The Climb
The rest of their time in camp was uneventful with Elaria making sure her scouts were keeping up to date with the enemy patrols and to be certain that they won't be ambushed the day of the attack. "It's looking good." The Night Elf said, glancing over to Athrodar. "The attack will happen tonight so I need you to be ready. As well as Thal, your daughter and Sylvanas."
"They're ready. I just want to get this out of the way and gain a new ally in this war." Athrodar looked over to Suramar City. "Perhaps then I'll start to feel like we're doing something."
"I know what you mean. I hate fighting these demons, they just replace every single one we kill with two more." Elaria sighed, sitting down on a dead tree stump. "If it is Illidan, he basically started the demon hunters, so he will be key to taking them out."
Athrodar looked over to the tallest spire in Suramar City. "So you say that's where he will be?"
Elaria nodded. "Aye. We are certain there is only one way up there, which involves taking on Elisande's most elite fighters. Something we can't do with the numbers we have here."
"So what do you suggest?" Athrodar asked her, looking passed the Night Elf and spotting Sylvanas talking to Thalina and Tanadia.
"We climb." Elaria said, grinning at his raised eyebrow. "Those of us who can at least. Then when we get to the first window, or sixth, I'm not fussed, we tie a rope up to something sturdy and help the rest climb up to us. Then we repeat the process until we're practically at the top of the spire."
Athrodar rubbed the back of his neck, looking back at the spire. "It's a long climb."
"We'll be fine. This is nothing we haven't done before. It's just on a much bigger scale with a possible chance to get attacked by demons." Elaria shrugged, looking at the spire too. "It should be easy for us. I am not so sure about Thalina, Luna and Tanadia. They're not exactly built for climbing spires so they will be what the ropes are for."
Athrodar sighed. "I'll inform them of what you plan to do. I'm sure they will start kicking and screaming, because even I don't want to climb that." He let out a small laugh and shook his head. "Get ready to be bombarded with questions and maybe an insult or two from them."
Elaria rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll explain things to them should they come to me with questions."
"Good." Athrodar said, making his way to Sylvanas and hugging her from behind whilst she was in the middle of talking to Thalina and Tanadia still. "I have an update for you." He whispered, kissing her on the cheek and looking over to Thalina who looked embarrassed and averted her gaze. "We are grappling up the side of the spire."
"Fun." Sylvanas muttered sarcastically. "Her idea or yours?"
"Oh, hers for sure." Athrodar told her, kisses her cheek again and moving down to her neck. "She said if you have any questions about it, talk to her."
Thalina looked over to Tanadia who smiled at Athrodar. "What's on your mind, little one?" She asked the young priestess. "You look really happy."
"Watching dad and Sylvanas' faces light up when they're near each other makes me happy." She looked at her mother who smiled at her, but there was sadness behind the smile. "I know you're happy when he's around too, mom. I just wished you had someone who could always make you that happy."
"Baby..." Thalina muttered, taking hold of her daughter's hand. "Having you with me is all I need, little one. Just watching you grow up and making sure everyone around you is happy and well cared for is all I could ask for in a daughter." She hugged Tanadia. "I don't want anyone else in my life if that means I don't get to spend time with you."
Overhearing their conversation, Athrodar began to feel a little guilty about kissing Sylvanas in front of Thalina because of how she felt about him, but that guilt began to fade when Tanadia smiled up at him and hugged him tightly. "How are you, little one?" He asked, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm good. I just want you to be safe tonight, papa." She said, looking worried now when she looked up at him. "Promise me you won't take any unnecessary risks."
"I promise you, little one." He said, kissing her on the forehead. "I don't want to leave this world so early into your life. I want to watch you grow up and have a family of your own before those thoughts even come into my head." He began to smirk at her. "Of course, I'll have to make sure your husband is to my liking."
Tanadia slapped his chest. "Dad, stop!" She cried, having everyone around them chuckle. "You have to let me choose a someone I like."
"I've made my mind up." Athrodar said with a grin, teasing his daughter. "He has to be good enough to impress me before he even has a chance with start a family with you."
"But Anduin -"
"Ah, yes." Athrodar said with a big grin now, knowing his teasing of her was working. "He is yet to impress me. I may have to pay him another visit soon."
"No, papa!" Tanadia cried, holding onto his arm as he began to make his way to nowhere in particular, but made it look like he was going to find Anduin, who was not even in their camp. "Just give him a chance, papa. I like him a lot."
Sylvanas chuckled and held onto Athrodar's other arm. "Stop teasing her, my love."
"Fine, fine." Athrodar looked down at his daughter who held onto his other arm tightly to keep him stood still. "I'll stop teasing you."
