I know what you're thinking: "Finally!". I know it took me a long time, it was hard to write these pages because of my damn lighting job even though I don't really have a task besides 'help out'. I have a full week of boredom as I have to watch rehearsals/performances every day until Saturday. The other thing that was unfair was that I had completed 10 pages before I had started and the other 6-10 were hard to get to.
Well, anyway, this fic is mainly focused on Arthas and the undead while there are other scenes involving the other characters are basically "and meanwhile…" you know, kind of like the undead progresses since I haven't done that in a while and the aftermath of the battle for the other characters. The other reason why this took so long was because since there was so many scenes, I had to edit them just for double-checking purposes, although I may be skimming so some typos may not have been fixed
Man, I should've posted this up in the actual Warcraft ff category since there's so much involving the actual Warcraft characters, but I was afraid of how the whole shoujo-ai thing between Taki and Sophitia would've been taken. Speaking of that shoujo-ai, I'll only say that a 'good' event is going to occur in this chapter ;P
Do not own SC or Warcraft characters.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Chapter 14: Greed for the Eerie Eye of Death and Destruction
Sylvanas and her devoted banshee hid beneath the roots of a thick tree; they guessed it was an old war burrow from possibly the Orcs when the Night Elves and Orcs were in one of their battles for expansion. Sylvanas winced as she felt Sharlindra pour a flask of thick blue liquid down her throat through her wound. The liquid clung to the flesh within her throat, feeling this, Sylvanas tried her best not to cough it back up but let it slide down and heal the ball of her throat.
"I'm glad I was able to find you, my queen. I was afraid that that warrior Taki had you cornered with her eyes." Sharlindra stated as she aided Sylvanas in her attempts to heal her throat. When Sylvanas waved a had for her to back away so that she could do it herself, she obediently went to a side of the round burrow walls with her cold hands together in front of her pale gown. She hesitated, feeling it wasn't her place, but spoke again. "I know you may not think much of that young girl, but do you believe in what she says?" The banshee asked cautiously.
Sylvanas choked slightly as she felt the liquid's gentle sting begin to fade away and her throat begin to heal. "Taki?" She chuckled. "I have no fear for that woman, only caution. Nor do I have any trust in her, how can I trust a demon huntress such as her?-"
"I don't mean her, my queen. I mean that… that golden-haired girl. Soph-Sophitia?" Sharlindra tried to pronounce the Greek's name correctly but had much trouble. "Do you trust her word?" She asked both cautiously and suspiciously as she seemed to cock her head to one side as she asked.
Silence fell upon them as Sylvanas' blood red eyes, which illuminated brightly in the dimness of the burrow, drifted over to her undead servant sister. All she could do was blink as she tried to find her own answer. The truth was, she wasn't sure herself if she could totally trust Sophitia. 'Something inside makes me want to trust her, but… something else that is much stronger wants me to keep a very firm guard against her.' Sylvanas looked down as she shifted her dark cloak and under-armor slightly before she looked up to the more-than-curious banshee.
"She is a paladin, a sentinel of her gods, so she is one to keep a close eye on. I've seen many human paladins and all wouldn't take a second thought to killing one like me." The undead elf stated firmly then looked back down again as an image of the Greek came into her mind. "The only mind-altering thing about her… is that she's willing to help those who are suffering, suffering like me. The only mind-altering thing about her... is the softness in her amazonite eyes. I can never place a finger on what she's feeling. She almost seems as if she has an elusive mind." Sylvanas turned and kept her eyes firmly, unwaveringly upon her banshee's as she stood herself straight. "I will keep a very close eye on her. I don't trust her. I don't trust anyone, apart from you of course. But she is one that I will survey to the very last speck of her being when I'm in her presence." Sylvanas' gaze softened as she saw slight worry in her undead sister's bloodshot eyes. "Do not fear of my being, Sharlindra. Even if she ever does try something with that lover of hers, I'm not going anywhere and she will not succeed over me. I'm stuck on the earth's soil for eternity." She smiled faintly but reassuringly as she spoke her last sentence.
Sharlindra smiled back in the same fashion and kept her eyes on her banshee queen as she lowered her head slightly as if to nod in agreement. "I trust your word, my queen. I just don't want you to do anything foolish because of that girl's influence." She stated but made sure to show a hint of warning in it.
Sylvanas looked at her for a moment. "That girl may have promised to bring back my humanity, but that I do not believe at all. My humanity is gone so there would be no real reason to have any need to trust her. I will not do anything foolish, I assure you. This is all for the assassination of Arthas and nothing more. I will not be duped into falling into anyone's hands so don't worry yourself, Sharlindra." She stated in a very firm voice, having no doubts in what she knew and believed about Sophitia.
Sharlindra obediently bowed her head to her queen in a form of an apology, her white wavy hair spreading astray as she did so. "I beg your pardon, my queen. I do not mean to provoke you or question your strategies. I merely have caution over your well-being as well as your reputation." She stated in a low but strong tone so that she'd make sure that Sylvanas would understand.
Sylvanas softly waved a pale hand for the banshee to lift her head. "It is understandable Sharlindra for you to think such things, and… and I thank you for your concern. But I believe in my skills and strategies for this person so you need not worry." She watched as the banshee slowly brought her head up. She walked over to a part of the tree's roots, took out a dagger and cut through a few branches, gathering them for the preparation of arrow-making even though it did include some dark magic to complete them. "I will ask Sophitia of her possible arrangements to find Soul Edge, I haven't been told of what their waiting for but I choose not to stick my head out of the trees just yet since a Night Elf may spot me. I will try and contact Sophitia eventually in her head." She informed as she began to carve out the basic shape of the arrow with a smaller dagger.
Sharlindra just observed her and sighed. She still had some doubts but quickly brushed them away as she wanted to remain faithful to her independent leader and queen.
888888
Arthas' lips pressed together in agitation and anxiousness as he strummed his cold fingers against the arm of his 'throne' within his main quarters. His gaze swept across the room, from strategy tables to the dark morning skies then finally let his impatient expression focused on the bronze skull-shaped doorknob as he waited for it to open, hearing what felt like an echo of the constant drumming of his fingertips against the arm of his chair. The death knight felt like he was going to explode due to his impatience in waiting for his Lich's report until his living skeleton of an advisor finally burst into the room, clenching his skin-less knuckles restively.
Kel'Thuzad's red-orbed eyes locked onto Arthas' chillingly furrowed ones as he prepared himself. "The Azure Knight has been seen by no one in the entire base. Not one! What foolish thing could he have done to suddenly leave the base without our knowledge! And with Sylvanas missing as well-!"
"Do not trouble yourself with the whereabouts of Sylvanas! She is a traitor!" Arthas interrupted bluntly as he leaned towards the lich. His lip curled almost condescendingly as he noticed Kel'Thuzad's bewildered look as he called her a 'traitor'. "Nightmare has obviously been tricked, three guesses who." He stated simply as she leaned back into his chair while folding his arms over his chest as he looked down to the coal-black floor.
Kel'Thuzad's eyebrows furrowed quizzically. "She wouldn't be so foolish as to do a thing like that; she wouldn't have the resources to lure him away. How would she anyway? She's a second-rate authority compared to him." The lich explained although still state of uncertainty as Arthas' eyes snapped to its own again.
