Ranger General

by J CAE

After Illidan's defeat, his servitors were hunted daily by the Scourge. They never thought their rescuer would be Kael's former ranger general who wanted much more than revenge. COMPLETED

9. Merciless

RANGER GENERAL by J CAE

A/N: I had my worst week ever in the years of my life. Life sucks, I mean how would you react if you woke up feeling totally worthless one morning, and then some of your really treasured stuff got stolen by people you know (I live in a dorm that sucks) and later your computer broke down? It was like all within the same week...ow man. Oh by the way it's my 19th birthday on Oct 11. Say happy birthday to cheer me up.

CHAPTER SEVEN: MERCILESS

Sylvanas's senses returned.

She was still trapped in Kil'jaeden's torture chamber. Blood seeped from her wounds, creating dark puddles on the floor where she laid. She knew those wounds would never close--that she would never stop bleeding until she was drained. She tried to move, but could not.

"Ugh!"

Just when she thought it was over, she felt a cold blade through her leg bone.

"Speak!" barked a voice.

Her vision blurred and she could no longer distinguish his features. But she knew it was still Alanen--still, the victor.

~~~~

"Do not let them break your will. There will be no turning back." Through her deafening pain, she could hear Ner'zhul speaking.

"Why you!" she flung her anger at the lich king. "You seem to enjoy watching me suffer."

"Perhaps."

She was about to shout at him again when his words registered in her mind.

"I had been through these days. But you are luckier than I--for I was without hope."

"Remember Kael'thas. He would never forsake you. Do not forsake him."

~~~~

Her tortured cry trailed off to a low wail.

"Do you feel this, wretched Undead?" Kil'jaeden asked--he was there in the chamber as well. The dark ranger held on longer than he expected. Her will was strong--she reminded him of Ner'zhul. Very well, he would give her the same treatment as he Ner'zhul.

"There is a way to end the pain. I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself now. Serve me, and I will end your suffering."

Alanen gripped tightly around his victim's ankle and crushed the bones between.

Sylvanas choked on her own saliva when she tried to protest, "...no..."

"No to what?" Kil'jaeden showed amusement. "No to serving me? Or no to the pain?" He saw that she was breaking, her spirit was falling apart.

"The pain..." she uttered, almost lapsing into unconsciousness again. "No more...please..."

She was begging now. It would be easy to defeat her.

"Say it," Kil'jaeden tempted. "Would you serve me?"

"I..."

She was here for a reason--she would not waste her chance. Oh, if only this pain would end...

"I will...serve you, Master."

Kil'jaeden laughed, "Good." It took Ner'zhul eight days to realize with that stupid orc brain of his that there was no point in struggling. But this...elf was definitely smarter. He ordered Alanen away, and left her with a threat, "But you had better put your heart into it."

*~*~*~*

The Blood Elven prince collapsed beside a puddle of dirty water--only a few inches away he would have been bathing his face in the mud. He let exhaustion take over. Hope slipped from him like fine sand through fingers. He could have rescued Sylvanas. He could have taken her far away from danger. But he lost his chance. He was not strong enough.

And now, he was drained of will and energy.

There was no telling what horrors she might face in the demonlord's torture chamber. Compared to his own anguish, hers must be ten thousand times worse. Oh, how by the Highest Light could he have failed?

"Pitiful."

Someone approached. He need not look up to know that it was Illidan. Whatever did that Night Elf renegade have in mind no longer concerned him.

"Finish me," Kael uttered, refusing to pick himself up from the ground. "Do it, if this is what you truly wish."

"Now, this becomes gloomy, Kael," Illidan crouched beside him. "You would not even fight for a chance to live? You would not assault the Demonlord's walls for a chance to rescue Sylvanas?"

Kael tossed his head up and glared at the demon hunter in disbelief--the one who put him in misery and Sylvanas in grave danger, would turn around so soon? But Illidan was a double-edged sword. He was not to be trusted. "You would mock me now?"

"Your Blood Elves are loyal to you," Illidan ignored the hostility in his voice. "And I could make the Naga return to aid you if you wish."

"What has that to do with you?"

"Everything." Illidan shook his head and smiled as if Kael was a lost child standing in the dark, "I know. It's been a while since you drank from Kil'jaeden's fount of power. Your withdrawal symptoms are returning again, and you feel like you are losing power. You are tired and hungry now--lacking in motivation until you can find another source of energy."

Kael got up from the floor and stepped back, "I do not want to hear your voice. Get away from me." But every word that the demon hunter had said was true--he just refused to admit.

