Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own WOW. I would like a date with a night elf though.

Author Note: A few things before we continue. First of all, thanks for everyone's reviews. They have inspired me to continue. That's the good news. The bad news is… I DIDN'T PLAY THE GAME ENOUGH!

Sadly, my experience is limited to the starting areas for pretty much all the races, with only several forays into the higher level areas, and those mostly for the Alliance. For reasons beyond my control, I am unable to continue first-hand research on the World of Warcraft. I will make due with the information I have, but please do not get discouraged if I take a little too long to update, or if the story starts moving to slowly. I only do this to enrich the experience of my readers. Thank you so much my adoring public!

(crickets chirping)

Oookaay. Oh that's right, I don't have much of a public yet. But for all you die hard fans that support me, you guys rock! On that note, on with the story!

Chapter 4: Preparation and Departure

Her hair was flaxen silk, soft and shining in the dying light. It moved about her heavenly face like a halo of clouds and sunshine. Carried on the wind was a silvery laugh of the purest simple glee, full of life and pixie-like happiness. She turned toward him, with a sparkling light in her eyes, and flashed a bewitching yet innocent smile. He began to move forward, reaching out to her, wanting so much to gather her close, to feel the warmth of her soul flow through him, to energize him, to make him feel alive. She was so close he could almost touch her.

He reached her side, and instantly, everything changed. The world grew dark, the sky split with flashes of red fire, and a great rumbling of the earth cut through the quiet scene, sending his senses reeling as if hit by a physical blow. Cries could be heard in the night sky, screams of pain and anguish, wails of fear and horror. Yet when he looked down, his heart shattered like broken glass. His love, his treasure, his reason for living lay broken and bloodied in his arms, her white-gold hair listless and dull, flecked with her own blood. Her head lolled to one side, her eyes were closed, yet her face was pained and tear-streaked. Disbelieving, he laid her back upon the ground, and saw the blood on his hands.

Pain came then, searing through his mind like a fiery brand. His skull seeming to split from the indescribable pain, he screamed and screamed until his voice ran hoarse. Then, just before he went unconscious, he heard a voice cutting though the agony.

"You've freed us all."

Seth awoke in a cold sweat, his white robes damp and slick from the horror of his nightmare. As he waited there, his heart slowing from its erratic pounding, his breath returning to his lungs, he cradled his face in his hands, struggling to regain control and composure. The dreams were not as common as they once had been, but they still came, and each time they dredged up new memories. Memories that he had locked away into a dark part of his heart.

Seth knew that the truth would become known sooner or later, but he had to be sure of his goal first. The details of his oath could wait. He only hoped the Orcs would be cooperative. Their aid was vital to his success, and to their own personal benefit. As he sat there in the uncomfortable stone chamber, body and soul awash with fear and anguish, a single tear escaped his amber eye and rolled down his cheek; A final tribute to a life long since lost and forgotten.

The dawn came quietly upon a red world, rousing the Orcs from their slumber. Though Orgrimmar bustled with activity through day and night, the dawn was still the quietest time of the day. It was at this time that the first horn was sounded, a giant hollowed-out tusk from an ancient Kodo beast. Its low, blasting sound roused the inhabitants of Orgrimmar, signaling the start of another day at work. There was no time for idleness in Durotar. Two inhabitants of the city needed no such call to wake them. Both were restless, and the night had offered little peace for either. For Seth, it had been the dreams, and his own anticipation laced with excitement. For Thrall, it was another reason entirely.

His night had been spent in preparation. Scouting parties were assembled and completed just before the break of dawn. Following the Warchief's proclamation to the city, he had set in motion two separate groups of orcs with multiple elements and several different tasks. One of these groups, composed of nearly a hundred able-bodied Orcs, would be sent out in smaller groups to gather information on demon and undead movements. Their mission was twofold; first, to verify if Sethrezin's information was in fact truthful, and second, to learn the true scope of their presence in Kalimdor. With any luck, perhaps the early stages of this new battle could be predicted and any weaknesses or vulnerabilities could be exploited. Though Thrall knew it was foolish to expect otherwise, he secretly hoped to avoid any epic confrontations.