"That is one that I cannot answer at this point. She must've found out something about him that we haven't." Arthas coolly rose from his seat as he strode passed the lich and into the corridor, knowing that his advisor would be following. "But, no matter-"
"'No matter'?" Kel'Thuzad retorted incredulously as it continued to follow the Dark Knight out of his Black Citadel and through the decaying grounds. "Nightmare was the source to our expansion! He is known to be the bringer of death and destruction within the lands of his own. Valiant warriors who spend years mastering their skills just to possess the sword ended up to be possessed by it!" It expressed exasperatedly as it realized that they were heading towards their Temple of the Damned, a rather large and structure where only spellcasters such as their necromancers learned their black magic and dark skills. Four bones the shape of tusks only five times their size came out of the ground, two at each end of the drape-like doorway which had a levitating, large fang-bearing skull at the very top of the structure. Kel'Thuzad stood himself straight as he followed the knight inside.
Arthas turned to look at the lich, completely unfazed by what it had just mentioned about Nightmare. "If I may correct you, lich; Nightmare isn't the one known for destruction and corruption, but rather his blade." He stated in an undoubtedly firm tone, not caring that his snowy-white hair fell around his eyes as he leaned towards the floating skeleton with its black and purple robes rippling at its feet. "Nightmare is merely the host. All I have to do to find him; the very blade he carries that, much like mine, pulses with evil energy that would make a blind man want to commit suicide. A blade such as that shouldn't be too difficult to find when we have our spellmaster of necromancers to track his pulsing aura." He proclaimed simply as he stepped inside to meet the 'spellmaster' in the very back of the dark room which held bones and skulls, both human and beast-like, upon the black stone walls.
Several tables stood around the room as newly summoned necromancers stood by them, perfecting their demonic magics using one of the many black or brown leather-bounded books with skulls, demons or hex signs on the covers. Arthas ignored them all as he strode up to the back room, opening up the door that was also etched with the symbol representing the worst of all fabled demons. The elderly supervisor and master of the temple, Rak Coldskull, stood at the side of the blood-decorated room clearly made to be the perfect place for spell-casting of any type:
four tall candle sticks were the only things to bring light into the room although the darkness still swallowed the walls, stacks of thick books laid at the left side of the room along with a single bookstand in front of them and a used silver cauldron before that, jars of animal/beast parts/blood were in shelves toward the opposite of where the books stood. Rak, who had stood in front of the bookstand and flipped through a book's pages, turned at the footsteps of the knight's metal boots, making his richly-embroidered robes sweep over the dusty concrete floor.
"My Lord, you wish for my aid?" The keeper of the temple smirked knowingly beneath his long beard as he turned to let his glowing purple eyes land on the eager icy blue ones of his master, waiting to hear the requirements of his bidding.
Arthas suspiciously looked over her armored shoulder, making sure that nobody besides Kel'Thuzad and Rak were within earshot. Slightly satisfied, he leaned towards Rak and spoke in a low tone. "Nightmare has vanished from our grounds." Arthas had expected the surprised look that the spellmaster gave him along with furrowed eyebrows of agitation from the outrageous news. "I don't care for the host, I just need you to find Soul Edge with your magics." Rak's glowing green eyes portrayed uncertainty of the task and was about to speak until Arthas interrupted with a nasty sneer. "I don't give a damn how you do it, just find the demon!" He ordered through gritted teeth. 'What in Hell is so damn difficult about a simple order!' The Scourge leader wondered impudently.
The head necromancer's eyes inwardly narrowed at his leader's tone but nodded obediently. "Certainly sir." He strode over to the shelves with his grotesquely-crafted staff in hand as it held the skull of a cleaved Lightbringer of the Human Alliance at the head of the shaft. Dipping his fingers into one of the jars of demon's blood, he spread it over the skull until the majority of the bone was covered then walked over to stand at the back of the room. Arthas' eyes followed until he noticed that the dark illusionist had positioned himself within the center of a circle made by small runes. Rak faced the front of the room with his posture perfectly straight, took a breath then brought his staff to stand in front of him, holding it with two hands as the eyes of the skull stared straight into his own.
His eyes strained as he focused on the skull, staring into it to the point where the rest of the room seemed to have waves of complete darkness cascading over its walls. When it seemed that every object apart from the lifeless, blood-painted skull was blanketed by eerie darkness, he gripped his staff tighter as he summoned the minions in a Latin tongue. "Demons, who serve thy darkness in which thou dwell, succumb to thy master! Creep from thy dark shadows and crevices of damnation and share with me the path of corruption from the great evil-'Soul Edge'. Thou art to search for the foreign demon and with its locality, may retrieve it and soon drench our hands, and the world with the blood of the living."
The tone of pure eagerness that the spellmaster held surely spurred the dark spirits on as the jaw of the slain paladin eased its way open. The skull seemed to let out a frosty breath which slowly wafted its way around his dark green eyes, making them widen then soon freeze into place. He watched as dull images passed his eyes, so he waited until he was given the information he bid them to find.
888888888888
The ceaseless roaring of a high waterfall and an abrupt ruffle of leaves nearby brought Maiev into her wakefulness after sleeping against one of the tall, moderately ruined pillars of a marble-floored structure which was used as an entranceway into the forest dwellings of the Watchers. The waterfall, Maiev remembered, stood right in front of the plum color-roofed entranceway as it made the pathway cut off into a fork which eventually met again in the center of her sentry-guarded base.
She peered to the corner of her eye as she heard another abrupt ruffle of leaves only to find one of her leaf-bearded, yellow-eyed, branch-bodied and metal guard-bearing Ancient Protectors while it stood a small distance away. It threw its long arms into the air in complete exasperation as it tried to rid itself from the pesky foreign birds that tried to nest within its mossy leaves.
Maiev merely grumbled as she rolled her eyes closed and shifted her position while crossing her arms over her chest; she was still in a ranting mood after Tyrande interrupted her. She shut her eyes tightly only to slowly open softly as she noticed that the sound of the roaring falls was being dulled by the beautiful humming of a familiar voice above her. Her green eyes darted as she realized that she was laying against that same someone with her head being pillowed by their chest.
She was about to hasten to her feet when she felt soft fingers trail from her shoulder down to her forearm. The warden wanted to wait for the second stroke but felt immature for just letting this person continue. She lifted herself from the woman's light embrace to look at her, soon finding her breath caught in her throat as no-other-than Naisha looked up at her with a sweet smile while the morning light's cool colors enhanced the younger elf's features.
"Strange place to sleep even when inside the walls of the Watchers, Maiev." Naisha commented as she leaned against the pillar that she had found her Warden leaning against in the dead of night.
Maiev still had trouble finding words as she just looked down at her first lieutenant who raised her eyebrows at her from beneath her head-plate. "Well, I just wanted to let some of my anger out after what Tyrande did." She stated simply as she straightened her posture.
Naisha nodded as she looked down while lifting herself to her feet. "So I noticed after I found out that you weren't in your quarters when I came to see how you were. I knew that you wouldn't rest yourself just immediately like you should've. You're much too stubborn to do something like that, hm?" She grinned as she responded by a smirk that couldn't be helped.
