AN: Hey everybody, here is chapter 4! First off, a warning, this chapter does NOT contain ANY Sylvanas or Anduin. Instead, it is 2nd place characters for this story. However, I made this chapter because I felt like it was necessary for the story later on. Now, the reason I bring this up is because I can struggle writing characters that I really don't care too much about. This, IMO, causes my writing to suffer a bit. So, with that being said, I wanted to know what you guys, the readers, want! Please leave a review or message me stating if you would like me to continue making these 2nd party chapters so that the story is more coherent, OR, should I leave a run-down on the appropriate chapters of what the 2nd party characters are doing, OR, should I just leave it out of the published writing and continue the story focusing completely on Sylvanas and Anduin? Also, I know this note is getting long, but I am almost done with chapter 5, and we are back to Sylvanas in chapter 5!
Anger seeped through his snout. Genn's eyes glued on the Horde leaders that sat before him. A large table split the two parties. His claws sunk into his coat. Voices spewed around him. Each one attempted to outdo another. The noise escalated into his ears. A low growl echoed through his clenched teeth.
"Why do'we sit here wit dese Alliance traitors?" A troll spoke, his accent full and thick. The darkspear leader adjusted in his seat. Large fangs extended out of his mouth. "All dey talks of peace, and dier King betray'd all." Anger dripped from Rohkan's words.
"The King is under control of the Jailer!" Valeera pounded. Her fist bashed into the table before her. Creaks of wood split the air.
"I understand your concern, Valeera, but as a proclaimed neutral party, I suggest you show it." Lor'themar scowled. His long brow burrowed angrily on his face.
"I don't answer to you, Theron." Valeera sniped. Her blonde hair angrily thrust behind her.
A loud blast echoed from further down the table. The vibrations shook the chaotic room air. Eyes turned towards the large Orc; the source of the blast. His fist fully dented the table. His glare scanned the entire room. Thrall stood, his hair falling to his shoulders. "Enough!" He commanded. His voice thundering for respect and attention. "We have sat here, for hours, and little to nothing has been accomplished!" His roaring voice shattered down a hall outside.
A human stood; her hand waved in the air. "I agree with Thrall." Jaina said. Her eyes glanced towards the towering Orc. A minuscule smile flashed across her face. Her silver hair wrapped down her back. "We need to come to an agreement to move forward. Anduin…" she paused, briefly. Her eyes cast downwards. "He attacked the Archon, and took something from her, called a 'sigil'. We need to discover what these sigils are, and why the Jailer is using the High King to retrieve them."
"No doubt it is to the Horde's delight that they can now place blame on our King." Genn snarled. His anger surged forth. Teeth glistened in the light. His fur rustled in tension.
"Yes, because we love to relish in your suffering." A chilling voice spoke. The Worgen's eyes met the lifeless eyes of an undead. Her face stared at him; almost motionless. Lilian rested further into her chair. Her arms crossed before her. "At least your little King may have more compassion for the undead now. Should he return."
"How dare-" Genn started.
"The undead require no compassion!" Tyrande shouted. Her eyes gleamed in fury. "By Elune I would burn you to ash now if I could. How dare an undead like you sit across from me?! I have withstood this insult long enough!"
Velen reached; his large hand bare, as he touched the night elf's arm. "You must calm yourself, Tyrande. She-" His voice cut.
"She is the same as that witch!" Tyrande snapped. Dark eyes glared at the Draenei. "Her allegiance falls nowhere else than with the Banshee Queen!"
"I have no allegiance to Sylvanas!" Lilian responded. Her ghastly voice echoing throughout the room. "She turned her back on the Forsaken! She betrayed US! I hold no loyalty towards her, or anyone that wishes harm upon the Forsaken!"
"So, as suspected, the Forsaken will stab the Alliance in the back!" Genn snarled.
"Enough!" Thrall repeated. "We need a path forward! Not more bickering!" Hot air ripped through his teeth. His chest raised and fell angrily. Silence drifted across the room. His eyes shifted towards the neutral Blood Elf. "Valeera, what news do we have about the Archon?"
Valeera stepped back. Her glowing eyes carefully watched the Orc leader. A sullen look flashed behind her face. "The Archon is currently alive, and recovering. However, she appears to have shut herself away from us. I do not believe that the Archon will be working with us to solve this." She stated, her focus held on Thrall's reactions.
A heated sigh escaped his lips. His fangs broke free from his bottom lip. Thall's eyes glanced down; his vision falling on the dented table before him. "Did she ever say why she wont work with us?" He asked. His rugged palm pressed against the top of his forehead. Sweat fell from the edges of his chin.
A low gulp died in the tense air. "No, she did not." Valeera reported. The tips of her lips fell towards the floor. "However, I believe it is because the one who…attacked her was one of ours." Her voice strained against her throat. Inner turmoil made bare in her words.
"Ya mean one a yurs." Rohkan spat. His eyes glaring down the blood elf. "Dun go lumpin' us in witcha." The lanky troll stood up. A chair creak slipped into the space. Tusks pointed towards the Alliance. The soles of his feet swept across the tile floor. His back towards all other members.