The second group would be smaller, composed of only twenty. These twenty would be the strongest Orcs, Tauren, and Trolls within Orgrimmar, and they would carry Thrall's message to the other races of the Horde. His delegation to call for aid would carry Seth among its number, for the final destination of this entourage would be Theramore Isle, the heart of the Alliance presence in Kalimdor. Though their relations were strained, Thrall hoped that Jaina Proudmoore would see reason in the idea of an alliance with the Horde even if the Warchief was reluctant to see it himself.

These thoughts persisted as he made his way to Seth's chamber. The room was unguarded and unlocked. Thrall was quite sure that if the stranger had truly come for aid, he would not attempt to escape. If he was lying, leaving the room unsecured would seem too simple, and any intelligent assassin would not fall for such an obvious trap. Though some of his advisors thought otherwise, Thrall found it to be a suitable test for their new ally of convenience. He pushed against the sturdy wooden door of the room's only entrance, and it opened without resistance. He strode inside, his broad frame filling the majority of the portal. When his eyes became accustomed to the dim light of the chamber, he was greeted with an alarming sight. The man in white was missing, and the chamber appeared completely untouched. It looked as if Seth had simply vanished into thin air.

Instantly going on the defensive, Thrall senses sharpened. Seth was still here, even if he could not be seen. Though the chamber had been unguarded, any and all movement would have been detected and reported by the stronghold sentries, invisible eyes laid by resident troll wizards. These knew all events which transpired within the fortress, and all his advisors were in tune with them if anything suspicious occurred. The stranger could not have left this room without alerting the sentries.

Thrall felt a tickling on the back of his neck, and turned around suddenly, his hands reaching out at the air. The orc's powerful fists closed on an invisible object, which was subsequently flung across the small chamber. As Thrall's hands released the object, it materialized in midair as the figure of a human. Sure enough, it was the strange wanderer, though his reaction to the throw was surprising. A blindingly swift twist in the air righted his headlong movement, preventing him from crashing face first into the stone wall. Instead, he pushed of the wall at a ninety-degree angle, redirecting his body toward the astonished Thrall, and landed neatly in front of the larger Warchief, who threw up his hands to grasp the blurred form of Seth. Luck was with him, and he succeeded in getting hold of his attacker, then saw he was gripping both of Seth's outstretched hands. Interlocked, their hands and arms wrestled for control, and though Thrall was much broader than his attacker, Seth seemed to be having little trouble matching the Warchief's powerful muscles.

"I knew you were strong, Warchief," Seth said under his breath, though it was not especially strained. "But I must admit I am impressed by your powers of perception."

Seth looked at Thrall with a straight gaze, his amber eyes burning with challenge. However, there was no malice in them. Rather, there was a great amusement and excitement within their golden depths, as if this attack was something Seth found humorous. Uttering his own roar of challenge, Thrall channeled his chi into both his arms, causing Seth to grunt in surprise and clench his teeth in an effort to stand against the larger orc.

Suddenly, Seth moved his arms to either side, releasing his grip on Thrall's fists, disengaging the interlocking fingers. He quickly stepped back, out of Thrall's reach, conceding the match to the victor. As the white figure waited for his breath to return, the two opponents watched each other, contemplating, waiting for the next move. In the end, it was Seth who spoke first.

"You will forgive the surprise, Warchief," he stated somewhat breathlessly. "I simply wished to test a theory, and you were not exactly the one I had expected this morning. Though I must say that I am impressed. If this were any other place and time, I would ask you to consider continuing this little contest."

Thrall was torn between emotions. Surprise, outrage, curiosity and bewilderment raced through his mind, shifting so quickly that he took a step back to collect his thoughts. He was angry at being attacked by this bizarre individual, and annoyed that he had let it happen. However, he was curious at how the wanderer could match him in terms of physical power, since his size did not hint at such notable strength. And the strangest emotion of all was that in the midst of the brief confrontation, he had begun to enjoy the feel of battle, the excitement coursing through his veins at the thrill of singular combat. They spent several minutes scrutinizing each other, until at last, Thrall broke the silence.

