Chapter Six: The Congress of Stratholme

The next morning Arthas arose from his bed. He had to shift Alexstrasza off him as he did so. Her clinginess, compared with his reluctance to be parted from her, made it difficult. Dressing in his clothes and armor, he made his way out. He walked the rooms of the manor he'd set up his base on, and finally came to a balcony. Walking onto it, he looked down over where the powers of Lordaeron were assembly.

Then he felt Alexstrasza wrap her arms around him from behind. "Well, there certainly seem to be a great number of people gathering here, aren't there?" Her lips were by his ear. "Nothing like this has ever happened before, Arthas. Never before have this many races come together in one place."

"Please don't try and pretend as if this is some great moral accomplishment, Alexstrasza," said Arthas, shaking her off. "They're here to get what they can because they know that we are the stronger."

"That we can all be agreeing on, mon." said a voice.

Arthas whirled around, drawing his sword and put it to Zul' jin's throat. The troll raised his hands quickly. After a moment, Arthas drew it back and sheathed the weapon. "Zul' jin, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I not be liking all dis meeting with da humans and elves," said Zul' jin. "They not gonna be following any treaty they agree to. Why make a treaty at all?"

"You have a better plan?" asked Arthas.

"Well, right now der leaders all be hanging out all in one place. Vulnerable," said Zul' jin. "I be thinking we take advantage of the fact."

"No," said Alexstrasza firmly, summoning her staff.

"Oh, be coming on-"began Zul' jin.

"Zul' jin, even if I were willing to stoop to murdering someone in parley, which I am not, that is a terrible plan," said Arthas. "It would discredit us in the eyes of the other factions and create martyrs to justify future wars.

"No, we must come to an agreement. And once we have one, we just need to enforce it."

"My people made many agreements. Da high elves broke em all," said Zul' jin.

It was true. There had been a series of treaties early in history. Each one promised the trolls a given land. Invariably a valuable resource would be discovered. Then the treaty would be torn up, and there would be another war.

Arthas looked to Alexstrasza, who stepped back. She was leaving this to him, so he turned to Zul' jin. "Yes, because they were stronger. Because you had no support, they didn't suffer any consequences for their betrayal because you were alone.

"You are not anymore. If any of these factions betray us, we will crush them.

"And if I wanted to destroy the last semblance of old Lordaeron I could do it. Now."

Zul' jin nodded. "I be understanding."

"Good," said Arthas. "Then I expect you not to ask about this again."

Zul' jin nodded and departed. Arthas looked to Alexstrasza and felt the desire to hold her. It was mutual, he could tell. But both had worked to do. "We have meetings to attend.

"Alexstrasza, you had best speak with the Alliance. Kel'thuzad will fill in for me."

"Why?" asked Alexstrasza.

"I want them to regard me as your tool," said Arthas. "A necessary evil to be used for the greater good. If I'm standing behind you while you make your presentation, it will look like the other way around. Kel'thuzad will suggest the unpleasant parts of the arrangement. You'll bargain him down, so everyone believes your in control."

Alexstrasza smiled. "But I am."

Arthas kissed her, then drew back. "Why don't we discuss that tonight."

They parted ways. But Arthas looked forward to tonight.

It was a circular terrace overlooking one of the more intact streets of Stratholme. Much work had been done to repair the damage and clean the streets. But everyone remembered what had happened here, so it was something of a moot point.

Alexstrasza looked to Kel'thuzad, then the assembled guests. Then she walked forward, conserving her glamor for the appropriate moment. "Men of the Alliance, we have come here to mend the unbearable gulf that has arisen between the people of this land. It is my hope that together, we may end the strife that has possessed this realm and build a better future."

"Alexstrasza, you have guarded the world for many ages," said Antonidas. "However, all of us are in short temper, and I think it would be best if you got to the point."

Alexstrasza nodded. "As you wish.

"There are three matters I wish to discuss today. First, I wish for you to recognize the formal resurrection of Alterac as a Kingdom."

"You ask a great deal at once, don't you?" asked Calia. "They betrayed us to the Horde."

"Aiden Pernolde betrayed you!" snapped Blackthorn. "And we paid for it in the annihilation of our capital and the rape of our women! What penalty was given to Thoras Trollbane for his brutality? None!"

"What penalty was given to you?" shot back Magroth.

Alexstrasza sent forth her will to draw their attention. She sought to move their hearts away from hatred. "Please, all of you. We cannot afford to come to blows when it is an end to war we all seek. King Terenas himself sought to reestablish Alterac and had it not been for the machinations of Deathwing that may well have happened.

"We have all caused each other to suffer. But if we allow the sins of the past to determine our future, this will never end."