"Thank you, papa." Tanadia said, having her face light up once more with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too, little one." He whispered to her, kissing the top of her head again. "Now get ready, all of you. If you have any questions on what we are going to do, talk to Elaria. She is more than happy to tell you."
Thal'ena stood on the outskirts of their camp, half an hour before they planned to attack Suramar City. The leaders of every race had gathered in the command tent, talking over the plan with Khadgar and Thalyssra one more time before the attack which gave the Royal Magister time to reflect on what they were about to do. This was only her second siege and she still didn't know how she felt about going into the attack. Sure she was told to be beside her Queen throughout the whole thing, but she knew deep down she was going to lose someone tonight.
"You're feeling it to, right?" Cyndia asked, standing beside the Royal Magister. "We're going to lose a lot of lives taking this place. It better be worth it, otherwise the Burning Legion will just carve through this world like a hot knife through butter." The new Ranger-General looked at the Magister who let out a long exhale. "Have you heard anything from Athrodar or Sylvanas?"
Thal'ena shook her head. "Nothing at all. My scouts can't find them, they've checked all over this land and yet they have eluded us."
"Are we so certain they are here?" Cyndia now asked the Magister. "For all we know, they were never here to begin with."
"No, they are here. I know they are here." Thal'ena looked at Suramar City distance. "They have business here, I am certain of that. I just don't know what they are doing."
Cyndia smirked and looked at Suramar City too. "Knowing them both, it's got to be something important. Probably another world saving mission too, like somehow fighting the leader of the Burning Legion in a fight to the death."
Thal'ena laughed and nodded her head. "I wouldn't doubt it's something like that." She looked over her shoulder and towards the command tent, making sure Victoria hadn't left it early. "Our Queen wants nothing more than to be back in their arms."
"I suspected as much." Cyndia said quietly. "I heard rumors she had gone back to Stormwind with you, but I guess you've just confirmed that."
"She wanted to apologize to them, but she could only find her sister, Alleria." Thal'ena shrugged and looked back to the Ranger-General. "I'm sure we'll come across them if they have business in the city."
"As long as it's the same business we do." Cyndia told her.
Whilst they continued to wait on the outskirts of the camp for everyone to be ready, Victoria sat in the command tent, listening to Khadgar give them the run down on what was going to happen. "The spire in the middle of the city, the tallest one," he looked over to Thalyssra for confirmation and got a nod from her, "that will be where we find Elisande. Once she is dealt with, the rest of Suramar will fall to us in minutes."
"I want to keep civilian and unnecessary casualties to a minimum." Thalyssra told them. "We will need whoever is still alive at the end of this to help push back the Legion from the Broken Shore to the east."
"So you want us to fight your people, but kill none of them?" Tyrande asked, raising an eyebrow at the First Arcanist. "Looks like hiding away in your city and away from the rest of the world has slowed your mind."
Victoria sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "There's a time and a place to go at each other's throats."
"Strange. For the daughter of Sylvanas, you are rather tame when it comes to fights." Tyrande scoffed and looked over to her adoptive daughter, Shandris. "Pity, I would have liked to continue our close friendship between Stormwind and Darnassus. But since you are so soft towards the elves who left our kind to die, I can't see it lasting passed this war."
"You'd abandon relations with the Capital because of your petty rivalry between you and the First Arcanist. A rivalry that has lasted many millennia?" Victoria let out a small laugh and shook her head. "No, I don't think you would."
"Enough, both of you." Baine said, standing up from the chair he sat in. "We are here to fight Grand Magistrix Elisande and her loyalists, not each other."
Khadgar waved his hand in front of them and conjured an image of Suramar City. "As you all know, we are going to the middle of the city which is where their leaders will be placed. To get there however, will be a difficult task. Which is why we need a group to keep our backs protected whilst the majority of us push on."
"My rangers will stay behind." Victoria said, leaning back in her chair. "I'd rather have us stay back when we can deal with them at range or up close than any of you. Besides, I wouldn't want to take the final blow from the High Priestess' grasp."
Though she didn't show it, Tyrande had a grin behind her neutral expression. She was grateful for the Queen of Stormwind recognizing her need to kill the traitor of her people. "Good, that's sorted then." Tyrande said. "She will stay behind with her rangers whilst the rest of us carry on."
"Are you sure?" Liadrin asked, leaning closer to Victoria. "I could give you a handful of my paladin to help with -"
"No." Victoria shook her head and placed a hand over the Highlord's. "You need them more than I do. You're their Highlord and the Ashbringer, they would rather fight by your side than mine."
Liadrin smiled and squeezed the Queen's hand. "Okay. But you know where I am if you change your mind."
"I know." Victoria said, smiling back at her.