"If I challenge you again, human," He said slowly, carefully choosing his words and tone, "The outcome will be very different than it just was." Though there was an edge to his voice, Seth could detect the faintest trace of interest in the gruff tone.

"So Warchief," Seth asked, taking on an almost conversational air, "What is the verdict? Am I to be heeded, or will I be flung out the city gates?"

"We will believe you for now Sethrezin." Thrall replied simply, "I have assembled my warriors to gather information on the demons. They will determine whether what you say is true or not. Until then, I must send out for aid to the other cities. The Tauren and trolls must be warned. As far as the humans are concerned, that will be entirely your task."

"You really don't trust me do you?"

"Of course not. You have given me no reason to."

"I don't blame you, not in the least. However, if we hope to find some end to this war, there must be some common ground."

"I trusted the humans once, and that Alliance splintered quickly."

"That was due to old hatreds. Many of the men who carried them have died away."

"And many more still live!" Thrall shouted, spitting the words ruefully. He wanted nothing more than peace among his people, and each time it seemed to come, some force in the world continued to thwart his efforts. His outburst did little to faze Seth, who continued to stare at him. Thrall saw patience, and something else in their amber depths. Could it be…understanding?

"The past is the past, Warchief. Nothing we mortals can do will alter that. To change the world, it is the present that we must focus on. I know about being hated, more than you could ever imagine."

Thrall did not understand this wanderer, though he knew there was something he was hiding, something very important. Thrall wanted to understand what it was about this man that gave him such conviction, yet let him keep his secrets so closely guarded. The Warchief in him knew that he must do what was right for his people, even if it meant allying with their old nemesis.

"The delegation is assembled, human," Thrall stated, his mind returning to business. "It will leave when you arrive, so get what you need and be on your way."

"Once again you have my thanks Warchief," replied Seth, his head bowing slightly but his eyes never leaving Thrall's. "I promise you will not regret this decision."

Thrall turned around slowly, then striding from the room with a brisk pace. He had plans to oversee, and as soon as Seth joined the party of emissaries, the delegation would depart. As he walked away, he never looked back, and as a result, he never saw the pride and gratitude shining on the wanderer's face.

Torgan was furious. No, more than furious, he was livid. His green skin was so contorted with anger that it turned a sickly olive color, and many of his comrades steered clear of him, fearful of rousing the powerful young warrior's almost legendary temper. In Orgrimmar, having Torgan as your enemy was akin to hugging a fire elemental.

"Will you please stop wearing that scowl Torgan?" Kazuk reproached. "You're scaring the children." He had been with Torgan since receiving their new mission, though the older took it a little better than his young friend. The two of them had been placed upon the delegation party to Sen'jin village, and then to Mulgore to speak with Cairne Bloodhoof. Kazuk and Torgan were sent along to safeguard the human visitor, from both the wilds of Kalimdor and from other Orcs. Though Warchief Thrall had made it clear to the citizens of Orgrimmar that Seth was not to be harmed, Kazuk knew there were some orcs that would not be so swift to let go of old hatreds.

"Or new ones, for that matter," Kazuk thought, throwing a glance in the direction of his younger partner

"How can you be so calm about this!" Torgan roared, the color of his face darkening another shade and making some passerbys shift nervously. "I am a warrior, not a babysitter! And guarding a human? By the Gods, how could the Warchief think to embarrass us this way?"

At this, Kazuk simply whipped his long spear from where it hung on his back, turned swiftly, and cut Torgan legs out from under him. The younger orc fell to the ground with a mighty crash, his frame laid out on the stone, and before he could react, Kazuk's spear was held only a breath away from his throat.

"You forget yourself, young one." Kazuk said with a quiet, low voice. "What the Warchief does is for all the Horde. Perhaps this task he has set you on will cure you of some of that arrogance you carry. You are a strong fighter, but do not let pride get in the way of purpose."

