Chapter 12: Hook, Line and Sinker

For a full minute, Anduin couldn't do much but stare at the sky in shock. He was subconsciously aware of Mathias Shaw beside him, and the two guards who had stormed into the room, prepared to protect him should the attack move towards the city. He could hear screaming in the city below him and he felt sick to him stomach. His Father was a world away, and everyone in the city was looking to him.

He couldn't afford to panic. Right now, he needed to take action.

Without another word Anduin bolted from the window, heading towards the door. The soldiers moved out of his way, coming to attention as he passed. He head Shaw following him but he couldn't stop and speak with him. Instead he was mentally going over every single plan they had in place in the event of an attack on or near Stormwind. The last attack had been so quick all they could do was send reinforcements before it had all been over. But now most of their army was there, ready and waiting for such an attack.

As he walked down the halls he looked out each window he passed, trying to get a better view of the attack. He could hear people forming a small entourage behind him, several soldiers and commanders all speaking over each other.

"Your Highness, I've got three companies along the south east border ready to deploy at your command."

"Gryphons ready to fly, your Highness."

"We can send for reinforcements from Ironforge, Your Highness."

Anduin ignored them, stopping outside of a window with a good view over the attack. He held out his hand and a second later felt a metal spyglass in his hand. He looked out of it over to the attack, trying to get a better look at the portal.

And there it was - the large black ship that he'd seen in the art, and had been described in the book. It was just as Miss Fairchild had described it. It didn't appear to be taking direct part in the attack, just floating below the open portal as it spat fireballs down onto Westfall.

He lowered the spyglass, gritting his teeth in annoyance. They were here again, same attack, same place, and they knew just as little about them as they had the last time.

He turned to the group behind him, nearly a dozen people waiting patiently for orders.

"Keep all companies in the city." He ordered, "Strengthen the Borders, I don't want any demons getting into this city." He started to walk towards the war room, everyone following him, "Send gryphon bombers to help, but other than that I want the city closed off. Nobody comes in, nobody goes out."

Half of the group vanished, running out to complete his orders. Anduin swallowed and continued on his way to the war room, where the military leaders would be waiting for him.

He stormed into the room to see Admiral Jes Tereth, General Hammond Clay, Jaina and Genn all standing over a map of Westfall, arguing. They all paused when he entered the room. Genn gave him a soft smile and Anduin returned it, moving to look over the map before him.

"It's the same as the first time." General Clay explained as they looked at the map, "Focused on Sentinel Hill and Moonbrook - it seems like they're looking for the largest groups of people."

"Higher casualties." Jaina frowned, "They're looking to make a statement. They'll most likely look for civilian deaths."

"Civilian or not, it doesn't matter to demons." Genn snorted, "Otherwise they'd attack elsewhere."

Anduin stiffened slightly. He wondered if right now, at this very moment, there was another attack happening in Azshara. He shifted his gaze to Mathias Shaw, who had silently followed them into the room. They made eye contact and Shaw nodded, slipping out of the room. Anduin went back to the conversation, knowing Shaw would get information on the Horde.

"We should capture one." Jaina suggested, "Maybe we can get them to talk, find out who's been summoning them."

The door to the war room burst open, and a single guard came in, out of breathe.

"Your Highness." He bowed clumsily, "You need to see this."

Anduin exchanged a quick look with the leaders before he walked out of the room, following he solider. He heard Genn and Jaina follow him out into the hall. The Solider brought him outside to the top of the keep which had the best view of Westfall.

The solider handed him a spyglass, pointing towards Westfall, in an area not near Sentinel, "There."

Anduin took it and looked through. But instead of looking towards the skies he pointed it at the ground.

He wasn't sure what he was looking at. Westfall was close, but not close enough to get clear image of what was going on. He could see the clumps of black and green that seemed to belong to the small demonic pods that had been seen last time.

There was a lot of them. In fact, there were so many that Anduin was having troubles distinguishing one from the other. They seemed to stretch along the entire north coast of Westfall...

He looked away, frowning. Last time there had been maybe ten of the pods scattered around Westfall. He could see hundreds of them along this coast alone. This attack wasn't like the last one... He suddenly felt sick to his stomach as he realized what this meant.

He turned back to look at Genn and Jaina, who were waiting and watching him expectantly. HIs face was pale as he swallowed.

"It's a trap."

Addy had seen the portal open from the keep. She'd been storming off, trying to stop angry tears from forming as she march down the stairs to the front entrance. She didn't think that she'd be able to come back to the courtyard to practice anymore. She just couldn't take the accessory stares and knowing whispers from the people around her. She'd already been humiliated enough for one lifetime.