"Yes, and you're just as stubborn to never let me alone." Maiev replied playfully as she leaned towards the shorter girl with her arms crossed. "Speaking of never letting me alone, are you sure it was wise as a hand-chosen first lieutenant to not keep watch over the huntresses and archers that I've placed under you?" She raised an eyebrow as if testing Naisha of her proper duties.
Naisha merely held in her smile as she held her hands behind her back and let her gaze drop to her feet as if being interviewed by her higher rank. "You seem to not know me as well as you may like to think, mistress. I checked within all our Ancients of War and Lore and made sure that all the warriors placed under my responsibility were in their proper places, as I had promised when I was appointed my rank." She stated confidently as she raised her eyes to meet the pleased ones that Maiev portrayed.
"I knew I chose you for a reason." Maiev stated in a rather deep tone that matched her satisfied eyes.
Naisha blushed slightly as she looked away and bit her lower lip slightly before she looked back up to see Maiev adjusting her helmet for a split second. The younger woman couldn't help but walk up and wrap her hands around the warden's cold, gold-rimmed, hawk-like helmet.
Maiev's eyes widened as she felt Naisha slowly lift her helmet from her head. "Naisha…!" The warden clasped her hands onto the soft hands at the sides of her helmet. She made her pull it back down as she quickly glanced to her sides to check for passerby's. Naisha looked into her green orbs in bewilderment.
"No one's around, Maiev. Remember, I've seen you with your helmet off before." The slightly shorter elf assured in a soft voice as she kept her lavender hands beneath Maiev's.
The warden looked at her for a moment, still unsure, then let her gaze drop to the ground as she reluctantly succumbed to Naisha's wishes. She closed her eyes tightly as she felt her helmet being lifted off and pulled her long ears carefully out of the openings as well as her long aqua hair through the back of the helmet however still keeping it loosely tied as it still shimmered in the morning light.
Naisha watched the warden's wide bangs that dropped no more than an inch below her chin, framing her charmingly beautiful yet sophisticatedly determined complexion. The part of her that the fearless warden didn't want to reveal became noticed by Naisha; a long, quite jaggedly-edged, scar-like and deep-purple to black elven-born design crossed over her left eye and was at a certain angle where it could pass over and behind her cheekbone so her helmet could just be able to conceal it. The thing that Naisha knew that Maiev thought was odd about this feature was that it didn't have a symmetrical twin, unlike the rest of their elven race.
Naisha noticed Maiev looking a bit tentative, a rare thing for any person to see, as she let Naisha look at her face. The warden's seemly yet color-enhanced eyes looked down then seemed to hold an expression on slight amusement. "It's funny that you say that you've seen me with my helmet off, yet when you did see me you saw more than just my defect, as I was also more naked than not at the same time." She noted as she raised her long eyebrows and tried to keep her smirk within.
The now-blushing younger elf's mouth dropped open slightly; shocked that she brought that memory up. She quickly hooked the helmet beneath her arm while she pointed her finger in emphasis for her explanation. "Firstly, I didn't know that you'd be bathing in our water gardens and so late at night. Nor did I think that it was even you at first since I've never seen you with your hair completely down." Naisha sounded almost exasperated as she really wanted to get her point across to the woman who seemed to be mildly accepting it. "And secondly," She sighed as she brought her finger back down and softened her voice. "Stop calling your elf-emblem a 'defect'. Just because you believe you're the only one to have an imbalanced emblem it doesn't mean you have to say that about it." She assured in a confident tone.
"Ash del kano-nei." Maiev spoke softly as she took her helmet back into her arms semi-hidden beneath her long cloak. She looked to the side as if reluctant to look into Naisha's eyes that reflected the color of the moonlight while guessing that she was about to speak against her elven-tongued statement of 'If you believe so.'. "I don't think even Tyrande's seen it, you're the first and only that I allow to see it." She rubbed her nape with her palm almost tentatively then hid a sneer. "It must be her elf-emblem of wings that makes her so self-absorbent." She stated in a harsh but deep tone as she let her hand slip from her nape down her side.
Naisha sighed. "You shouldn't say things like that about her. She may not have much power over you since you're a warden, but she is one of the few High Priestesses of Ashenvale." She stated in a soft yet cautious tone.
Maiev seemed to roll her eyes before she felt it was time to slip her helmet back on, concealing her half elf-emblem. "Yes well, knowing that I just wish she stayed out of my affairs."
"She only stopped your fight with Taki though, hasn't she?" Naisha asked as she took a step towards the slightly taller elf with a slightly bewildered to curious look on her face.
Maiev's eyes darted slightly as Naisha came closer. "Well, yes, but she also…" She stopped as she didn't want to blurt out her real feelings for the woman before her. She almost wanted to push herself into saying it just to get it out but couldn't find the courage to. Her eyes widened as she notice that her fingers had slipped up to idly brush through Naisha's long, soft hair that just reached the small of her back.
Although Naisha appeared to be willingly accepting her strokes as if it felt like a loving older sister comforting the younger troubled sister, Maiev still made herself hastily pull her hand back. "N-nevermind." The warden emotionlessly turned to head back into the walls of the Watchers. "You should go back to make sure that you're archers are training as they should. Thank you for checking on me and staying with me for the night, Naisha." She finished softly as she soundlessly made her way back to her quarters, making sure not to look back no matter what Naisha's face portrayed; it would only make her want to feel her hair for a much longer period.
888888888888
Taki groaned as she shifted her position in the fur-covered bed that was part of the Burrow-root that Tyrande had made for them only a day ago. It was a strange structure for housing but it was certainly adequate, and Sophitia believed so as well since it reminded her of the shelter given to her while she was in Dalaran. The only difference was that this was had three or four times more floor space than her other one had been; it had merely a main room and three bedrooms. All the residents of the burrow were surprised at how a small orb that was no bigger than a human head could create such a thing. It was beneath a large willow tree as its roots coiled and twisted along the 'ceiling' with newly-sprouting leaves along it, making it almost look like some kind of mural at least when you squint your eyes.
Taki winced as she felt another wave of throbs in certain areas of her body. It wasn't until the middle of the night that the aches and stings that Maiev gave her suddenly hit her all at once. The huntress grumbled restlessly as she couldn't sleep since the pains had hit her, and of course, as always, she was in the middle of another dream when it occurred.
'And what a strange dream it was,' Taki commented as she pulled the deer fur-blanket higher over her shoulders. She wanted to kick herself for not asking Sophitia about the dreams the night before; she just remembered feeling very passive about the idea suddenly and didn't have the nerve to ask. 'Cruel that these dreams are to never stop yet end the same way, I must ask Sophitia about these dreams.' She took in a deep breath as if to prepare herself then sat herself up slightly despite the pain of her bruises and turned to the bed next to her where Sophitia slept on the opposite side of the tall, vine-coiled and fruit bowl-bearing night stand, only to find it vacant with ruffled covers while the dawn's dull light highlighted the ripples of the tossed furs through the window above the bed.
Taki's eyebrows furrowed quizzically at her absence until she noticed the golden-haired Greek pass through the arch-shaped doorway that led to the main room to get in and out of the burrow. Taki noticed that she was holding two off-white in her hands; one was damp unlike the other. "Finally awake?" Sophitia asked with a sweet smile and a raised eyebrow, which Taki returned but not for the reason of being cheery like the younger girl appeared to be.