Torgan showed no fear, but his pride was severely wounded. He knew Kazuk was right. He would gladly die for the Warchief, as would any young warrior in Orgrimmar. Still, it irked him to guard the odd human. Torgan sensed there was something not altogether right about him, and surely Kazuk and the Warchief must have realized it as well. Something about the visitor made him feel uneasy, but he couldn't explain what it could be.

Kazuk removed his spear from the younger orc's neck. Holding out a hand, he offered Torgan help to his feet. Torgan simply picked himself up and continued to walk toward the assembly area. The younger orc was a bit chagrined, but seemed to have understood the brief lesson in humility. Kazuk simply sighed, and caught up with his partner. His breathing was a bit labored when he returned to the younger orcs side, another sign of his declining strength.

Raptors, wolves, and several Kodo beasts carrying supplies were gathered in the Valley of Strength, stationed away from most of the businesses, but close enough to cut down on loading time. Trolls and Orcs, mounted and on foot, milled about, tending to the beasts which would carry them out into the world. Seth looked on in wonder at the husbandry of Orgrimmar, and the fantastic beasts of burden which carried the Orcish war machine. The Wolves were glossy, massive creatures, twice again the size of any human. Seth had never seen wolves grow so large, save in the icy wilds of Northrend, and those were feral and vicious. These wolves however, though obviously possessing great strength and ferocity, looked on their keepers with genuine affection, and some whimpered and howled like giant puppies begging for some attention. The sight of it made Seth laugh with astonishment. The orcs cared for the great wolves as a human might care for a favored pet.

The raptors were another story. Mottled brown, green and red scales covered every surface. Their reptilian eyes watched every movement with an uncanny alertness. Every now and then one would sniff the air, and utter a little screech of impatience to their troll handlers, as if their meals could not be given quickly enough. The eyes of the raptors were alight with a startling intelligence, carefully calculating each and every tiny movement of the world around them. These were no simple beasts of burden. These majestic animals were visibly aware of what was happening. Seth viewed them with a sense of awe, but preferred to keep a safe distance.

Tauren and Troll intermingled freely with the Orcs, discussing this and that, mainly focused on the impending departure. Still, there was talk of harvest, of the whether, and of families. Family loyalty seemed to be very important within the Horde, and an object of intense pride. It made Seth feel yet more compassion toward the society he had stumbled upon.

As Seth walked through the bustling area, most of the conversation went silent, as each individual watched the newcomer for any sign of treachery. Even here, his presence was viewed with distrust. Once again, Seth was not surprised, but he was starting to grow tired of the constant glances. It was as if any second they expected him to burst into flames and start wreaking havoc through the streets. The image conjured in his head made him chuckle a bit, but there was a pained expression on his face.

He continued wandering through the area, until he walked into what felt like a brick wall. He attempted to step back, only to trip over a loose raptor saddle left lying on the ground. Recovering, he pivoted on his feet, using momentum to do a back flip and land lightly in a kneeling position. All around him, all conversation stopped. Cursing lightly, he stood up and tried to regain his composure. His little acrobatic display would likely create some stir among the populace. Facing forward once again, he got his first look at the "wall" he had walked into. His gaze traveled up…and up, and up, finally lighting upon the massive face and muzzle of a giant. The equine face and body, coupled with the twelve-foot burly frame, told Seth he had run into a Tauren. Seth scrambled to his feet, and bowed to the enormous being.

"I apologize friend. I wasn't watching where I was going. I hope you will forgive me."

"It is rare to see a human in these lands," the Tauren replied, his deep voice filled with patience and what almost seemed like compassion. "In fact, it is the first time I have ever seen one in Durotar. You are either very brave or very foolish." The Tauren's face split in a wide grin, which was an amazing feat considering his already massive size.

"Still, if you came here by your own accord, as the young Warchief says," he said good-naturedly, "then that question remains to be proven doesn't it?" All through the short exchange, the Tauren's face never lost its smile, or the kind understanding in the large, dark eyes. Seth couldn't keep himself from smiling back. It was nice to find someone in this land who didn't treat him like the enemy.