"The satyrs are ready to serve me at my command," the demon hunter only stated matter-of-factly. "I know where the Demonlord's citadel is, and I know its weakness. It is worth trying, is it not?"

"Illidan," Kael fought the complicated feelings in his mind. "Why? Whom do you serve?"

"Me."

The blunt honestly alarmed Kael.

"Remember the Lich King," Illidan did not give him a chance to speak. "The Demonlord granted him power--he used it to break away and he gained more than he could ever imagine. If we could help Sylvanas break out, she'd become a block of power that we could draw from her. Think about it, if we help her..."

"You would help me rescue Sylvanas...so that you could turn her into a Sunwell?" Kael frowned at the idea. Illidan might very well be his only chance if he were to free Sylvanas, but to use her that way...

"That is the deal," the demon hunter confirmed.

"I do not trust you," Kael turned and tried to run.

"Stand there, Kael! I'd only offer my hand once!"

The prince halted.

*~*~*~*

In the dead of the night when it became too dark to travel, the Blood Elves stopped by the side of a lake to recoup their strength. Their lieutenant, even though given orders to lead the men on, dared not advance too quickly for fear of losing the prince.

And it had been five days.

Hope was getting thinner for the Blood Elves. Search parties were sent but they all returned empty-handed. They were worried what had become of Kael--he had said he was going back, but where to? He could be anywhere.

Though the lieutenant knew Kael would most likely have gone back for Sylvanas, it still availed them nothing. Many Undead corpses were found in the forest. No signs of Kael, nor his dark ranger.

It was about time the last search party should return.

Night watch guards alerted.

"Prince Kael! By the Highest Light!"

The Blood Elven Lieutenant ran to greet him, "My prince! We were looking all over for you--wait. You're hurt. What happened?"

Dark clouds moved away to let moonlight shine on Kael's face--almost as pallid as the moon itself. There was a bruise on his cheek and a cut on his forehead. Sorrow was written all over his face--but so was determination.

"Lieutenant, rally up whatever forces you can get your hands on. Be prepared to move out by dawn." Kael wasted no time. Dwelling on his failure would kill him inside again.

"Where are we going?" when the Blood Elves started to realize what was going to happen, they asked.

"Kil'jaeden has Sylvanas. We will march into his citadel and save her," he urged. "Now hurry--" He paused when no one moved. They were not with him. They were afraid upon hearing the Demonlord's name--or rather, they were wise.

He named a few of his generals and lieutenants. None of them were willing to face the Demonlord in war--they all knew it was suicide.

"Milord, we love you, and would serve you as best we can," said one of the generals. "But this...you're asking us to kill ourselves."

"Very well then," Kael became frustrated, but not from the men's frights--it was their lack of compassion. "You may stay here and watch me give my life if I have to. And I will."

The Blood Elves knelt before him in unison. They were given two hard choices to make. To doom their lives--or their names?

"She is just an Undead, my lord. Forgive me for saying this," said another. "But you would rather more living men die in the hands of the Demonlord for one woman who's already dead?"

"Sylvanas--she was one of you!" the prince found himself raising his temper. "She did this so that we could have a chance to be free from demonic corruption, so that we could rebuild our homes! Say it! Who here thinks you deserve a new home if sacrificing the woman who set us free means nothing to you?"

The Elves were quiet.

"Very well then," Kael turned his back. "I will go on my own."

"Prince Kael, please don't," the Blood Elves cried, still unwilling to volunteer themselves. He let them wallow in their frustration.

News from the watch guards broke the ice, "The Forsaken, milord!"

Varimathras arrived with what was left of the Forsaken--no more than two hundred. He bowed at Kael.

"We are ready to fight by your side, elven prince," said the Nathrezim. "What worse fate but eternal doom of the Demonlord? We are prepared for whatever circumstances."
"Thank you, my friend," Kael eyed him curiously. Was this not the same Varimathras who crawled away from the battle and left Sylvanas to fend for herself?

"I owe this to the Dark Lady," Varimathras seemed to have read his mind. "I abandoned her. I must do this for her now."

"Your help is greatly appreciated," Kael nodded gratefully. He was desperately in need of forces. Two hundred cowards were better than none at all.

*~*~*~*

"Vashj, I see that your wounds have healed quite well enough."
"Lord Illidan, we missed you. Where have you been?" the Sea Witch awakened to the demon hunter's psychic call.

Another vision.

Vashj had not seen any signs of the lord she served ever since she was put in the healing bay deep in the ocean--she had not seen the light of day at all. And now he called to her, and she must heed him.