The explosion was loud enough that Addy ducked, covering her head and trying to brace for whatever it was that had erupted. But after a moment of nothing she opened her eyes and peeked her head up, scanning the stairs. Several other citizens were crouched low and guardsmen were running around, trying to find the source.

A cry from a frightened women made everyone looked to look towards her. She was standing with a hand over her mouth, pointing to the sky. Whatever she was pointing at was blocked by a tree and Addy quickly ran around to get a better view.

She almost fell over when she got a look. Floating in the air, juxtapositional next to the blue sky, was a swirling green and black mass.

"No..." She breathed out, her eyes wide as she tried to understand what she was looking at. t was the same portal hovering in the sky - but it was huge. Ten times the size as the first one. The edge of it felt like it almost touched the city, with huge balls of fire flying towards the ground. She spun around, trying to get an idea of which direction the portal was, and as she realized she got a sinking feeling in her gut.

It was at Westfall, the same place as before.

Gryan.

Addy gathered up her skirt, not even stopping to make sure her neck was covered by her scarf before she ran out of the keep, racing towards city gates.

Genn and Jaina had paled as soon as he spoke, both of them seeming to come to the same conclusion Anduin had.

The first attack had been small, and they had funnelled their troops into westfall to help stave off another one. This is second attack...was massive. Ten times the size of the first. Even from here Anduin knew it would be a massacre.

"Should we order them to fall back?" Genn asked.

Anduin walked back into the keep, everyone followed him back down into the keep and to the war room. He shot off orders as he did so.

"Get me every damned Battle mage you can." He called out to passed soldiers, "I need one familiar with Darnassus. Recall those Gryphons immediately back to the city."

He stormed into the War room, in full Prince mode and walked over to the map.

"How many men left in the city?" He asked the room.

Sergeant Mandred Grummel walked froward, saluting, "City guard has around 1500, Your Highness. "

"Maybe another thousand of my men," General Clay added.

Anduin cursed, "How many in Westfall right now?"

Clay hesitated for a moment, "Ten Thousand, your Highness."

Anduin shook his head, looking over the map. His eyes flickered too and fro as he tried to come up with the best solution to save the most lives. He knew that every second he wasted was another man or women dead.

"We need to get them out of there." Anduin leaned down, taking a deep breathe. He'd rather wait for his father to come back to make a decision like this, but he had no choice, "Pull back. I want every man, woman and child out of Westfall as soon as possible."

There was a moment of pause in the room before Genn took a step forward, moving to stand beside the young Prince, "Anduin?"

Anduin looked up at him seriously, trying to make sure his unease didn't show. He wanted to look like the strong, steady leader like his father, and not like the uncertain kid he felt like.

"You want to abandon Westfall?" General Clay asked. He didn't sound accusatory, only sad, like he had come to the same conclusion himself.

"It's a trap." Anduin said out loud, "They expected us to move our troops into the region - and in doing so we've lowered the defences to our city. And now they've come back - if we don't pull back immediately our entire fighting force will be wiped out. My job right now is to save lives."

Anduin sucked in a breathe, thinking about the letter from Vol'Jin still sitting on the table in the briefing room. The Horde had moved troops into Azshara, the same way the Alliance had. They had set a trap, and they had both fallen for it.

"So, yes." Anduin said sternly, openly daring someone to argue with him, "I'm abandoning Westfall."

Addy pushed her way through the crowded Trade District to get through to the gate. People were crowding and arguing with guards and each other, people piling onto benches and trees and the centre fountain to try and get a better look at the portal. Flying up above them were dozens of flying animals with their riders all arguing with Stormwind Gryphon Masters about something.

Addy ignored them, her mind completely focus on her task. She needed to get to Westfall. She needed to find Gryan.

She finally managed to push her way to the front of the group, ducking under larger men and stepping around dwarves and gnomes. She ran forward heading for the entrance to the Valley of Heroes.

A large suit of armour stepped in her way and it took all of her power not to crash into it.

"Sorry, Miss." The solider held up his hand, stopping her in her tracks, "This area is off limits."

"Off limi-" Addy shook her head in exasperation, "No, I need to go."

She tried to move around the solider but he shifted with her, keeping his hand up, "I'm sorry Miss, but the City's closed. No one comes in, no one goes out."

Addy felt her eyes filling up with angry tears, "The attack isn't even happening here!" She shouted at him.

"I'm sorry Miss." The Solider genuinely looked sorry, but Addy couldn't see his face through her growing tears, "King's orders."