"I think you will find I am a little bit of both, with maybe a dash of desperation for flavor."

"That is usually the way it is in life, and in more ways than one, stranger."

Seth had just met this mighty being, and he already knew he was going to like him. His calm and easy acceptance of Seth's presence meant more to the human than any victory he had claimed.

"We are about to leave, and if you don't mind, I would like to speak with you a bit more." stated the Tauren, surprising Seth once again. "You have quite a story to tell I am sure, and I would be pleased to understand fully the reason a human has come to the lands of the Horde." As he lumbered away, Seth launched into a brisk pace, and hastened to catch up with the Tauren's mighty strides. As they walked, Seth learned more about his large new friend.

His name was Malvon Windstrider, a Tauren shaman visiting from the capital city in Mulgore. He had come to Orgrimmar about two months ago as a teacher, to educate the younger orcs who showed mystic talent. Malvon had seen forty-six winters, and thirty of those had been spent in tune with the spirits of the world. Before that time, Malvon had trained as a hunter, and from what was whispered among the few orcs who listened, had made a name for himself in the plains of Mulgore. A deeply spiritual individual, he looked at the world through eyes filled with kindness and patience, and was very slow to anger indeed. However, his mystical strength was not to be taken lightly, though his gigantic twelve-foot frame did more than enough to dissuade most who sought to trouble him.

Seth found himself liking Malvon more and more as time went on, and when the great Tauren offered a seat on the huge Kodo beast he rode, Seth was more than happy to accept. In return, Seth told Malvon of the reason for his visit, and the great danger that was soon to come. He avoided speaking about himself, and Malvon, showing respect, let the matter drop.

"So, the demons have come back?"

"Yes, and the Lich King is dormant, but it is only a matter of time."

"I fought the demons myself four years ago, as well as the undead." Malvon's voice took on a touch of sadness. "I had hoped that my days of fighting were over, and I could teach the children to live in a peaceful world."

"Like you said, that is the way the world usually is."

"You are a strange man, Sethrezin, even for a human, to try and change the world on your own."

Seth smiled at the shaman, and replied, "No one person can change the world, Windstrider. He can only help those who think as he does, and perhaps, together, something good will come of it."

Malvon looked at his passenger once more, and smiled back.

Two orcs rode up alongside the Kodo beast. One was a stride a pitch black wolf with yellow eyes, the other on a gray strider with a loping gait. Seth recognized them both as Torgan and Kazuk, the orcs who had first escorted him to the Warchief.

"We are ready, Sethrezin," stated Kazuk, his eyes widening slightly at the Tauren and human riding together. "if you have finished your own preparations, we would like to be on our way." Though the old orc's voice was gruff, there was patience in it. Kazuk was trying his best to be diplomatic, and Seth thanked him for it.

"I am prepared, Kazuk. We can leave anytime."

"Kazuk and I will be watching you Sethrezin," Torgan growled just loud enough to reach Seth's ears. "Do not forget that."

Seth simply smiled at the big orc, and nodded his head in acquiescence. The young fighter had a chip on his shoulder, but there was little Seth could currently do about it. Turning toward his new friend atop the Kodo saddle, he settled back against the leather webbing, and prepared to be on his way. Malvon, glancing behind to ensure his passenger was secured, howled to the great lizard, and with a slow, thundering stomp, the great beast began to slowly inch forward, picking up speed as the convoy began to move .

The gates of Orgrimmar opened wide, and the raptors, wolves and Kodo lizards moved in a slow procession through the stone portal. Seth heart leapt to his throat, and his golden eyes gazed once more into the red sun of Durotar.

His Day of Destiny was finally at hand.

Whoa, sorry about the long update time. I just couldn't figure out where to go after the last chapter. Anyway, inspiration has returned and now all I have to deal with is procrastination. I have a lot of good material and I will try to get it to you ASAP. Once again, thanks for your reviews, and for taking the time to visit my fantasy. (That doesn't sound to weird does it?) Anyway, this was pretty long, but it sounds cool to me.

Enjoy! And keep those reviews coming! J