"Rohkan, we aren't finished yet." Baine huffed. The ring in his snout clanked. The Tauren watched his friend. His back disappearing behind a closed door.
A snarl escaped into the room. Genn's snout fully flared. Rage burned behind his eyes. "I knew the Horde couldn't be trusted, but to think they also lack loyalty." He swiped. His voice dripping in sarcasm.
Baine shot the Worgen a glare. His eyes bleeding with anger. "The Horde remains loyal to our cause." He spoke. His deep voice sank the air. Each world showcased his restraint.
"Yet to no leader." Genn snarked.
His lips raised. His brow bent. Baine continued to star down the Worgen. Tension split through the very heart of the room. The air dense. Suffocating pressure built steadily. "I think it would be best for me to go and find Rohkan." Baine stated. His gaze shifted towards the Thrall at the far end.
A huff seeped through Thrall's teeth as the orc nodded. His gaze firmly fixed on the remaining leaders. A creak seeped into the air. Baine's steps resounded off the walls as he moved towards the door. The following click signaled his departure.
"I think I will follow." Lor'themar sighed. His voice carried a burden.
Her green hair whipped about. Tyrande slammed her fist down. "I will not continue to waste time here." she scowled. Her eyes glaring.
"I couldn't agree more." Genn nodded. His snout pointed towards the exit. The duo exited through another door.
Jaina sat, her allies leaving one after the other. Her eyes glanced about the room. Her mind silently counting the leaders left. Valeera, Velen, Thrall, and her. Her head fell into her hands as a worried sigh left her lungs. "Why do they always fight?" She whispered. Her voice leaking into the open.
"They fight because they are too stubborn. Too alike." Velen said. His voice laced with his calming aura. The Draenei rested further into his chair.
"Too alike?" Jaina perked. Her eyes throwing her disbelief.
"Yes. We all want to save Azeroth, and protect our people." Velen explained. His vision passing the span of the room. "It's because we all want the same thing, that compromise seems impossible."
"The old prophet may be right." Thrall sighed. A howling wind spurned outside. His eyes showing the worry that passed his mind. "And yet, it's always the same old dance. I fear we were wrong, Jaina."
Her eyes shot back towards the Orc. The tips of her lips crestfallen. "How were we wrong, Thrall?" She asked.
"We were wrong because, while we may have changed, maybe nobody else has." He replied. The tone fell between his words. His hair swayed in dismay. "I fear that all might truly be lost."
"I will not give up on Anduin." Valeera sniped. Her first clenched tightly against her waist. "Everybody else may fail him and abandoned him, but I know where my loyalties lie. He is my friend's son, my friend, and my king."
"I am not abandoning the young lion either." Thrall reminded the elf. His face flashed with anger. "But I don't see a path forward with us always at each other's throats."
Thoughts whipped around Jaina's mind. Her vision drifting into nothingness. A glimmer surfaced behind her eyes. Her face lit. "The sigils!" She exclaimed.
His eyes glanced at the human woman. "Jaina, how will the sigils help us?" Thrall asked, his voice exasperated. Tiredness hung around his eyes. His hair lifelessly draped down his shoulders.
Her eyes shot towards the Orc. A smile graced her face. The silver hair glistened. "If we can learn more about the these sigils, maybe we can guess where Anduin will be next." She explained, her voice perching in tone. The idea simmered on her lips.
Valeera stood by; her eyes watching the human mage. A twitch shot through her lips. "It's not a bad idea…" she pondered aloud. Her chin rested into the gap of her fingers. A stern look emerged on her face.
"If I may interject," Velen paused, his hand held in the air. A weight drifted into the open space. "It certainly is a good idea, Jaina. But, we first need to discover how we can learn more about these sigils." A sigh escaped his lungs. The prophet's vision turned to the only elf in the room. "And my understanding is that the Archon will not work with us anymore."
Her smile slowly faded from existence as her back fell into the chair rest. The realization hit hard. "You're right." Jaina stated, her voice taking a noticeable turn.
A worry trickled into his heart as he watched Jaina deflate. Thrall stepped, his shoes clacking on the floor, ever closer to the mage. "Perhaps you are right, Jaina." Thrall spoke, his voice as comforting as possible. His hand fell on her shoulder. "If we can learn more about the sigils, we have a better chance of saving the young king, and Azeroth."
A sparkle erupted in Valeera's eyes. "If the Archon wont work with us…then we need to move to someone who will." She gasped; speaking as the idea came to her.
His brow lifted. The old prophet leaned closer towards the blood elf. "Do you happen to have someone in mind, Miss Sanguinar?" He inquired. The Draenei's beard hung towards the floor, falling from his lap.
The blonde hair whipped as she nodded. "I do." Valeera replied. A smirk fell on her lips. "I think we need to have a visit with the Winter Queen."
As always, if you like what you read, please favorite, follow, and leave a review! Also, please read the Authors Note in regards to what you can add to the review. I love reading reviews, and in this case I am HIGHLY encouraging them so that I can best gear my chapters to your preferences! So, please leave a review or message me your thoughts on the chapter and what I put in the Authors Note above.