"Actually, I've been awake for a while, I just never noticed you leaving." Taki shifted almost uncomfortably as the Greek came to sit on the side of her cot-like bed onto the white-edged fawn-colored furs. She placed the dry towel on the edge of the nightstand while wrapping the other around her finger as she rested her hand on Taki's tense shoulder and gently pushed her down. The older woman could only watch as Sophitia slowly pulled the blanket off of her and unclamped the pins of her body suit. Taki could feel her heart speed up as she pulled back while placing a hand over her nearly-exposed torso. "What, may I ask, are you doing?" Taki asked as she felt the tension in her body rise. She knew that this wasn't the first time that she witnessed Sophitia do this, but this was the first time that Sophitia would see at least her near-bare front.
Sophitia merely blinked at her as if confused then smiled almost charmingly. "In case you haven't noticed, you have bruises and cuts all over you. I would think that it would be to your advantage to have me help you heal them." She answered with a quirked eyebrow as if to make herself look playfully cocky.
Sophitia didn't know what Taki was so worried about as she begun her task; the Asian's white torso wraps circled around to cover her breasts so all that was exposed was her rather well-sculpted abdomen and upper breast bone. Although, Sophitia still managed to blush as she gazed upon what was being revealed to her nonetheless. She spotted the bloody scars on her upper chest as well as the rather large black-blue bruise on her stomach and gently ran the rag over the wounds that Taki tried to pretend wasn't there due to her pride. She noticed the woman below her jump at the contact so she automatically slowed her pace along the beautiful ivory skin, watching as the damp rag collected the blood.
'Ask her now while you have the chance!' Taki heard her mind whisper loudly. The huntress' eyes darted beneath her closed eyes, sighed then snapped open her eyes to meet Sophitia's, who looked at her kindly with a patient expression on her face. 'Alright.' She started before she forced herself to bring out the words. "Sophitia, I've been having these dreams about you." Taki spoke rather quickly, it was almost difficult for Sophitia to understand but she caught it all.
The Greek's eyes shot to Taki's with a look of honest intrigue. "Oh?" She was now genuinely curious about this. Her eyes swept to the skies through the window and the long, dangling stems of the tree as if searching for someone or something within the clouds. 'Could my Gods have…?'
"In some of these dreams, I don't know you and yet in others I do." Taki interrupted Sophitia's train of thought, making her green eyes fall back onto her own. Taki watched as her gaze softened before she slowly turned away. Her maroon eyes widened. 'She does know something! Her eyes say it all!' She nearly sat herself straight up but yelped as the bruise on her stomach forced her back down. Sophitia saw her action in the corner of her eye then immediately came towards her to ease her back down. She couldn't help but look into Taki's deep brown eyes as she did so while Taki seemed to do the same to her own.
Sophitia slowly eased herself back up, mouth shut, not knowing how to respond until Taki continued. "By the end of these dreams I always seem to deeply care for you. I would say that it would just be a dream and nothing else, but these dreams just don't stop. Each shows something different but they all show us forming a close relationship." By this time, Sophitia had turned away with hands steepling their fingers together while raised to her chin as if in the middle of a prayer. She tried to think of something to ease Taki's mind, but the only idea that came to her in a tense, almost pleading sense was to tell her the truth about how they used to be.
"Taki, there's…" Sophitia tried to figure out what she wanted to say as she kept her eyes away from the person she so desperately wanted to hold at that moment. "There's something that I've wanted to tell you for the longest time now… but I was always afraid that you'd turn your back on me and not let us be the way we used to be." The younger girl soft in the softest tone her voice would let her conduct as if she was actually afraid of Taki hearing her as she kept her eyes off of the older woman, fearing what her eyes may show in response to her riddling words.
Taki just kept her eyes locked onto the face turned away from her that had the morning light outlining her features. 'The way we used to be…' Sophitia's words echoed once in her head. "Could…" Sophitia turned back as she heard Taki continue with a questionable look on her face as if a thought that came into her head suddenly brought her to some realization. "Could I have known you… met you… before?" The older woman's voice fell deep as she spoke while keeping her eyes on Sophitia, hoping to see a shred of certainty from the Greek as a response.
Taki's eyes widened as she noticed that the bright green eyes staring down at her were beginning to cloud up with moisture. Her eyes widened even more as the younger girl above her merely blinked then slowly nodded her head before she looked back down to the floor as if at as much of a loss for words as Taki was. "H-how close were we?" Taki asked in a stammering voice of inner surprise at the response she thought she was prepared for but found out that she really wasn't in reality.
Sophitia swallowed the lump in her throat before she answered softly. "About as close as two people can possibly get, maybe even closer." She knew that that answer wasn't going to be enough as she noticed a hint of curiosity in Taki's eyes as she peered from the corner of her own.
"You mean… like just strong friends?" Taki asked with a lifted eyebrow as she raised herself to lean onto her elbows. She tried not to make her voice sound hopeful just in case of what Sophitia might believe if she had sounded that way.
Sophitia could feel her hands wringing the edges of the moist towel. She took a deep breath to try and calm her fearing heart. "More like…" Sophitia turned to look Taki right in the eye but in a soft fashion. "More like lovers." What happened in the next few seconds was what Sophitia feared; complete, utter silence which tore at the both of them, only the dull rustling of the leaves through the wind from the tree above them was the only thing that eased it momentarily.
Taki could only stare back into Sophitia's nervous green eyes as she waited for her response. All Taki was able to do was lose feeling in her elbow and fall back onto the bed and stare at the ceiling. 'L… Lovers…?' All of Taki's train of thought stopped at that word while her eyes widened. "I always thought that something, some part of my life had been missing." Taki said out loud, making Sophitia give a faint smile, believing it was a positive response. "But that is impossible." The huntress breathed simply as she turned to look towards the direction opposite of the Greek's while running a hand through her ebony fringe as if still trying to sort the whole idea in her head.
Sophitia's smile immediately faded as tears threatened to cloud her vision again; her heart had shattered as she heard Taki say the word she never believed; 'impossible'. She leaned over Taki, taking her shoulders in her palms as if to hold her down as her hair fell forward over her own shoulders to brush against Taki's neck. "Impossible?" Sophitia tried her best to calm her self as well as her shaky voice and semi-furrowed eyebrows. "How is love between us impossible?"
"You don't understand-" Taki started in a much softer tone than Sophitia had portrayed, trying to explain her comfort in being alone and what Maiev had said about her habits. However she was abruptly cut off again by the Greek's cracking voice.
"How can I not understand? I'm the only one you've ever let near you. I remember that the first time we met and you stayed in your temple all alone until you met me! I know that now you're afraid of getting yourself hurt if you put too much trust in one person and I can understand that," Sophitia took both Taki's hands into her own and rested them against her chest in an almost desperate as the tears begun to stream down her face. Taki just stayed silent as she listened. "But there is such a thing as breaking away from your traditional chains once and a while! Let me love you and maybe, hopefully you can love me as well and we can start where we had left off." Sophitia found that the more she had spoken, the harder her tears became to control as she waited for Taki's answer.
