Disclaimer: I don't own WOW. Blizzard does. When I get a job, maybe I'll try them.

Chapter 4: Proclamation

Prompted not to venture outside the safety of Grommash Hold until Thrall had properly informed the populace of Seth's new involvement, the stranger in white had obligingly accepted the Warchief's hospitality. Now, relatively safe and at ease inside a chamber Thrall's subordinates had provided for him, Seth took a moment to analyze his new surroundings. One passing glance at his new accommodations was proof that he was still not exactly welcome among the Orcs.

The chamber was stone and wood, displaying the same construction scheme he had seen since coming inside he city. It was cool, he could say that much, but carried all the welcoming ambiance of a prison cell. He could walk the entire length of the chamber with three strides. There was a cot set up in a corner along the right wall, the room's sole piece of furniture. There were no windows, though had there been, Seth was sure they would have been barred. There was only one door, one way in and out, and Seth was quite certain that there were guards posted outside the portal to ensure he did not leave before Thrall returned. Finding nothing else to do besides wait, Seth settled down on the cot, his hands clasped behind his head, and he took stock of his situation.

His first mission was more or less accomplished. He had arrived in Durotar and convinced the Orcs to help him. In his mind, this was more progress than he had dreamed. He had originally thought more cajoling would be necessary to enlist the Orcs to fight against Kil'jaeden. In addition, Seth had finally been able to witness the great city of Orgrimmar, and he had learned so much already. As the construction of the city indicated, what the Orcs lacked in style the made up for in practicality. They were not the ruthless, bloodthirsty monsters they were made out to be. They were not creatures of devoid of compassion and camaraderie. Already, from both the behavior of his two escorts, and the exchange with the Warchief, Seth had seen that they were an incredibly proud race, loathe to accept aid, and even less inclined to give it. From what he had studied of Orcish history, (what little there was to be found,) the Orcs simply suffered from a terrible mistake, one that was willingly inflicted upon the hapless race by individuals seeking even greater power. The Orcs were not to blame, only those whose greed led them all to damnation were responsible for the cruel fate this proud race had been forced to endure. Though he was human, and most would rightly think he should fight the orcs on principle, he could not bring himself to hate them. Rather, he admired the tenacious spirit and almost indomitable will of these very complex beings.

Where a normal human would have been shaking in fear in the same instance, or blindly screaming righteous threats at the orcs, he was filled with a deep sense of curiosity, and now that he thought about it, a large amount of fatigue. It had taken him several months to get this far, this deep into "hostile" territory, and now, the long nights were pressing in upon him. While not the most comfortable of locations, at least there was a roof over his head, and it was cool inside the stone as opposed to the sweltering heat of the dusty land outside. He continued to contemplate until he closed his eyes and drifted away to dream.

While Seth was contained within the stronghold, Thrall made his way to the Valley of Spirits, where he would address the greater bulk of the orcs within the city. Though he knew his position as Warchief would quell many doubts within the ranks, he knew that loyalties would be stretched and some faith would be lost. Allying with the humans was something the orcs used daily to compare something with impossibility. To them, an alliance with the humans was very much akin to expecting a blizzard in the Tanaris desert. He knew convincing them to go along with this stranger would be a daunting task in itself, one that many of the older orcs would consider sheer lunacy.

Still, Thrall could find no fault in Seth's sincerity. He had seen no trace of deceit in the human's odd eyes, only a fierce pride and determination, of a caliber even few orcs could attest to. No matter how he wanted it to be true, he could not bring himself to believe that Seth was a liar. His shaman and warrior instincts urged him to believe the wanderer, and beyond his personal feelings, there was the fate of the Horde to consider.

Though Seth's information, and the methods he had somehow used to acquire it, were suspicious, he could not fault the truth of the matter. Kil'jaeden, last of the Demon-Lords, and the key to forever shattering the Burning Legion, was planning yet another siege against the world. And now, as if the demons were not enough, the Horde would have to deal with the will of the Scourge, the enigmatic Lich King himself. Thrall knew next to nothing about the powerful entity that dwelled in the icy shadows of Northrend, but he knew firsthand the savage hunger of the undead.

Flanked by four of his elite guard, Thrall walked at the head the column toward the Valley of Spirits. The orcs did not hide behind others of their race, and as leader, he always was at the front of any party he led. This was not simply of pride, but of loyalty. Any orc who served with him would be seen as equal. Every life of every orc was sacred to the Warchief, and he would be the one to take the first attack from any enemy. So he walked tall, followed by his Orcish entourage, toward a raised platform from where he would address his people.

The majority of Orgrimmar's Orcish population had been gathered in the valley, with the exceptions of those vendors who chose not to leave their shops. In addition, visiting Tauren and Trolls also gathered among the crowd to witness the Warchief's speech, and already, speculative whispers were circulating the crowd. Some were furtive rumors of the state of the human brought in earlier, while other were in regards to mundane aspects of daily life. When Thrall finally took his place atop the stone slab, and looked out over the multitude of orcs, all noise within the valley instantly went silent, as all heads turned toward the Leader of the Horde, and waited for him to begin.