"What are you proposing, exactly?" asked Calia. "Alterac is dead. Most of the land it once possessed is now part of the Kingdom of Strahnbrad. Having dwelled there, I assure you that King Wilhelm is quite popular among his people. Shall we dispossess them so that Blackthorn may lead them? Grow fat on them by taxes instead of banditry."

"Is it banditry to raid an enemy town?" asked Blackthorn. "You did not think so when Trollbane burned his way through our homes."

"I was not suggesting a restoration of Alterac to its previous borders," said Alexstrasza. "To do so would only invite further bloodshed. Nor was I suggesting that Blackthorn be made King of Alterac, he serves another. Aliden Pernolde, the rightful king of Alterac."

"Aliden?" asked Calia, glancing around. "And where is he?"

'My brethren and I were sent into Lordaeron to raid and steal." said Blackthorn. "Our goal was to fund the reconstruction of our home. Aliden is protecting his people and seeing to it that what prosperity can be achieved is.

"While we are owed the full extent of our original territories, we are willing to settle for less."

"I wish for those here to agree to recognize Aliden as King of Alterac. As well as all territories, he now controls as his rightful property," said Alexstrasza. "In exchange, all attacks on the people of the Alliance will halt. With luck, trade may be established between your people and old wounds forgotten.

"Certainly, the flow of goods will be better than the launching of arrows."

Calia paused. "…I cannot promise anything on the part of Strahnbrad; however, I will speak to Wilhelm on the subject. I believe he may accept."

"As will I," said Alexandros Mograine suddenly. "What happened in Alterac was a terrible abuse of power, and I would rather live in peace than war."

"I see nothing to gain by continued hostilities," said Antonidas.

Alexstrasza turned to where Lord Garithos sat in his armor, leaning on his axe. "Lord Garithos?"

"King Arthas has bid me put forth my full support in this measure," said Garithos.

"And where is King Arthas?" asked Whitemane, voice scornful. "Can he not stand before us? Is he so-" She was elbowed by Renault and fell quiet. Alexstrasza sensed a certain madness in this one and did her best to ignore the matter.

"King Arthas is negotiating with the leaders of the trolls, ogres, and other such races," said Alexstrasza. "I convinced him that his presence here would merely be detrimental." There were looks among them. All of them were now beginning to believe that Alexstrasza was the true power here. No doubt Arthas was initiating a similar plan with the other races.

Alexstrasza spoke again. "I felt it would be best if the two sides of this conflict settled their differences."

"You felt correct," said Calia after a moment.

"What of the ogres in Alterac?" asked Blackthorn. "Ever since Arthas wiped out our orcish associates they've been moving in."

"That can be discussed later when they are present," said Alexstrasza. "For now, we must focus on the next matter. Kel'thuzad, I believe you wished to present this… proposal personally." And here came the bad part of the agreement.

"Indeed," said Kel'thuzad, floating forward. "I wish for the formal recognition of King Arthas as the rightful leader of Lordaeron."

"You're joking?" said Renault. "You're asking us to bend the knee when he'd have to fight multiple wars to take down half of us."

"It's a mere formality, to be honest," said Kel'thuzad. "The nature of his dominion will be different from Lordaeron of old. All of the races and people who live under him will be free to govern their own affairs. His role will simply be as a… mediator of sorts. When a disagreement between any faction appears, he or his agents will deal with it.

"In exchange, you will also be obligated to offer the services of your armies in time of war. As for tribute, he does not need any gold or silver. Merely the corpses of any criminals guilty of capital offenses in order to fuel his armies. The Cult of the Damned will also be free to preach His name."

"And what is the benefit for us?" asked Renault. "Why should we acknowledge him?"

"Because if you do not, we will crush the Scarlet Crusade to pieces and then grind those pieces to dust," said Kel'thuzad quite calmly. "You seem to have forgotten who won this war, Mograine."

"I take it that Alterac is exempt?" said Blackthorn.

"Of course," said Kel' thuzad. "Our agreement with you was made before this congress and continues to hold." The anger was palpable, Kel'thuzad was doing his job well.

"This is outrageous; we will not be-"began Antonidas.

But Sally Whitemane stood up. The motion sent her ample breasts bouncing with the movement as she raised her staff. Light shone from it. "Absurd! You would have us willingly give the corpses of our fellow men to your abominable dark practices! The Scarlet Crusade will never abide by this! We will call forth the full fury of the light and consume all who oppose us!

"The screams of tormented sinners shall ring throughout the world! All who-"

"Silence," said Alexstrasza.

Sally Whitemane opened her mouth, but no words came out. The light on her staff went out. Alexstrasza moved forward toward her and stood with their faces inches apart. She stared into Whitemane, and their wills clashed. "Sit down. Now."