Taki's eyes widened slightly. 'Breaking away from your chains once and a while…' She remembered those words. The girl who no doubt was Sophitia except a much younger version had said that to her in one of her dreams, and that was what made her play with the girl in the first place even though she basically refused to at first. Taki looked down as she remembered that in the end, she never wanted to let her new golden-haired friend go. 'For this case, all my head wants me to do is turn away in a rejection towards Sophitia, but I… I don't have the heart to do so, not with those eyes.' The Asian thought calmly as she lifted her gaze back to Sophitia's hopeful yet hurt eyes that now seemed to have a hint of loss and depression in them due to the amount of time it was taking Taki to answer her.
The older woman took a deep breath, noticing that Sophitia's eyes focused on her even more since she knew she was about to say something. "This is all new to me, I don't know if I'll be any good at it and I fear others using our relationship against us." Taki paused as she kept her calm yet serious eyes on Sophitia's. "But, if what you said about us in the past is true and you did spend your time with a demon huntress like me and yet not had ourselves in some kind of trouble because of what I do." Taki looked down, as if to continue debating whether her decision was the right one. "I will try to break from my chains as long as you assist me in doing so." Her eyes swept up to now wide green ones that looked even more hopeful than before. "I don't know if I can love you as much or as easily as I may have appeared to you the first time like you implied and so fondly, though perhaps I can try."
At the sight of the considerate softness in Taki's eyes as she had finished, Sophitia tears of sadness turned to joy. She couldn't help but fling her arms around the taller woman in a tight and warm embrace as she tried to hold back her flow of tears, but found that she couldn't. 'I know that she said that she would try to love me and I believe her, she isn't the type to go back on her word since she's never done so before.' The Greek thought quickly before she answered. "Believe me, what I said about us is very true and I'm not afraid to admit it because I don't want it to stop. And it's not like I expect you to just suddenly agree to love me, I know it takes more time. But if you're willing to love me, then I'm willing to wait as long as possible." The blonde assured positively as she kept her face pressed to Taki's chest, admiring the gentle thumping beneath it.
"You are certainly a devoted one aren't you?" Taki remarked with a smirk, although she was trying to ignore the stinging sensation brought on by Sophitia's skin and clothes against her wounds.
Sophitia seemed to laugh within her throat as she tilted her head slightly against Taki's chest. "You have no idea. And what can I say? I'm just… featherbrained when it comes to my love for you." The younger girl wanted so badly to kiss the Asian huntress right now, to feel the gentle warmth of her soft lips again, but she knew that it wouldn't help things for having Taki willingly fall for her. She felt the Asian become tense, surely not exactly knowing what to do since this kind of contact seemed so new to her. All this Sophitia understood so she reluctantly released her former love which she hoped wouldn't bear the name 'former' any longer.
When she looked back up she noticed that Taki had just ceased a wincing expression then soon remembered that her huntress still had her wounds. She quickly apologized for her mindless inconsideration of the woman's condition then falteringly went back to her original task with the moist towel, not caring that she had some of the older woman's blood on her shirt. She kept glancing towards Taki almost like laying eyes on her became an addiction until the Greek noticed that the Asian was openly staring at her thoughtfully. Sophitia stopped her cleansing momentarily to return Taki's stare with a sweet smile as if already excited. "Is something wrong?" She asked with a quirked eyebrow while keeping her smile.
Taki merely shrugged as she looked away to the window that was shaped like the door. "Some of the dreams I have about you," She paused as if wondering if what she was about to say sounded silly. "Concern you in a strange feline-like form. I don't know what cats have to do with you, but you looked like some kind of half-beast." She blinked as the image came back into her head, shrugged again, then closed her eyes as she settled into her leaf and feather-filled mattress that was just able to fit the two of them in. "My mind may have just been playing tricks on me, because I have no idea how or why you'd turn into such a thing." She stated simply as if to just brush the thought to her side.
Sophitia's eyes darted almost worriedly along Taki's relaxed features before she forced herself to continue cleansing. 'Half-beast? I turned into that when Taki reluctantly allowed me to fight with her against those… whatever they were… 'Bastites'…?' She suddenly became very nervous as she remembered this but tried to sound reassuring as she made herself respond. "Of-of course, that would be impossible." She stammered as she went back into her thoughts. 'If Taki ever finds that out about me, she'll surely think I was a demon and not want to have anything to do with me.'
Her heart began to race before she shook her head as if to force the thought away before she tried to change the subject. The Greek gradually smiled as a thought came to her. "Taki?" She waited until the ebony-haired woman popped an eye open in response. "Since you're willing to trust me like this, could you perhaps…?" Stopping but with a cute smile, she slowly lowered herself slightly over Taki, who opened both eyes in surprise at her action. "Could you, either now, later or even someday, take off your mask? Please?" She made her voice sound desperate as she really wanted that to happen anyway.
Taki blinked in surprise at the question then slowly relaxed as she let a smirk form over her covered lips. "Perhaps." Was all she could say in a playful tone (much to her own surprise) and nearly sniggered at Sophitia's huff of disappointment. The younger girl continued to tend to the bruises and wounds while a playful smirk of her own grazed her lips which quickly turned into a smile that felt so pleasant on her face, knowing that she would have Taki in her arms and herself in the Asians like they had done so freely and fondly before.
8888888
After hours that seemed like minutes of trudging around the inner walls of the capital, taking in such sights he had long since seen, Siegfried was finally informed by Jaina that the Blood elf workers were ready to take his measurements for his armor. He followed the sorceress to the Blood elves' Blacksmith shop within the portion of the forest that was granted to them by Tyrande (of course under the condition that if they were going to take wood from Ashenvale's forest, they would have to consult her about it before they do anything since that was the beloved trees that belonged to her race).
Not five seconds after Jaina announced his arrival into the armory that looked no different than any other building structured by humans, a male elf only over half the knight's own height seemed to hastily come towards him with not so much as a glance towards his face. Two other taller elves that seemed much more domineering than the other next to him stood in the back corner of the room, arms crossed, they must obviously be the actual smiths, so Siegfried figured.
The blond worker elf flipped out a long, thin strap and threw it snugly around his waist and held it there for three seconds before moving to his breastbone then taking in the lengths and widths of his limbs. Siegfried could only stand in place as the elf measurer and calculator kept circling around him and throwing the strap around each limb while making mental notes.
As Jaina watched, she slowly placed a hand over her face. 'This is… kind of embarrassing.' She concluded bluntly as she peered through her parted fingers only to see the 4 ft. elf silently 'request' (which was really a harsh tap or two on the limb or muscle) for Siegfried to lift his hand so that he could remember the size for his gauntlets. 'They're treating him as if trying to train a deaf and/or blind dog or something!' She quirked an eyebrow as she thought incredulously. 'I guess I should be happy they're doing anything at all; even Kael'Thas seemed a little reluctant to let him into their walls and have their armor.' She was a bit bewildered as she remembered the Blood Mage's behavior but then took an uncannily accurate guess. 'They all must still be suspicious of Siegfried's demonic alter-ego, and I'm sure the Blood Elves aren't the only ones to feel this way.' She lowered her hand and sighed as she knew this was true and felt pity for the German.