Addy pulled back, looking around. There were several other Guards, looking at her like she might be a problem. She looked back and forth, not entirely sure where to go, or what to do.

She turned to look at the portal, still swirling over the skies of Westfall. She could still very vividly remember the last attack. The dead bodies, the blood, the pain, and never ending swarm of demons...It had been a miracle that she had made it out of that alive.

The thought of Gryan being back out there, right now, made her feel sick to her stomach. She hated not knowing where he was right now, what he was doing, if he was even still alive.

She wandered over to a wooden deck outside of a cheese shop, collapsing into a seated position as she sat in a state of shock. She felt her heart clench as she sat here, thinking about Gryan. She could still see the fireballs raining down in the distance.

She knew the truth...the attack last time had been so quick that even if she got out of the city she never would have made it to Westfall in time. It was a feeble dream created by a yearning to do something...anything, despite knowing that she was helpless.

She was stuck here, on the stairs of a god damned cheese shop, waiting.

It took fifteen minutes for the Battle Mages to arrive.

Anduin was terrified that the attack would be over before they could start evacuating. The last one had been a short fight, but it seemed that this one was longer. It frustrated him that he still didn't know what was going on in Westfall.

A solider lead in about a dozen different mages, men and women of varying races all wearing thick padded cloth armour and ready for battle.

Anduin immediately walked up to them, addressing the first two "I need you to open portals to Sentinel Hill and Moonbrook and evacuate as many people as you can. The rest of you need to teleport to the new camps as listed by General Clay and evacuate the soldiers there. Get the wounded out through portal, everyone else is the head to the nearest Alliance friendly area - Darkshire, Stranglethorn, Elwynn - whatever is closest. If they cannot get to a nearby Alliance territory..." He paused, swallowing, "If they can't get out of Westfall they're to retreat into the Deadmines." He could honestly say he'd never thought he'd have to make that order.

They all salute in unison and moved to the side of the room where they started to open portals. Anduin turned to the last Battle Mage and handed her a piece of parchment sealed with the Alliance Lion.

"You're familiar with Darnassus Magus-?"

"Stilica." The Female mage nodded, standing rod straight. "And yes, your Highness."

He handed her the letter, "I need you to go to Darnassus and hand this letter directly into the hands of my Father. Not to Lady Tyrande, not to anybody else. Wait for his response before returning."

Magus Stilica nodded, moving into a sharp salute before starting her portal. Mere moments later all of the Mages had vanished and the room was empty again. Despite ordering the evacuation he still felt like he'd done nothing at all.

Jaina wandered over to him, "I'll join them at the Hill. It's the area of highest concentration and they'll need all the help they can get. I can't promise how many people I'll get out until I run out of mana though."

Anduin smiled thankfully, "Every person you can get out is another life saved."

"You say that like everyone we don't portal out will die."

Anduin paused. All he could thin about was the lines of black pods lining the northern coast. If the rest of the border was covered in them, then the men could be trapped within Westfall, and if the Deadmines didn't hold it could be a massacre.

"Let's hope thats not the case." Anduin tried to regain the optimism he was known for.

Varian Wrynn always felt out of place in Darnassus. Back home he was a very large man, towering over everyone. He knew he was an imposing figure and the large, heavy armour he wore certainly didn't help. But here, even the shortest elf was still taller than him. And his hulking mass felt clumsy next to the slender grace of those around him. He couldn't help but feel like he would break something - like a bull in a china shop.

He was waiting patiently outside the Temple of the Moon. He'd never been personally invited inside and he'd never really felt the need to go in himself. Usually he met with Tyrande and Malfurion in the Temple Gardens or the Howling Oak when they met on official visits. He knew the Nigh Elves had tremendous respect for the building, and, as High Priestess, one could find Tyrande there on most days.

"Varian?"

Varian turned and immediately felt the familiar awe he always felt when meeting with Tyrande. She was extraordinarily beautiful. Tall and slim with pale lilac skin and turquoise hair that fell in waves to her waist, with white flowers and golden leaves entwined into her tresses. She held a certain poise and grace with her movements that no human could ever properly manner, like she was one with the air around her.

He gave her a friendly smile, "Tyrande."

She tilted her head in greeting, returning his smile, "It is good to see you, Varian. But I must ask, why are you here?"

Varian let out a low sigh. The question was valid - he rarely made the trip to Darnassus. "It's about the message I sent out, about the attack in Westfall."

Tyrande nodded her head, but still looked confused, "Have you not found those responsible? I believe you thought it was a stray cult of warlocks."

"I did." Varian rubbed his hand over his face, "But new evidence suggests otherwise."