"My brothers and sisters," shouted Thrall, his powerful voice reverberating against the canyon walls and circling the valley, "I come before you today to speak of events in the outside world. I speak of enemies which would threaten our lands, the lands which we have fought and bled for to claim."

Thrall paused and thought how best to phrase his next sentence. His people deserved know about the interloper who had come with such grave news about the world, and the role Thrall was about to ask them all to play.

"A stranger has come to us, with word of evils who would take what is ours by right. A human has come among us, and asked us for help."

At the mention of the human, a muffled cry of disbelief rose from the crowd, accompanied by grunts and howls of disapproval and anger. Some of the malice was directed at the thought that a human had come to the Orcs seeking aid. Most was directed toward the human just because he was inside the walls Orgrimmar. Thrall was not surprised at the almost overwhelming consensus toward their visitor, but he had already made a deal with the wanderer, and would not betray the trust placed upon him.

"I know that many of you are unwilling to accept this human, but the word he brings is dire. He speaks of demons, and the undead, who even now conspire to destroy the world."

"Why did he not ask his precious human allies?" shouted one boisterous orc from somewhere in the crowd. "Why should we, or any of the Horde care about humans and their war?"

"Because the demons and the undead are enemies of all Azeroth!" retorted the Warchief, in one sentence silencing any other disagreement with his decision. After the assembled crowd had quieted somewhat, Thrall continued.

"The Demon-Lord, Kil'jaeden, has returned to Azeroth, and he will use whatever means necessary to conquer this world once more. Even using the former members of the Horde."

As a collective murmur of speculation rippled through the congregation, Thrall understood what the stranger had meant. Though Torgan had been right, and no Horde member would join the Burning Legion, there were other orcs throughout the world. The converted, subjugated orc members of the Burning Blade, practitioners of warlock magicks and necromantic rituals were one example. The wayward members of the shattered Dragonmaw Clan of the Eastern Kingdoms were another. And of course, the demon-worshipping Blackrock Clan, who Thrall knew was still a mighty force of orcs, blindly clinging to the forbidden demonic power. Any of these would gladly join the demon in his fight against the Lich King. Even more disturbing was Seth's talk of "as long as the Warchief lived." There were some within Orgrimmar who contested Thrall, though none opened challenged the Leader of the Horde. However, if those few had some form outside energy, Thrall knew that some of his enemies would enjoy watching him fall.

"We are not strong enough to fight against the undead and the Burning Legion. Not alone, and not even with the aid of our fierce Tauren and Troll allies are we a match for the combined strength of their evil armies."

Thrall felt no shame as he admitted this. He was a wise enough tactician to know that although the Orcs were without equal in cunning ferocity, he knew the unholy power of the adversaries he now considered engaging.

"This stranger knows much, and he has come to me with a plan. Many of you will dislike it, but I say that it is the only way that we can triumph over the demons." Thrall took a deep breath, and prepared for the storm his next phrase would bring.

"We must join forces with the humans once again. Only then will be able to save our land of Durotar."

The Warchief was not disappointed. Instantly, a cacophony of howls and roars of denial and rage rang throughout the valley. The canyon walls echoed the cries back and forth, the air pounding with the Orc's discontent.

"SILENCE!" roared Thrall, his great voice crying out over the din of his people, silencing their anger and frustration in an instant. Glaring at them all through eyes blazing with purpose and conviction, the Warchief drew himself up and looked again at his people, intending to drive home the meaning of his decision.

"Once in the past, our two races set aside our differences to combat a common foe. Together, we were able to defeat a force which had destroyed entire worlds. None here can deny the power of the humans, as the human cannot dismiss the Might of the Horde!"

At this, the shouts of anger began to give way to murmurs of approval.

"The Horde protects what is ours, and shows no mercy to those who would take what is ours!"

The murmurs gave way to cries of encouragement.

"We will stand together against the Demon-Lord, and we will show who truly is the Master of our destiny!"

The orcs began to grunt and roar louder and louder as the Warchief built them closer to the climax. All around the valley, the air began to crackle with excitement, as Orc, Tauren, and Troll stood in awe of the Warchief high upon the stone platform. As the Horde looked on in wonder, the Warchief raised his fists into the sky, his eyes blazing, and his voice bellowing out his cry…

"VICTORY, TO THE HORDE!"

The warcry echoed throughout the canyon walls, bouncing back and forth as the crowd started chanting in unison. The walls of Orgrimmar shook with the combined might of the orc's voices, and the air cracked with the power of their spirit and will.

"VICTORY, VICTORY, VICTORY!"

And through it all, nestled in a small chamber of Grommash Hold, a lone figure listened with his heart glowing and golden eyes shining. Then quietly, to himself, he whispered…

"Victory, to the Horde…"

I'm getting pumped up! I hope you are enjoying this, because I am, immensely. So now we have the tentative support of the Horde. Will Thrall be able to convince them to follow Seth? Will Seth be able to make the orcs trust Him? All this and more, coming soon, so stay tuned!