"Rally up your army and come to me at once. We would attack Kil'jaeden's citadel."

It took the Sea Witch a few seconds to respond, "This has to be a joke."

"It is not a joke. Come to me immediately."

"My Naga will not fight the Demonlord," she declared dryly. "My Lord Illidan, we'd do anything for you, but we will not fight the Demonlord."

"Do not forget that you Naga owe me a life debt. I've fought and bled with you against the Night Elves, and yet you abandoned me to my death when I was most in need. Is that how you'd repay me? You'd have to die for me if I command it."

"But we cannot possibly fight against the Demonlord--we would need a miracle to..."

"And there will be a miracle!" Illidan assured her coldly.

*~*~*~*

Two days later, Illidan arrived at Kael's crude encampment with the satyrs and the Naga.

"Vashj!" Kael was almost delighted to see the Sea Witch recovered again--though she still refrained from using her left arm where an arrow had penetrated through her shoulder. Her medicine woman had done a fine job.

"Greetings, Kael," Vashj's tone was rather civil. "Lord Illidan and the Naga have come to aid you on your quest."

With the army that Illidan had bolstered, their number exceeded a thousand. The Demonlord's forces still quadrupled theirs and probably much more. Their chances were, in spite of it all, thin.

Yet cunning as he was, Illidan had come up with a plan.

"The Demonlord considers me a servitor," the demon hunter said. "He might suspect something, but he would never realize what I am up to until it is too late."

"We cannot fight his forces head on--we'd have to use some other way," he continued. "There is a fount of life a mile west from here. Gather up all containers you can find--vials, skins, buckets, cups. Fill them with life-blessed waters."

"You mean to flood the..." Kael immediately realized the plan.

"Yes," Illidan nodded quickly. "If we are swift enough, we do not even need to fight."

But the Forsaken seemed doubtful.

Varimathras stepped forward and pointed out, "But the waters would kill us--and yourself as well, undead elf."

"And Sylvanas too, dreadlord," Illidan acknowledged his argument. "So we must be careful. Listen. I know where she is held, even though we would have to fight our way through several security gates to reach her. But with the place flooded, only Kael and Vashj could reach her. I can instruct you on her position but you are on your own. As for you Forsaken and myself, we will cause some diversion--and be prepared to back them up with our lives."

"Another problem," Kael sighed. "The Blood Elves are not with me."

"Ah," Illidan turned his glared at the line Blood Elves that, a moment ago were so determined to talk their prince out of this crazy rescue attempt, seemed to shrink back from the authority in his gaze. "Why is that so? Your people are not willing to fight for one of their sisters when the satyrs, the Naga and the Forsaken are all set to move out? Get this into your heads, Blood Elves, you would not stop your prince. Would you leave him to die? It would do you no good if he was killed and raised."

The Elves stood in shock.

Then, one of the lieutenants stepped forward, "I would follow my lord to whatever end."

And the rest of the Blood Elves followed suit until even the very reluctant ones felt too ashamed to stay.

*~*~*~*

Kil'jaeden and Alanen watched Sylvanas from their high tower. Since the Demonlord granted to her a little of his power, she fell into unconsciousness and had not awakened since. Alanen was beginning to doubt if she had died already.

"She is as good as garbage now," he commented, shaking his head at the sight. "I doubt she can ever stand again, not to mention, fight."

"She cannot, Alanen," Kil'jaeden replied. "And I intend to keep it that way."

"But how could she kill Ner'zhul then?"

"The same way Ner'zhul turned around and bit me."

"Telepathy?"

"Yes," the Demonlord answered, turning his back towards Alanen. "She has great potential--even greater than your own. Do not give me that face--" even without looking, he already could tell that the human was disappointed when he said that. How could one whom he defeated ever have higher potential than he?

Alanen did not answer. He just listened.

"She has the power to enslave a great army--she could control the lich king's own forces as well," Kil'jaeden continued. "But this time I will not allow her to even think of straying from my side. I have given her a seed of my power--it roots in her heart and entangles her soul. It would cause her terrible pain--a constant reminder of where her loyalty should lie. When it blooms, she would unleash her full potential--that is when she would destroy the lich king."

"How soon would that be, Master?" Alanen asked. His thoughts drifted to his young daughter again. Oh, how he missed her! How long did he still have to wait before he could recue her?

"It would take about...six months, possibly less, if she does not resist my powers." Then, as if reading his servitor's mind, Kil'jaeden assured him, "Ner'zhul would not dare touch Elma while I am on your side."