Both humans sighed but this time out of relief as the apprentice elf stepped away from the much taller knight as he appeared to be finished, that was until he held out his hand. "Your zweihänder, please." He asked in a rather blunt tone even with the 'please'. Siegfried faltered as the request was a bit sudden and had forgotten that he had to soon give up his Faust. He handed his thrusting-sword over, hilt-fist. The elf seemed to chuckle half-heartedly. "No no, I merely need its measurements. We will make an entirely new sword with our own metals; we can't make anything out of that." He stated emotionlessly although Siegfried wondered what he meant when he had condescendingly labeled his Faust as a 'that'. Siegfried's eyes narrowed slightly but nodded as he lifted Faust so that it could stand by the tip of the blade while being held by the palm of his hand by the hilt.
The apprentice did as he said, taking in all sides and angles and even measurements of the hilt before rolling the brown-leather strap back up in a ball and placed it back into his utility belt. He pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment and wrote down his mental notations and measurements. "Thank you." He finished in the same half-hearted tone while not looking up at the tall knight.
Siegfried could only nod however expressionlessly in return for the elves' hospitality, which Jaina was none too pleased about either. He swung his gigantic blade onto his shoulder as he turned to head through the door while giving Jaina a glance. The sorceress watched him. "Give me a minute, would you Siegfried?" Jaina asked in a light, polite tone. Siegfried blinked at her then nodded again before he passed through the cherry oak doorway.
Jaina's eyes became almost intimidating as she swept them to the three blond elves at the back of the room, as they looked back at her in the same fashion. "Could you at least have his armor be strong and appropriate for him?" She asked in a tone that sounded a bit more demanding than pleading or hopeful as she was becoming tired of their looks of slight scorn.
One older smith shrugged as he strode towards the forge. "Why should we though? He was the same person who killed one of our new priests at the very beginning of the battle. I don't see why we should be so courteous as to let him live anyway since he'll most likely continue to commit murder for pleasure." He stated harshly as the others nodded.
Jaina gripped her staff tighter as her eyes narrowed. 'How dare they be so judgmental as insult the knight without even knowing his real current goals!' She thought as she responded to their obnoxious assertion. "Because that wasn't his actual will; his judgment and sanity was being polluted by a demon. If he wanted to kill any of us he would've done so already." She tried to sound calm, although inside she was quite surprised at the next idea she had but felt an urge to let it go. "So make his armor a bit more than just 'formidable' so that he can fight properly. Otherwise…" With a hidden smirk, she lifted her staff and shot a teal orb-like bolt towards the floor before their feet.
The three took a sudden step backward as the orb hit the floor, leaving a small area of concrete to become crushed in its new hole. The other smith looked up with dauntingly narrowed eyes, stayed silent for a moment as if trying to find a good retort but Jaina's firm grip on her trusty staff made him reluctantly nod. Jaina let her hidden smirk come out in a flash as she turned to leave. Although she was hardly if not at all used to making threats, (which she had learned from the constant arguments of the Human Alliance council members) she felt like that needed to be used. When she came out, she didn't see the knight anywhere within view, even though there were many long-haired blond elves to mistake him as. She continued to look as she went around the armory to the path back to the capital.
"Nobody wants to forget huh? I guess I don't blame them."
Jaina jumped as Siegfried spoke while leaning against the wooden wall of the armory, his arm's weight on his tall sword while his other hand was in his pocket with his head dipping forward slightly. The sorceress could only sigh as she averted her gaze from his own while running a hand through her dirty-blonde hair beneath her hood. Her silence brought him to a single, half-hearted "hmph"-like chuckle as he pushed himself from the wall to begin their walk back. "I should've seen that coming as well." He noted.
Jaina's royal blue eyes finally snapped to the back of his shoulder as he walked passed her while she followed. "Don't let them discourage you. Blood elves have been known to be a bit arrogant at times anyway." Stating as if it was meant to be a positive thing for how Siegfried felt at the moment, she quickened her pace to catch up to him while hearing the gentle taps of the end of her staff in sync with her foot each time it came to the ground.
He chuckled lightly in response, making Jaina lift an eyebrow in curiosity. "There are plenty other arrogant people where I come from whether they have a reason or not. But people who aren't arrogant can certainly seem that way around me and as I said, I don't blame them, knowing my past, knowing the grief I may have caused them." The knight didn't look at her at all as he spoke but he could feel her soft gaze upon him. "I'm content enough to know that a few people don't have doubts about my will against Soul Edge." He finally turned to her with assurance in his eyes as he finished simply. "Such as you and Sophitia."
Even though Siegfried soon turned away, Jaina noticed a certain glint in his eyes and instantly knew that it was due to the thought of the Greek girl. This sparked her curiosity. 'I knew since the beginning that he still feels something for her but I could never see how deep it might be. I wonder if he…?' Curiosity now became an understatement. She took a breath to gather her courage as she forced herself to ask while trying to sound as conditional as possible. "Siegfried, do you ever wish that you could have Sophitia as your own?" The female wizard immediately felt like kicking herself. 'Oh yeah, that came out nicely.' She thought sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at herself.
It didn't exactly help her when Siegfried abruptly turned to her, wide-eyed as a faint blush crept on his face. "Err, excuse me?" He muttered quizzically in his stunned expression as he continued to stare at her but continued to walk upon the marsh-like plains of the forest path.
The sorceress stuttered as she tried to correct herself. "I-I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I was just wondering if you might…? How you…? Why-what y-you think abou-…?" The nervous look on Siegfried's face was replaced by a bemused expression as Jaina tried to explain while appearing to become more and more gesticulate as if she simply gave up on the use of words. By the time Jaina portrayed her exasperation by letting out a hard sigh and scratching the back of her hood almost thoughtfully, Siegfried held in his amused grin and decided to relieve the girl of her struggling efforts.
"I admit I am… fond of her as a female fighter; I just found it fascinating that a woman like her had enough courage to stand up against my demonic half yet for the purpose of saving me, not killing me. Much like what you did when I fought against you as Nightmare." He added as if he just figured that out as he looked back upon the path.
Jaina merely blinked at his statement about her. "I didn't really do anything though; I just made that gem to seal Soul Edge within, with the help of Sophitia. So you should really be thanking her." She stated softly as if she thought she could've played a better roll when she helped in trying to bring Siegfried's humanity back.
"I'll make sure to do that, she does indeed deserve it. However," He turned to gaze at her from the corner of his eye. "I do believe that having the power to do the things you do, as a sorceress as young as you, is a very brave and honorable trait. So I still thank you for your consideration of me." He stated in his charmingly boyish voice, making Jaina blush while finding it hard to tear away from his gentle gaze.
"I am fond of her but I choose not to get close to her, for I still fear Soul Edge's influence on me, whether the remnants of the demon is somehow still within me or not." He declared as he turned completely away from her and went silent.
Jaina just blinked at him before she turned away. "I see." was all she could say in response. Of course she already knew that Sophitia was in love with Taki and didn't exactly plan on telling the tall knight about that fact, fearing what his reaction may be but knowing that it wouldn't be extreme negativity. But she was just curious about what he felt about the Greek. 'Any particular reason why?' The voice that always hid itself deep within her mind suddenly barged into her thoughts. Her eyes shifted to the side opposite where Siegfried was as the question hit her. 'I-I don't know, perhaps because of the charms he seems to hold. He also reminds me of someone I… once knew.' She thought in return as she sighed at the history she once had with this certain person. 'Oh and I wonder who that might be?' Jaina narrowed her eyes at the sarcastic tone her conscience made. Female mage closed her eyes a she sharply shook her head to try and drive the voice out; she had no desire to think about the charming prince she once knew, not after what he became all because of greed. Jaina hesitantly peered over to Siegfried's broad form and let a smile creep upon her lips as she tried to keep her face hidden behind her hood; she felt pleasantly refreshed to know that he seemed so… different.