She nodded and motioned with her hand for them to walk. As they started to make their way towards the Temple Gardens he reached into a pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

When Anduin had approached him he'd felt a sort of dread he'd never had before, the same sort of dread was mirrored in his sons' face. He'd dismissed it then, not wanting to worry about it. But Varian had done more research, and he quickly realized these ships had only been seen once before.

He handed the paper to Tyrande, "Do you recognize this?"

She took it gingerly, scanning the paper before her eyebrows furrowed, "Yes…demon ships. They were numerous during the War."

Varian nodded. While humans had many wars, the Night Elfs only spoke of one. He took a deep breath as he continued.

"There was one at the attack."

That made her stop, her eyes widening and ears dropping as she looked at him, "Are you sure?"

"Yes." He nodded, "There was only one, and we think it came through a portal…" He trailed off at the worried look on Tyrande's face. She was always fairly collected and calm, to see her like this worried him. "How bad is this…?"

Tyrande hesitated, "I've heard rumours…that Westfall wasn't the only attack."

Varian swallowed nervously, looking around to make sure nobody was listening in. He turned back to Tyrande and nodded sharply.

She looked down sadly, "I have scouts out in the Ashenvale now, trying to get confirmation. But there were whispers of an attack in Aszhara, near the rear gates. Hints of this attack was why I was forced to close off portals to Teldrassil."

They walked in silence for a few moments, both of them going over new information. Varian realized she'd never answered his question, but looking over at her he could immediately see that it was bad. Her ears were downward, and her eyebrows tilted in worry.

"It's the Legion."Varian grunted, "Isn't it."

Tyrande look unnerved, "I fear so. I know of no warlock cult powerful enough to summon a ship, nor a portal as large as you described."

Varian clenched his jaw and fist, "Is it terrible to say I was hoping I'd be long dead before they decided to come here?"

Tyrande gave him a fond look, like a mother looking at her child, "I expect most mortal races feel this way."

"High Priestess?"

Both Tyrande and Varian turned to see a night elf and a young human woman with standing behind them. Varian blinked at the sight of a human, he hadn't brought anyone with him to Darnassus, but he could see the silver lion of Stormwind pinned to her Kirin Tor Tabard. A mage then.

The night elf women beside her bow her head in respect of the High King and High Priestess, "This one wishes to speak with you."

The mage walked forward, giving a stiff bow to Varian and a respectful nod to Tyrande, "Your Majesty." She handed him a sealed letter, "From your son."

Varian nodded his thanks and opened it, reading it quickly.

Attack on Westfall. Bigger than before. Another ship.

Varian felt his heart clench in fear for his son. He took a few calming breathes and tried to remember that his son was safe in the Keep, and not in Westfall. But he knew that he'd need to return right away.

"There's another attack." He turned to Tyrande, "I must leave."

"I am coming with you." She announced and he stared at her in shock. She rarely left Darnassus, let alone to come to Stormwind. Her face was stern as she looked back at the mage, waiting to make a portal. "I would see this ship for myself."

Anduin was getting reports right left and centre. He tried to absorb them as quickly as he could. He couldn't allow himself to get overwhelmed right now.

"Moonbrook's been evacuated Your Highness." An unnamed solider reported.

"Sentinel Hill's empty as well." General Clay ran into the room, "As have most of the Garrisons. But there's still a large pocket of men along the Northeast border, trying to hold back the Demons."

Anduin's heart clenched as he realized that they were trying to protect the border closest to the city. He felt a fierce surge of fondness for their men, willing to risk their lives to protect the citizens in the city.

But he wasn't going to let them die.

"Get them out of there!" He ordered, before looking around the room. He was still missing someone, "And somebody find me Captain Stoutmantle."

"He's with the men in the North." Clay responded quickly.

Anduin opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by the sound of a portal opening on the far side of the room. Everyone straightened and multiple soldiers pulled out their swords, putting themselves between the leaders and the blue glowing circle.

A second later three people stepped through. Anduin let out a huge breath of relief at the sight of his Father with the Mage who he'd sent after him. He was more than a little surprised to see Tyrande Whisperwind behind the two, towering over them as she gracefully walked over to the war table.

Varian walked over to Anduin, clapping a hand on his shoulder and giving him a comforting look. Anduin felt himself relax a bit. His father had a way of making him feel more confident whenever he walked into the room.

Anduin quickly went into business, filling in his father and the Lady Tyrande on what was happening. Varian quickly agreed that it had been a trap, and applauded his son, which made him flush lightly.

"Are the main cities empty?" The King asked his commanders. They all nodded.

"It's all empty, except for the northern Garrisons."

