Hello all. Sorry for the lack of updates, but I'm nearing the end of this story and I felt like rewriting the last couple of chapters to include some suggestions from readers which I liked so much, I needed to include them. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
Anduin had to use every bit of his strength to show no emotion as the green cloud enveloped his wife and unborn child. He prayed to the Light they had made the right choice in believing Illidan's words. Malfurion had been extremely reluctant to believe anything his twin had told his niece, but the plan had been too far along when he was told for anyone to stop it, even the archdruid.
"Your Majesty?" Genn said from his side. The older king was obviously concerned with Anduin's lack of reaction to the events unfolding before them. He knew nothing of the plan.
"Just hold." Anduin replied. Genn and Jaina still knew nothing of the supposed immunity granted by Illidan at Kia's conception. If Kia survived this, he'd have a lot of explaining to do to his most trusted advisors. If Kia died or became undead, nothing in Anduin's life would matter, so an explanation of events would be pointless.
Anduin could feel Jaina's hand on his back, her fingertips just slightly edging past his armor. She didn't ask anything, only waited, ready to fight, but praying for a miracle.
The green cloud dissipated and Anduin's heart dropped. Kia was on her knees, head down. Sylvanas approached her, still mocking him. Claiming his wife might want to stay with her own kind now. The seconds ticked by like hours.
Suddenly, Kia leapt to her feet, much faster than a woman in her condition should be capable, sword in hand. The warchief barely had time to register the deception before she was decapitated. Kia quickly dispatched the two undead guards behind her.
"Hold!" Anduin repeated to his troops. He could almost feel the tension and uncertainty coming from his soldiers as they waited for the order to attack. With any luck, the order would never be necessary.
As they watched, Kia dropped her weapon and collapsed to the ground. Before Anduin could even respond, there was a burst of blinding light which forced all present, even those standing a good distance away from the city, to turn their gaze.
When Anduin's eyes readjusted, Kia was gone and most of the Horde delegation which had been just outside the gates, were now within the gates of the city. The smouldering remains of the Horde warchief were still in sight. The plan had worked.
"Your Majesty?" Genn asked.
"Just wait, Genn. Let's see what happens. There are those inside the city that I trust. Give them some time to respond." Aundin replied. He spoke calmly, but his heart was pounding. It appeared their gamble had worked and Kia was indeed immune to the plague, but was it just a delayed reaction? The warchief was dead, but was Kia just inside those walls, changing into an undead soldier? He felt the light touch of Jaina's hand, subtle but appreciated.
After what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, the gates opened and three individuals walked out. None of them were Kia. Anduin nodded to Genn and Jaina, then started to walk out to meet the party, both advisors by his side. Walking towards them were Baine, Saurfang and a troll Anduin did not know. There was a long pause once everyone stood alone in the empty space between the Horde city and the Alliance army.
Baine looked at the young king, a slight smile on his lips. "You are one of the luckiest individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Sylvanas is dead and your queen is no longer in Orgrimmar, though I can't confirm where she was taken or what condition she was in when she left. I was as blinded by the burst of light as all the others, though I suspect a portal was used. I suggest a truce between us, until new leadership can be put in place. There is no need for further bloodshed here today."
Anduin nodded at Baine. "I will agree to those terms, once I get confirmation that my queen is safe, which, if all continues to go to plan, I should be getting at any moment."
The group remained silent, but before the quiet could get uncomfortable, a druid flew towards the group from the Alliance side. They stopped several feet from the group, shifting back to a night elf form before spanning the remaining distance. The female elf bowed respectfully to Anduin.
"I'm here to deliver a message from the Archdruid. He reports that your queen has safely arrived in Moonglade. She is alive and well."
Anduin sighed in relief, allowing some of his tension to be released. "Good to hear, thank you."
He turned to the Horde leaders. "I formally accept your request for a truce. We will begin to pull our troops out of the area. Once the Horde decides on leadership, I look forward to starting a process to sort out this mess more peacefully and with fewer casualties on both sides. And...:" Anduin looked between the orc and the tauren. "...I thank you both for keeping an open mind."
"Go in peace, King Wrynn." Baine said with a bow of his head.
"Same to you, Chieftain Bloodhoof." Anduin replied with a similar head nod.
Both parties turned and left, showing much trust by showing each other their backs. As they started to move back towards their army, Anduin noticed the young night elf messanger was still standing with them at attention.
"Is there more to report?" Anduin asked.
The night elf nodded, but waited until the Horde leaders were back to their gate before answering.
"Yes. The Archdruid also instructed me to escort you to Moonglade. Your queen is safe, but she is also in labor. Your presence has been...rather loudly...requested."
Anduin's mouth dropped open in shock. Genn chuckled in amusement. Jaina was beaming at the king, a smile on her face.
"Go, Your Majesty." Genn said. "Jaina and I will organize our retreat from the area. You have bigger concerns, at the moment. It sounds like you might not want to keep Kia waiting."
Anduin stood, still shocked, but with a shake of his head, he came back to his senses. "Yes...yes of course." The group hurried a little faster to the side of the army, where a druid was already summoning a portal to Moonglade.
Jaina gave Anduin a slight hug. "Congratulations, Anduin. I look forward to meeting my new grandniece or grandnephew when you return to Stormwind."
With just a nod, Anduin followed the night elf through the portal.
Genn sighed. "He's got his hands full now and I'm not talking about what comes next with the Horde." He lowered his voice, so only Jaina could hear him. "Do you have any idea how Kia survived being exposed to the plague?"
Jaina shook her head. "No. It must have been part of their plan, but how they did it, I have no idea."
"Plan? You mean this was all planned? Kia's capture and everything?" Genn asked, sounding shocked.
"It was, but Anduin didn't really share much of it with me beyond it was Kia's idea and he agreed with it."
Genn growled, which was much more effective since he was still in his wolfish form. "What foolish...reckless…ahh! That kid has a lot of explaining to do when he gets back!"
Jaina laughed. "To both of us, but for now let's just focus on getting everyone home. I have a feeling we won't be getting an audience with the king anytime soon."
To Be Continued...
I'm sure you've noticed I'm deviating from the game. I wanted this story to have a distinct ending and the game just never provides that kind of stuff. (Infact, the game is getting a bit complicated, so I'm making up a nice happyish ending for our characters instead. Well, happy if you don't like Sylvanas. If you do like her, sorry about that whole decapitated and burned thing. My bad.)