"So now we wait?" Sylvanas asked, standing beside Athrodar and taking hold of his hand, both of them looking out to Suramar City before them and waiting for the telltale sign of a siege.
"We do." Athrodar told her. "Elaria wants us to attack under the guise of the siege. She believes they won't see us until we're already in the spire."
"And what do you believe?" Sylvanas asked, turning to face her husband and placing a hand on his cheek. "Come on, we both know you always second guess her, so tell me."
Athrodar smirked and looked down at her hand he was holding. "You know me too well." He whispered, planting a kiss on the back of her hand and changing his smirk to a grin when she moved her free arm around his neck and pull him in for a long kiss. "Stay with me." He now whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. "We will need each other up there."
"Don't worry, my love." Sylvanas purred, stroking his cheek with her hand. "You know I will never leave your side."
"Good." Athrodar said, pulling her in for another kiss. "So have you thought about what we are doing after this?" He now asked, brushing a thumb across her bottom lip.
"If we are still without our daughter, if she is still angry at us, I want us to return home to our village. I know it still needs repairs, but we will make it work and help the builders with anything they need." She looked him in the eyes and saw he had already agreed with her without needing to say anything. "Good. I can see you agree with me."
"It's only going to get more dangerous from here, I would rather have the actual armies fight the Legion than to have us do more of this." They both hugged each other tightly with Sylvanas pressing her ear to his chest. "We've lost too many friends and family already and I don't want us to risk our lives doing dangerous missions like this."
"No, I know what you mean." Sylvanas looked back to their camp who were all standing nearby, waiting for the siege to start. "I'll keep in touch with my sister, see if she gets any updates on Alleria and Turalyon. Only then will I leave home, just to see my sister again."
The two of them stood as close together as possible, keeping their arms around each other and never wanting to let go. Unfortunately, that was when both of their ear's twitched at the faint sound of catapults in the distance, making them look over to Suramar City and focus their attention on the fiery boulders that flew threw the air and crash into buildings. "It's begun." Athrodar said, looking back at their camp and watching Elaria lead everyone towards the city.
"Follow me." She told them both, having them fall in behind her as they quickly made their way to the outskirts of the city. "I done some thinking and we are using crossbows to climb. There's a tower opposite that isn't as high, but it goes high enough for us to use it."
Athrodar frowned at the Night Elf. "How will crossbows help us climb?" He asked her as they made their way quickly and quietly through the back alleys of Suramar.
"We'll use the bolts. Shoot them into the side of the spire and climb on them." Elaria looked back at Athrodar when they stopped, waiting for a patrol to pass by. "It's easy, trust me." She whispered to him. "We may still need the ropes, but everyone should be able to climb it that way."
Athrodar looked back to his daughter who held onto her staff tightly. "Stay with me." He told her, placing a hand on her cheek. "Sylvanas, your mother and I will protect you."
Tanadia smiled up at her father. "And I'll protect you too, papa." She whispered to him, closing her eyes when he kissed her forehead.
"Good girl."
Elaria tapped Athrodar on the shoulder the moment the patrol was far enough away from them. "Let's move."
They made their way to the spire, at least as close as they could get without drawing attention to themselves. "Bows." Elaria whispered to them, having everyone pull out their bows and nock arrows in place. "On my signal."
Watching as a nearby patrol quickly made their way to the fighting to the west of the city, Elaria signalled everyone to let loose their arrows, killing the nearby guards standing at the front of the spire.
"Hide them." Elaria then commanded, signalling for eight of her scouts to come to her. "Make your way inside the other spire. Signal us when you're ready by firing the bolts into the wall."
They all bowed their heads to their Captain, leaving Elaria, Sylvanas, Athrodar, Thalina, Tanadia and Luna, as well as a handful of scouts, to wait for the signal. "I don't think I can climb that." The young priestess muttered, looking up to the top of the spire. "I'd rather fight my way through if I have to."
Sylvanas smirked and looked back at the priestess. "If that was an option, I think we would all be taking it." She reached her hand out to take hold of Tanadia's. "We'll be with you the entire way and if you're still not sure, we've brought ropes to help hoist anyone who needs it."
"Because that's not degrading..." She muttered.
"Relax." Thalina said, whispering to her daughter. "I'll be there with you. No way in hell am I climbing that."
Elaria chuckled and glanced over to Athrodar. "I have missed you lot."
Athrodar smirked and nodded his head slowly. "I think we've all missed you too. Maybe not Sylvanas, but the rest of us have."
Waiting for close to ten minutes, they all heard nothing but distant fighting as well as siege engines destroying parts of the city. That was until the first four bolts hit the spire in front of them, following by four more shortly after, making two points to climb up the tower. "I'll go first with one of my scouts." Elaria told them. "We'll make sure the coast is clear when we hit our first checkpoint."