Their conversation was cut short by a messenger who came running, "Master!"

In rage, Kil'jaeden raised his hand to smite him for interrupting but he yelped, "No, wait! The halls are flooded with water of life!"

"What? Who could--?" And the Demonlord narrowed his terrible golden eyes--he knew. Illidan.

Illidan had grown much more daring after his death--he seemed to think there was nothing to lose after losing his life, but he would soon know. That brainless whelp! When would he finally see that there was no point in trying to overthrow a demonlord who was so much more powerful?

He and Alanen hurried to the scene. Satyrs swarmed into the flooded halls through knee-high water, swinging their blades at the guards who tried to stop them. Life energies were strong--they charred the doom guards while replenishing the strength of the satyrs. Kil'jaeden created a cushion of air beneath him to lift himself clear out of the water. He unleashed his power and gave the traitors terrible deaths. But he paused suddenly when he felt a chill sweep down his back.

He turned around to find the Betrayer standing on a dragon turtle with an empty bucket in hands, smiling back at him.

The life water found its way through Kil'jaeden's dead muscles into his bows, working to eradicate all evidences of death. Its effect weakened him, but it was not enough to kill him. He hurled a blow at Illidan, who just managed to avoid it by a hair.

Satyr warriors backed their leader up by throwing water of life on the Demonlord from all directions. Kil'jaeden tried to stop them, but he could not block the life energies coiling around him. Alanen tried his best to defend his master--yet his powers had also diminished.

"Now, you taste my wrath, demonlord!" Illidan let out a laugh of ecstasy. "After all you've put me through, this is but a small price to pay!"

"You will...regret!" Kil'jaeden's roar exploded one of the satyrs into pieces. He teleported Alanen out to safety, but stayed behind to fight. He had to kill this betrayer with his own hands--he had to rip him apart piece by piece!
He breathed in deeply and exhaled with deliberate force, knocking Illidan off the back of the turtle into the water. Life burned the demon hunter's decaying flesh. He took a step back and drew his curved blades--it was time to even the score.

*~*~*~*

Kael'thas and Vashj broke through the second gate--but more guards came out to greet them. Four gates, they were told. Sylvanas was fenced behind four gates and guarded by a hundred or more defenders. Was one undead elf worth so much attention? Unless the Demonlord had special plans for her.

"Flood!" Vashj shouted her command.

The Naga poured water to the floor from their containers. Life energy expanded quickly, finding its way to heal around the compartment.

The Sea Witch spun around to fire at a doom guard that approached her--lucky she was more nimble in water. She slipped away from him when he tried to grab her and returned another cold arrow from behind him, piercing through the weak part of his armour. He was floored instantly.

Kael and his Blood Elves rushed forward to meet blood fiends and fel warriors in battle.

He set a fel orc warlock in flames--the demon tried to cool himself in the life water, but it only brought him more agony. Other defenders came to surround the elves but were knocked back by a tornado of life energy.

Kael nodded gratefully at Vashj.

"Are you all right?" she asked him. He had become so pale--drained and nauseated from magic use. The life water could replenish his strength, but not his void.

"I am." Damn his weakness. He would hold on for Sylvanas's sake.

The gate was cleared.

"Leave these guards to us!" Vashj cried. "Seize the gate, Kael!"

The Blood Elven prince was more than obliged to take her suggestion.

The third gate had fallen.

Only the fourth laid ahead, but they had to pass through another number of defenders.

New warriors arrived.

"Ner'zhul's men!" Vashj gasped in horror. "Brace yourselves!"

It was Anub'arak and his dead minions--what were they doing here? "Stand down," the crypt lord said calmly. "We received orders from the lich king himself to aid the Dark Lady."

"Why would he want to do that?" Kael questioned.

"Worry about that after you get her back," Anub'arak gave him an advice.

Any backup would favour them in this situation. Even if it was from the same enemy who destroyed his homeland.

Anub'arak's forces clashed with the demonlord's own--and Kael suddenly realized that the crypt lord and his men were standing in the life water, letting it suck death away from them. It would be a matter of minutes before they would kill themselves! Why were they doing this? Why? Why would Ner'zhul send his men out here to suffer and die unless he wanted Sylvanas for himself? No! They must never have her!

"Prince Kael! Behind you!"

He stepped aside to avoid an diabolist's blow. No, he could not do this anymore. He was tired. He wanted to stop...

He siphoned some mana from his enemy to wake himself.