88888888888888
"ASHENVALE?" Arthas boomed in outrage in disbelief as he exited his Temple of the Damned. He balled his hands into tight fists and his face screwed in anger as he had a strong urge to rip his own snowy-white hair. "How'd that bitch of a dark ranger possibly…!" He sneered at the thought of Sylvanas and how she seemed to portray her underhanded ways. As he walked through the unholy base, the knight found that at least the constant shrieks, moans and cries of indescribable torture and sorrow from some of the structures seemed to pleasantly sooth his tensing nerves.
"Do not worry yourself over her, Prince Arthas; we have greater matters to attend to." Kel'Thuzad advised as it followed. "You should be content knowing that the necromancer actually found the faint whispers of Soul Edge after his first he attempt." It added, only to make the knight sneer again.
"Insolent hag." Arthas muttered. "He didn't even have the thought of trying again after saying that he couldn't find anything of Soul Edge. How could he think that it would just drop off the face of the earth? Humph! I should have him tortured for his pitiful display in front of me." He grinned darkly at the thought as a chilling wind passed through the open spots of his armor and onto his skin, only to heighten the thrilling feeling of torture.
"Don't get so side-tracked so easily, knight. Focus on what we must do to retrieve Soul Edge." The Lich reminded, curious as to what they should do to get passed a forest of elves. 'We can surely corrupt their lands so defeating them would be difficult, the only nuisance would be the fact that the Night Elves break into many 'tribes' or whatever their ridiculous elven language calls it by.' It thought as it waited patiently for the knight's plan to see how well his own strategies are.
Arthas pondered for a moment with a sigh of irritation and rubbing his thumb and three fingers as if to relieve a headache. After a few minutes, he slowly looked up to Kel'Thuzad, who was a bit bewildered at the avidly eager grin complete with smugly narrowed eyes. "We'll release the creature upon him." He stated as turned on his heel against the gravel and seemed to hastily head toward where the 'creature' was being held.
"The creature?" Kel'Thuzad gazed at him unsurely as it hurried next to the immortal figure that seemed to hunch over as he walked in his eagerness. "Yes, 'It' would certainly be formidable in combat, especially when knowing the refinements we gave it. But are you sure that's wise? It hadripped and broken the bones of over seven guards in the last week." The lich reminded with an inwardly raised eyebrow.
Arthas instantly turned to him with a grin ready to spread across his face. "Seven? Oh then we certainly must let it loose." He remarked with enthusiasm present as he walked to the Slaughterhouse in an even faster pace.
The Slaughterhouse soon came into view with its spiked wheel at the structure's needle spinning, a sign that the breaking down of the flesh and bone for more grotesque monstrosities was commencing. Arthas shoved his way passed the door which was being guarded by three living and armed skeletons known as Greater Dark Minions with green dots the size of fireflies in their eye sockets for their vision.
The creaks of the wheel and the cracks of bone and flesh were loud as Arthas strode down the dark corridor to a single cell with Kel'Thuzad remaining at his heels. Thrashing, grunting, roaring and clanging could soon be heard over the happenings of the main room where the atrocities were being made as he came closer to the large door. The door seemed to jump as something seemed to have crashed into it from behind, Arthas stopped before the door, noting a sharp yelp from behind it and grinned. "I can't wait to see what our little creature has been doing." He noted as he took the skull-shaped knob in his hands and pushed open the door.
There it stood with an expression of extreme rage and discontent. Its muscular frame and towering height would intimidate any foe, along with its burning crimson eyes and bulky back that had bone from its vertebra protruding out of its skin. It's chest had the same long scars forming an "X" over its chest, the only difference between before and now was that the pulsing organ in the center had been stilled yet the creature still stood; all to the thanks of Kel'Thuzad and its liches. Its mouth was masked and its skin was pale, making its black armor plates easily stand out. Its eyes stared unwaveringly and in a threateningly-wide fashion as it looked down upon Arthas, who continued to grin as he looked upon the bloody mess upon the floor; minions and guards had been tossed and thrashed against the wall by the very creature that stood before him even though it was held by eight shackles. It was obvious that the minions had become to densely-minded in their playful tortures towards this gigantic being that they must have stood too close and the creature was then able to lash out at them.
"You again?" The creature shouted in a darkly deep voice towards Arthas, who stood unfazed. It remembered the knight coming in from time to time to see how and what it was doing in its captivity.
"Now now, we wouldn't want to upset the very person who is willing to release you, now would we… Astaroth?" Arthas asked in a mockingly confident tone to the large creature, which looked at him angrily but in an intrigued fashion. Its red eyes continued to stare at the death knight as it took in a breath through its nose. "So, obey me, and you're release will come nice and easy." He grinned darkly.
Astaroth sneered before he growled as he thrashed against his chains, wanting so badly to have this knight be his new victim. "I obey NO ONE! You are NOT my creator, so I shall NEVER obey YOU!" He boomed as he continued to thrash, wishing that one of the chains would come loose from the wall so that he could whip it in the knight's direction. Unfortunately, he had found out that each shackle was reinforced with dark magic, preventing the metal from breaking; only a weapon made from and for the 'Light' could weaken the magic and break the chains.
Arthas' grin fell into a frown; what insolence! But then again that could be expected from a newly 'reformed' or otherwise known as 'undead' creature; Sylvanas hadn't been much different – she had been a bit of a… 'spitfire' to her guards - but according to Kel'Thuzad and its research, this creature hadn't been 'humane' like all the living seemed to be.
"You dare speak to your new master with such impudence?" Kel'Thuzad chided harshly, however Arthas merely waved a hand in his frown, telling the lich to stand down.
"Feh!" Astaroth spit at their feet. "You're petty little remarks mean nothing to me!"
The golem was silenced as Arthas abruptly brought the tip of Frostmourne against the captive's neck, pushing him back until he was against the wall. Astaroth continued to sneer although was inwardly intrigued at the chillingly cold aura this deadly weapon emitted. In subtle ways, it uncannily reminded Astaroth of the blade that he had endlessly searched for in the outer lands, the very same that his original creator had sent him to retrieve. This fact was the whole reason that Astaroth had actually stilled his rage, or at least temporarily.
"Good, now stay silent! You shouldn't be so ungrateful to the very man who returned you from the dead." Arthas' sneer turned into an amused smirk as Astaroth gazed at him with bewilderment which the golem tried to hide. "You didn't even notice? Ha!"
"Do not mock me, you little maggot!" Astaroth snapped, however blinked, trying to take in the new facts about his being; he remembered the very event of his death, caused by the Greek, Asian and Korean women, but it never initially hit him that he actually died and was actually brought back to life. The only thing he noticed was the change in his strength; it had become a bit stronger than before. "Why would a little knight like you want to bring me back to life." He quirked an eyebrow cockily, his blood red eyes boring into Arthas'. "Why should I even listen to everything you have to say?"