Varian nodded, "Alright. Bring out the Bombers, I want every one of those pods dealt with as quickly as possible."

Several men salutes and quickly ran from the room.

"Anduin." His father looked at him and he straightened, "Take Lady Tyrande to the top of the keep. She needs to get a better look at the ships."

Anduin nodded quickly and motioned for Tyrande to leave with him. He quickly walked through the halls, bringing her to the stairs to the top of the tower. They didn't speak, there was no time for small talk. Once they got to the top of the keep where he'd only been about fifteen minutes earlier, he took a spyglass and handed it to her.

She waved him off, the wind blowing her hair around her face as she narrowed her eyes towards the sky, "I can see it."

Anduin lowered his hand and turned to the sky, he brought the spyglass up so that his human eyes can see it as well.

"It is the same." Tyrande mused, sounding concerned.

Anduin felt his stomach clench, he turned to her feeling a little ill, "Have these ships ever been seen after the War of the Ancients? Anywhere else." He felt like he was pleading with her.

Tyrande turned to him, and slowly shook her head. Anduin paled.

"So it is the Legion." He spoke sadly. His mind flashed to a much simpler time, and an old friend who had predicted this day would come soon. Anduin had prayed he would be wrong.

Tyrande startled suddenly and Anduin looked back towards the ship, throwing his eyeglass up.

"No." Tyrande pointed down towards the shoreline, "There."

Anduin pointed the spyglass downward, quickly allowing it to focus as he searched for whatever it was Tyrande had noticed. Several of the pods had been dealt with, collapsed into flames and others which seemed to have melted into the earth. Just behind them Anduin could see the Northern most Garrison, where hundreds of men were still fighting the onslaught.

But standing over the tiny groups of men and demons were two figures, larger than life. Anduin couldn't make out any details from such a large distance, only that they were giants, more than ten feet tall each.

"Eredar..." Tyrande hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Anduin sucked in breath through his teeth. Eredar were extremely powerful demons, and no sane Warlock would ever try and summon one. And two Eredar, as tall as the one's he'd seen in the spyglass...

Tyrande shook her head, "Eredar Commanders...two of them." She turned to look at Anduin with wide eyes, "Your men need help...or else they're going to die."

Without another word Anduin turned, and rushed back into the Keep.

Gryan's ears were ringing. several loud explosions had rendered him all but deaf as he rushed through the groups of men, trying to get a better idea of what was going on.

They'd been trapped. The lines of pods blocking their exit by sea, and the demons approaching them by the south. They'd been cornered, and were being approached by every side. Commanding the demons in the distance were two large Eredar leaders, who's booming voice rattled his brain.

He was scared...terrified even. It had been a trap. This attack made the previous one look like child's play. Hundred, thousands of demons called down to wipe out the entire body of the Stormwind's army, leaving them defenceless. He could only pray that the other Garrisons and towns had been able to evacuate in time.

He walked over bodies, trying not to look at their faces. The faces of people he knew, friends, comrades.

He thought of Addy, and let out a breathe of relief. He'd been so worried about her, being alone in such a large city. But now he felt thankful that she was safe behind such large walls. He felt peace knowing that at the end of this battle, she would be safe.

A loud piercing shriek filled the air, and Gryan looked up brought the dirt, smoke and blood and saw the undersides of a dozen white gryphons flying overhead. He followed them with his eyes, watching as they dropped large metal balls overtop of the Eredar commanders. The explosions that followed didn't distinguish demon from solider...

Gryan closed his eyes, thinking of Addy, safe in the city, and ran into the battle with a smile on his face.

The streets of the trade district emptied long before the portal closed.

Most people had gone home to their families, or to their inns for the night. The sun was only just dipping over the edge of the horizon when it closed, a burst of green that spread over the sky, whipping away the clouds and causing the sunset to ripple across the sky.

Addy watched it, seeing a long stripe of light right before it did so. It was most likely the ship. Addy mentally noted that it hadn't gone through the portal like they'd thought before, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All she could do was breathe in relief that the battle was over.

She didn't move. She sat there, watching the gates of the city. The survivors from Westfall would come through here - and Gryan would be there first. As the commander he would come here immediately to brief the king on what had happened. Just like last time.

She made herself comfortable, determined to sit and wait there until he came home, safe and sound.

She would be waiting a very long time.

A/N: Sorry this took so long to get out. I must've worked 80 hours a week the last few weeks so I haven't really had time to get down and write.

Thank you so much for the positive responses! You guys are so great! Leave a review, it makes my day. And you can follow my WOW tumblr medvh, where I sometimes post updates on how my writing is going.

-Ash