Sylvanas stood beside Athrodar as they watched the Night Elf begin to climb up the side of the spire, taking hold of his hand. "We'll go next." She whispered to him, squeezing his hand tightly. "You know I've never liked heights."
"Oh I'm well aware." Athrodar said, chuckling lightly. "But don't worry, I'll make sure you don't fall."
Sylvanas smiled a little. "Thank you."
Once Elaria and her first scout was far up enough, Athrodar and Sylvanas began to climb up the side of the spire, the former making sure his wife didn't fall by being two bolts below her whilst climbing by her side. They made it halfway to the first checkpoint without much difficulty, that was until Sylvanas placed her boot on one of the bolts and had it snap from under her, forcing Athrodar to let go of the bolt in his right hand and reach across to grab Sylvanas to stop her from falling. "Are you okay?" He asked when she practically hugged the side of the spire the best she could once she got her balance again.
"I h-hate this..." She muttered, her voice wavering as the adrenaline of that moment and sheer terror raced through her veins.
"I've got you." Athrodar whispered to her, waiting for her to calm down. "Do you think you can make the rest? I'll be beside you the entire way."
Tanadia and Thalina looked on from below, standing beside Luna who had her mouth covered by her hands. "Thank the Titans papa was there." The young Priestess said.
"She would have fallen if he wasn't." Thalina said, looking over to Luna who looked terrified. "Luckily we're going by rope I guess."
Sylvanas took a deep breath and looked to her left slowly, looking into Athrodar's eyes and seeing both fear and confidence in them. "I... I'm ready." She said unconvincingly, but they both knew she had to climb the rest of the way up.
"I'll be with you every step of the way." Athrodar told her reassuringly. "Like I said, I won't let you fall."
The two of them continued to climb, taking it slowly but still trying to go as quickly as possible so the four remaining scouts still to climb could get to the first checkpoint without having to wait any longer than necessary. Once inside in spire and at the first checkpoint, Sylvanas rested against a wall and began to take deep breaths to calm herself down, looking up at Athrodar who crouched down in front of her. "How many more?" She asked him.
"Two more. The second checkpoint and then the floor just below our target. We are expecting them to put up a fight there however, so best be prepared for that."
Sylvanas nodded, leaning her head against Athrodar's shoulder when he sat down beside her. "I am definitely not doing something like this again."
"No, I shouldn't think you will." He kissed her temple, and moved an arm around her whilst Elaria and her scouts began to hoist up Luna. "Once the other three are here, we will have to be ready to climb again."
Sylvanas sighed and hugged him the best she could. "Same again, don't let me fall."
Athrodar shook his head. "I'd never let you fall." He whispered, tilting her head up and kissing her on the lips. "Especially when our family isn't big enough yet."
Sylvanas chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder once more. "One thing at a time, my love. When we're back at home and everything is rebuilt, then we will go about expanding our family just a little more."
"A couple of boys should do nicely." Athrodar told her. "Three of each."
Sylvanas chuckled again and nodded her head. "Sounds like a plan. Of course, I will make sure I am their favorite parent. I know both our daughters love you the most, which doesn't include Cedani by the way." She looked up at Athrodar who was feigning surprise. "Oh please, don't look at me like that. I know Victoria loves you more, even before our run in with Bolvar. And Alleria is still too young to hide her obvious bias towards you."
Athrodar chuckled and kissed Sylvanas on the temple. "Sounds like you're jealous that they love me more."
Sylvanas rolled her eyes, glancing over to Luna who was helped inside the spire by Elaria and two of her scouts. "Like I am jealous of you. Our son loves me more than he does you. He knows I am the better ranger and he wants to be like his mother, not like his second best ranger in the family father."
"Oh hoho, someone is clearly trying to provoke me into a challenge."
"I would never." Sylvanas purred, cupping Athrodar's face in her hands and kissing him on the lips. "But if it was a challenge, I would win because I'm better."
"As long as it's not climbing." Athrodar teased, getting punched in the arm by his wife. "Ow, sorry. Touchy subject still?"
"Yes." Sylvanas said, pouting and looking away. "I could have died." She began to smile when she felt Athrodar kiss her ear. "But you were there to catch me."
"Yes I was. And seeing as I was your knight in shining armour, I expect a very good reward when we return home." Athrodar suggested, with his tongue in his cheek.
Sylvanas chuckled and hugged his arm. "Okay, okay. I'll reward you when we get home."
"Good." Athrodar whispered, kissing the top of her head and waiting for the rest of their group to get inside the spire.