Arthas chuckled within his throat as he kept his sword up against the golem's neck. "Think about it." His tone was irritatingly mocking. "You're given a second chance to drench your own hands in blood; I could tell when I first saw your blood-soaked corpse that you weren't made for the 'Light', not with the spiked armor you wore." He stated as he leaned over his blade as he spoke in a low voice. "I am… your re-creator." The knight grinned.
"Well, I'm touched." Astaroth spoke sarcastically then eyed him suspiciously. "Are you expecting some kind of alliance? Because I'd rather burn in the flames of Hell than make an alliance with anyone." The giant narrowed his eyes as Arthas seemed to laugh at his assertion then bring his frost-bitten sword to his side.
"A creature such as you is looking for the ultimate demonic power from your own lands; Soul Edge surely?" Arthas quirked an eyebrow then grinned again as Astaroth nodded. "I know where it is, all you have to do is retrieve it for me." Astaroth's eyes widened; this knight new where it was but asks the likes of another to retrieve it? It didn't make sense to the golem but he knew that the purpose of Soul Edge for this man was power, much like many of the others who searched for the demonic sword. "I shall let you loose, and I shall not have you go about the mission on your own even though you believe that you're able to defeat an entire race; you will be given forces of your own." The undead leader stated, making Kel'Thuzad look at him in abrupt confusion and slight shock; what forces?
Astaroth looked at him for a moment, as if to survey his methods then raised an eyebrow as he turned his head a bit. "Forces of my own eh?" He pondered over the idea, then slowly looked down as he tried to hide his devilish smirk. "I will find Soul Edge, I will lead the forces you lend to me although as tedious as that sounds. But I will also need my axe as I seemed to have been stripped of it. Even though I seem for powerful than before, my bloodlust is always stronger when I grip my axe." Finishing, he looked up slowly with furrowed eyebrows.
Arthas seemed to smirk triumphantly. "I will get you something even better than an axe, something more suitable for what you are now. And for your forces, heh, I'll make sure that you'll feel very comfortable with them." With that, he turned to leave, making Astaroth pull against her chains in outrage.
"And my promised release?" The towering, bulky figured creation sneered.
Arthas chuckled. "Oh yes, I'll will have my necromancers come by to undo the spell on your chains." With that, he left the room with the lich close behind. Both could hear an irritated growl then a harsh 'chang!' of yanked shackles from behind the door.
Kel'Thuzad leaned towards him. "'It' is not one to trust Arthas. His lust for Soul Edge is nearly as great as yours." It cautioned.
"Did you think I was that blind not to see it?" Arthas spoke sarcastically with the corner of his lip raised in a half-sneer. "But I have no real worries about that, even though if 'it' does find Soul Edge, it'll probably kill of the Abominations I give him." He stated. The lich nodded inwardly, now knowing what Arthas meant when he said that Astaroth would be 'comfortable' with his forces since both were made by supernatural magics.
"Then how do you suggest we make sure that we get Soul Edge?" Kel'Thuzad pondered aloud.
Arthas seemed to grin darkly as he looked at his advisor. "We still have that spawn of Soul Edge to complete. It may not be able to have enough energy or power to even walk on its own since the small sample of Soul Edge that my ghoul stole while Nightmare was still here wasn't exactly potent in dark power, but we can change that." With that, the death knight eagerly went to order a lesser lich to speed up the production of the abominations before heading to the whereabouts of his next objective, making sure that Kel'Thuzad stayed close behind since he was going to need the master Lich's dark summoning skills.
888888888
A male figure covered with deer furs on each shoulder and back trudged through the tall grasses in a steady pace but with hidden eagerness. He shifted his furs, relieving his handsomely taut torso though was still partially covered by his long leaf-green beard. The winds blew against his back, making a strand of his equally long and leaf-green hair lift up and wrap around one of his antlers which matched the size of a healthy, full grown male stag's.
As he reached the summit of a small hill, he took a breath then slowly turned back to see how his forest lands have healed since he had coped with them for long periods. His moonlit eyes softened as the sun's golden light caressed the tree tops. The wind brushed against the tops of the trees, making the sea of light create gentle waves and ripples. 'The work is tedious at times, but it's certainly worth it to see the tranquility I've given these forests and watch them smile in their thanks.' The arch-druid thought with a sigh.
His gaze swept to the skies as he let out another closed-mouth sigh but this one of depression and thoughtful sadness. 'I do miss home, namely my beloved.' Holding his thick root-headed staff tightly, his gaze then dropped and swept over the forests. 'Felwood is still in slight turmoil since its lands still remain corrupt, but at least the greater majority of these forest lands have healed after spending a few years with them, which actually seem like decades.'
Ovals of dulled silver met the width of each eye as they stretched vertically over both as they turned to his tall staff, gazing at the feather that hung by a string tied to one of the roots' curls. The purple feather, metal beads and crescent mark on his staff's head made his thoughts travel to pleasant memories of when he remained with the race that held those trademarks. He smiled fondly. 'Perhaps I should visit my home again; I can only last so long before my heart begins to ache for the very same person I hold within it.'
He surveyed the healthy trees around him. 'I've done as much as I can to help these forests, although I may still be far from done. But perhaps some forests need time to heal themselves before they need extra attention.' He smiled. 'I think I deserve a little break after all the healing I've done.'
He looked down the hill to find his travel companion, a tall, stout and fearless herding animal that would be considered a goat but certainly didn't have the height and horns for one as those traits were larger. It had been spending its time chewing on the lush grass, grateful that his master was able to provide such a fine meal for him after spending weeks coping in a single forest.
The slightly aged Night Elf chuckled at this as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Hey, I just cleaned up these woods and fields so your incentive eating isn't helping me." He grinned bemusedly as he watched Gholbine's dark eyes snap to his own then soon galloped off to stand by his master's side. "You can eat as much as you wish when we reach Ashenvale. It is a pretty fair distance away – a few weeks – but I believe you can make it." Malfurion smiled as they headed towards the next set of forests with eager hearts.
88888888888888888888888888888888888888
I hope you liked it and that it was at least worth your wait. I rather liked how this chapter involves almost every character that I've brought into the fic thus far. The Taki/Sophie thing may have been a little fast/sudden for some, I know, but that's why I made Sophie say that she didn't expect Taki to suddenly fall for her, so I'll make the pace nice enough for Taki to adapt to the ways of love :)
With Maiev and Naisha, I thought I should put that in to give Maiev a little background and a little flashback for the both of them. When I gave Maiev the extra 'trait' on her face, I did that because I thought I'd add character to her personality and raise more question marks for her background.
Jaina will learn more about Siegfried horrible past as this fic progresses, and as for her threat to the blood elves (since that may've been hard to visualize for some), I really wanted to put that in because then I could show the hidden spitfire the little sorceress contains when it comes to people insulting her friends ;)
I have a few ideas for the next chapter of My Way, I just need to bring them all together. It should be easier since I have to go from 'serious' to 'comedy', then in these couple of months I've done the 'serious', 'serious', then finally 'comedy', my genres kind of keep me in line so these two months have thrown me off a bit.
I'm thinking that, if this fic goes very far, that I'll make an 'A New Era: The Outtakes' and 'A New Era: Flashbacks' where all the flashbacks mentioned between the characters (such as the memory of Naisha finding Maiev bathing, as stated in this chapter) will be put into detail.