So tired...

So very tired...

Why? Did Vashj not share his exhaustion? Why could she still fight? Why could...

He felt the world swirl around him. His mind was a mess. Sweat matted his blond hair and trickled down his brows. He closed his eyes for a second and tried to focus.

He would hang on.

A blood fiend crept up behind him and raised his axe.

He held still.

"Kael, what are you doing?" Vashj was ready to shoot down the demon.

A bright figure of flames descended from the ceiling--it spread its fiery wings and crowed. Fire poured down on the defenders, melting them down. Kael knew it would take all his energy to will the phoenix. He would do it if it was the last thing he could do.

"Hurry and assault the final gate," Anub'arak urged. "New forces are coming."

The Blood Elves and the Naga attacked the final barrier--and successfully broke through.

*~*~*~*

Kael darted into the torture chamber. Sylvanas was curled up on the floor like a small injured animal. No signs of that general who once fought for Quel'thalas, nor the dark ranger who promised to help him rebuild their kingdom with her life. She had been tortured badly enough and drained of will.

And he was too. Like a phoenix he fought, incinerating himself to the maximum--he wore out quickly.

He staggered towards her. He could see her suffering. Her legs were deformed and bleeding--bones were out of place. The sight of her battered face and bloodied body brought pain to his heart. Her eyes were downcast and showed not of the energy she once possessed. Nor the charm.

He approached and touched her gently on the shoulder. A feeble moan escaped her lips as she drew back.

"Sylvanas," he whispered. "It's me."

"Who..." she struggled to lift her head, "Who are you? Please don't hurt me..." There was so much pain in her now hoarse voice, so much fear.

"Look at me, please!" he pleaded. "I won't hurt you. I'm Kael." He prayed that the Demonlord had not broken her spirit as he did her body.

"...Kael," a sob escaped her throat as she tested the name on her chapped lips. Kael. He had come for her. But how was this possible? She put her arms around him, feeling to see if he was there at all--and he noticed all that was left of her left hand were bloodied bones--she was missing two fingers as well. "Kael...is it really you?"

"Yes. I've come to rescue you," he lifted her carefully, keeping her cleanly above the life water. No time for sentiments. He needed to get her out of danger.

He exited the room just in time to see Anub'arak collapse on his side. The water had sucked all death out of the crypt lord.

"Thank you, my friend," he whispered.

Many of the lich king's forces had also seized moving.

To the Blood Elves and the Naga Warriors, he declared, "I have her now. Retreat!"

And he and ten elven guards he selected earlier teleported out of the Demonlord's citadel. As for the Naga and the rest of the Blood Elves, they would remain behind and find their way to aid Illidan.

The demon hunter had better be still standing.

*~*~*~*

Varimathras could see blue runes forming atop his necropolis. Kael and his men should be coming in--it would mean that their quest was successful. However, they were not the only guests--a band of the Demonlord's warriors were marching into their encampment as well. Without thinking twice, the dreadlord led his men forward to meet the enemy in battle. They had to buy precious time Kael needed.

Another Nathrezim, Opoha, came into view. He recognized Varimathras and screeched, "Betrayer of the Legion! You would strike down your brothers for a woman's sake! You are no Nathrezim!"

"I despise your kind," Varimathras spat, "The moment I figured there were others more powerful is the moment I cut all ties with the Nathrezim." It sounded almost painful to his own ears, but there was some truth in it. He had no more love for the Burning Legion after witnessing what they were capable of doing--as if he ever had any love for them at all.

To his warriors, he commanded, "Charge!" The Forsaken obeyed him in unison. There were more soldiers on the other side, but the Forsaken all aimed for one thing--to protect their Dark Lady, to repay a debt they owed for abandoning her to her fate. Like a herd of mad bulls, the Forsaken charged right through their wall of death. Their morale intimidated the Demonlord's forces.

Kael and his elven warriors appeared--Sylvanas was in the prince's arm. Varimathras caught a glimpse of her but kept on fighting. The Forsaken were falling all around him. There were too many doom guards and such. Not even when Kael ordered his ten men to their assistance could they turn the wheel around.

It was so hopeless...

But Varimathras swore never to fail the Dark Lady again.

"So you have come to bring the wretched woman out?" Opoha laughed. "It is no use. She belongs to Kil'jaeden now. He has already left a mark on her."

"What are you saying?" Varimathras flared. Was this meant to be an insult?

Opoha ignored his rage--a fatal mistake, "She carries it inside of her. No matter where she chooses to run, it will always stay there! Soon, she will begin to change into the perfect death, and..."