Sally did so quickly, shuddering. Then Alexstrasza turned to Kel'thuzad. "Kel'thuzad, do you truly expect them to submit to these terms? I heard nothing about these from Arthas. This is meant to herald the end of the war. Yet you have nearly undone all that work."

'The victor in any conflict may determine the terms to his own advantage." said Kel'thuzad. "We are the victor."

"And how long will you remain so when you have alienated all the surrounding lands?" asked Alexstrasza. "How quickly did the Dreadlord's fall when all the world was their enemy."

"Do you have an alternative suggestion?" asked Kel'thuzad.

"You cannot ask these people to accept the Cult of the Damned as an official religion," said Alexstrasza. "Not after all that has happened. And all the atrocities that have been committed."

"I might name some atrocities performed by the worshippers of the light, but I take your point," said Kel'thuzad. "I am prepared to negotiate on the subject. But the scourge requires fresh corpses to maintain our numbers. Now that peace is on the verge of breaking out, we must have another source than the violation of graveyards."

"Perhaps a tax," said Calia.

Kel'thuzad looked to her. "A tax?"

"Yes," said Calia. "When a criminal is executed for a capital crime, it should be possible for their body to be ransomed. A one-time payment and it will be buried naturally."

Whitemane seemed to be trying to speak. She looked to Alexstrasza, desperately desiring to speak her mind. With a sigh, Alexstrasza let her speak. "Would you have us pay tribute to the undead in any form, Mograine?"

"I wouldn't think of it as paying tribute, Sally," said Renault. "Remember, the bodies of those sent to them will be the worst society has to offer. Criminals, murderers, cutthroats. And even they can be saved if someone intervenes on their behalf."

"But they're people!" said Whitemane. "To yield their bodies to the undead, even the worst of them is a betrayal." Alexstrasza worked to shift her will to more positive thoughts.

"Speaking as an undead, I find my existence quite preferable," said Kel'thuzad.

"Whitemane, while your concerns are not unfounded, I must ask you to remain calm," said Alexandros. "These discussions can be made with the rest of the Scarlet Crusade later. We are merely hearing the matter.

"Queen Alexstrasza, may I ask why you are supporting this?"

Alexstrasza looked away, doing her best to look sad and guilty. "Sometimes, even Guardians must compromise their principles. I want the killing in Lordaeron to stop. King Arthas was my means of achieving that goal. He is not entirely lost to the darkness, and he is relying on me for support."

"I assure you, Queen Alexstrasza, this will be a difficult thing to sell," said Alexandros. "Giving the bodies of our dead would be nearly impossible to negotiate with my priests. They are very fanatical."

"Then perhaps you can suggest an alternative?" said Alexstrasza.

"…Perhaps a monetary tax?" said Whitemane desperately. "The Scarlet Crusade's innermost lands have gone unravaged by the scourge. Some among our priests have amassed large quantities of wealth. I am certain money may be valuable, even to the undead."

Kel'thuzad paused. "Very well, then. We will discuss the details another time."

"If I might speak, I have a request," said Magroth as he stood.

"Of course, Magroth," said Alexstrasza.

"My brethren and I are warriors of faith, not governors," said Magroth. "While we have sought to preside over our people as best we can, we have no desire to become kings in our own right. It is our desire that a member of the Lordaeron Royal family rules over us directly.

"Princess Calia, it is our desire that you take up the rule of Tauren Mill."

"I suppose my answer depends on whether King Arthas will allow it," said Calia.

"King Arthas was made aware of this some time ago, by me," said Alexstrasza. "He has already given his blessing."

"Magroth, have you actually offered tribute to these abominations?" asked Sally, looking warily over at Alexstrasza.

Magroth sighed. "I've seen far too much slaughter for one lifetime. If it means the fighting will end, I'm willing to give up the worst parts of humanity. And I have my doubts if fighting would do any good."

"The Kirin Tor must yield to the reality of the situation, of course," said Antonidas.

"What is the last item on the agenda, then?" asked Rhonin.

"Formal recognition of the Forest Troll dominions inA. As well as the other less prominent races land rights." said Alexstrasza. "And once we have decided on that, there is the matter of the Dreadlord's to consider."

All this to be decided in a council where Arthas was not present. Alexstrasza could tell by their looks what they were thinking. They now believed Arthas to be little more than a front for Alexstrasza to gain control. One who was not fully in control of his own subordinates. And as a result, they were eating out of her hand.

This partnership with Arthas had been immensely profitable for both of them. Alexstrasza was beginning to wonder if Lady Proudmoore would accept a second spouse. She'd never walked down an aisle in white before.

Author's Note:

So here we have a negotiation chapter. This is one of those chapters that is nobodies favorite, but which has to happen. Enjoy.