it worth that?"

"You're really making it difficult to say no..." Thal'ena muttered. "I do want to wield a lot more power against the Burning Legion, but if that means I have to go back to the one place I never want to step foot in again, do I do it?"

"Hey," Athrodar said, making his way over to the Magister, "You know we love you. You've helped our daughter so much over the years, that's a loyalty that is hard to come by and with Sera no longer with us, she looks to you even more. We don't want Victoria to be alone in Stormwind, so listen to us when we say we will make sure you're safe if you accept his offer."

Thal'ena stepped forward and hugged Athrodar. "Are you coming with me?" She asked, her voice muffled in his chest. "I don't want to go back without someone who has been there before."

"I'll go with you." Athrodar told her looking over to Sylvanas who placed her hand on Thal'ena's back. "We both will."

"Okay." Thal'ena said, looking up at Athrodar and then over to Sylvanas. "I will go with you."