Varimathras punched him in the jaw to silence him and grabbed him by the neck. He tried to struggle but Varimathras would not let him. Opoha tried to stab him in his opponent's eyes but got his nose instead--no matter. Pained and bleeding, Varimathras thrust him to the ground hard. The dreadlords engaged in battle again--Varimathras called infernals to his side.

Kael shielded Sylvanas as he raced for the nearest shelter--a farmhouse. He set her on the floor and closed every window and door he could find. The room smelled like hay, but he cared little.

"Varimathras..." Sylvanas hissed--through her pain all she could so was whisper. "He's still...with us...?" Seeing the dreadlord fight for her name touched her. He had not betrayed her to serve a new master. His will had grown stronger.

"Yes, he fights for you," Kael nodded, checking on her wounds in more detail. She was beyond repair--he had no skills to help her. Perhaps Mondelv the Undead healer might come up with something. But that would have to wait until after the battle, provided that he survived.

"Kael... I'm so sorry," she stretched her hand towards him--he took it in his own instinctively. "I'm so sorry." And emotions washed over her--even though she did not cry, he could see pain and remorse on her bloodied face.

"You've done nothing to apologize for."

"You...heard them..." her speech became no more than a breath, "I have...let Kil'jaeden defeat me."

She fell into unconsciousness, leaving Kael with his sorrow.

Outside, clashes of blades and fists still shrouded the area.

Varimathras roared as shattered his enemies one by one. As if possessed by some unbelievable power, he fought with the strength of a hundred men...

*~*~*~*

End of Part I

*~*~*~*

COMING UP NEXT in Part II: Gasp! Why did Varimathras become so strong suddenly (*hint* = Kil'jaeden & Alanen's conversation right before the citadel was flooded)? Would Syl be loyal to Kael or the Demonlord or get stuck somewhere in between? And finally, the million dollar question: would Ner'zhul die in the end after all that he'd done? Stay tuned.

Aaaand a lil something for the evil Kael fangirls:

J Cae: I lurv you, Kael *slurp*. Marry me and we'll have three thousand kids *drools*.

Kael: Um, no. We...don't really have any common interest, like you're a human and I'm an elf, you're a real lunatic and I'm a made-up character, and you won't live long enough to, you know...(this girl needs help).

J Cae: We do have a common interest.

Kael: Like?

J Cae: *whispers in Kael's ear*

Kael: *blushes* Er...nope (she's right, actually). Happy birthday anyways, J. *runs away*

J Cae: Heh (knew it).

What did I say to Kael? If you are a true evil Kael fangirl you KNOW it in the bottom of your hearts! But if you aren't sure, it'll be somewhere in chapter nine. He promised me a birthday present ^_^.

*~*~*~*

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks reviewers. Haha, I'm breaking my own review record with every new review. Up to 50 now.

Rowan Seven: Thanks for the huge review. FF.net do eat up some words sometimes, so don't worry about it. Yup, actually I was struggling a bit when it came to Kael's age. He's supposed to be young, but there's no game manual for FT to say exactly how young he is...I didn't think he could be ten thousand years old at first, but see how he recognized Night Elves immediately when he saw one? I don't know. You might be right about it. Thanks for the link. I should say I want to save Sylvanas's soul in my fic as well--see what she's trying to do in the upcoming WOW storyline? I have a bad feeling about it, and I'll hate her if she became another ultimately evil bad girl. And must say I was really shocked--it was not the evil Orcs somewhere in Lordaeron who would form an alliance with the Forsaken--but THRALL himself!! Jeez, what the heck is going on? Kil'jaeden...point taken. I haven't given him too much care. Probably because I definitely have no love for him...*sigh* whatever.

Ira Poon: Ner'zhul, IMO, is not totally evil. I mean, sure he did all those evil things and turned Arthas into a b*stard and Sylvanas into an undead, but he DID regret leading the Orcs to their doom, and he tried to get them out of trouble--and that is why he ended up tortured and then trapped in the Frozen Throne. I think if Sylvanas (or anybody else) is trying to get her people away from the Burning Legion, Ner'zhul would understand. Ah ha you've updated. Sorry I wasn't feeling up to anything so I haven't read it yet. But will do.

randh13th: Actually I wasn't the first one who spotted the smiliarties between Syl and Kerrigan, but I totally agree with that. I just wish Blizzard would come up with something different?!

San: Thanks. Appreciate it.

KawaiiNekoOfDoom: Thanks for reading.