A Tribute to Immortality.
They appeared in a grand stone chamber, which Sylvanas quickly identified as a cathedral, but she knew it was not the Stormwind Cathedral of Light. They were not alone in the Cathedral's main hall for long, as several figures quickly hurried in, alerted by the sounds of the heroes teleporting in.
"Lady Sylvanas? How? May I ask why you are here?" Tirion asked, as the leaders of the Silver Hand flanked him.
"I think the answer is clear Lord Fordring," Alexstrasza said, as the last of the ice melted off Uther's body.
"Is it dead?" Saidan asked cautiously, choosing his words carefully. "Is the Lich King dead?"
"It certainly seems like it," Alleria breathed. "At the very least, there's no Scourge left in Northrend, and no powerbase for it to return."
"Why are you here my lady? Do you wish to lay Uther to rest in Stratholme?" Alexandros asked.
"Stratholme!" Arthas accidentally exclaimed. "I shouldn't be here."
"I think the city will survive your presence for a little while former prince," Saidan joked, though several people scowled at him.
"Quite the opposite Lord Mograine," Sylvanas smiled, lifting Uther's body up with a little help from her sisters. "We're here to resurrect him."
"Why?" Archbishop Farthing inquired. "Surely after all he has been through, Uther's soul is at rest."
"We need him for what is coming," Alleria stated plainly.
"I beg your pardon?" Saidan choked, surprised by her bluntness.
"The Legion ARE coming, and we need every hero the Azeroth Alliance has if we are to prevail," Jaina explained. "Send word to all nations, they must prepare their armies for war."
"At once Lady Proudmoore!" Fairbanks bowed, before hurrying off.
Sylvanas gently placed Uther's body on the altar, before slowly unfastening the Lich's armour. Alleria and Vereesa quickly joined their sister in removing the unholy armour from the fallen Paladin's body, while the other heroes moved to the pews. They placed the armour in a pile to one side, leaving Uther in the remains of his undergarments; Sylvanas felt a lump in her throat at seeing the burn marks from their confrontation with Deathwing, and they showed no signs of healing in the months since that fight.
"What would you ask of the Silver Hand?" Tirion asked, stepping forward.
"Pray that this works, there is so much at stake," Thrall said flatly as he took a seat a few rows back, Gromm choosing to stay standing on one side of the room; occasionally sneering at the statues of fallen Paladins and holy relics.
The leaders of the Silver Hand barred the main entrance into the Cathedral chamber, before joining the other heroes in the pews. Vereesa, Sylvanas and Alleria took their seats in the front row, as the Aspects gathered around Uther's body.
"Titans watch over us, grant us your strength in this dark hour," Alexstrasza began. "Your fallen champion's minions come for this world, and we ask for your aid in returning a powerful weapon against them to our side. Let us use the gifts you blessed us with so long ago to bring this fallen hero back from the great beyond."
"Eonar, cleanse this one's mind of the corruption that plagued him in his life," Ysera said, placing her hands on either side of Uther's head. "Bless him with a purified soul and the peace of mind to face the growing threat without compromise."
"Norgannon, bless this Paladin with the intellect to lead the coming war, and the focus to let nothing stand in his way." Kalecgos stated, placing one hand over Uther's forehead.
"Khaz'goroth, fortify our champion's body with the strength of the earth he must fight to protect," Onyxia said slowly, placing her right hand on Uther's right shoulder.
"Aman'thul, this one's timeline has yet to run its course, help him to ensure the history of Azeroth is not turned to darkness by the oncoming Legion," Nozdormu sighed, placing his left hand on Uther's left shoulder.
"And Eonar, I beseech you to restore life to this fallen hero of Azeroth, allow me to rekindle the fire of life inside him," Alexstrasza prayed, summoning a small ball of pale fire in her right hand, before placing it over Uther's heart.
Suddenly a golden light filled the Cathedral, pouring in through the windows on all sides; illuminating the ritual they were performing most of all, and blinding the onlookers. Sylvanas smiled when her eyes adjusted, and took in the unmistakable sign of Uther's chest beginning to rise and fall beneath Alexstrasza's hand.
"Even the Light does not wish to see Uther gone from the world before the Legion are defeated," Sylvanas breathed, hurrying closer to see Uther open his eyes.
"Has it worked?" Tirion asked, as the Silver Hand members cautiously stepped forward.
"Only time will tell," Nozdormu stated, watching Alexstrasza's eyes scan Uther's motionless form.
"The matter at hand now turns to the Legion and its agents spread across the Alliance." Alexstrasza said suddenly, having spotted the final fragment of Frostmourne.
"If we can even believe anything it said," Alleria spoke up. "For all we know it was a trick to get us looking to our allies instead of our enemies."
"Is the Lich truly dead?" Saidan asked.
"Not quite," Sylvanas said, staring at the piece of Frostmourne. "But how can we destroy something that will be empowered when we touch it?"
"The same way the Ashbringer crystal was created," Mograine said boldly. "We channel the Light into that foul remnant until the evil within is completely destroyed."
Sylvanas and the other members of the Silver Hand gathered around the last fragment of Frostmourne before, one by one, casting holy spells at the blade. A foul, twisted scream could be heard every time a spell hit the weapon, and Sylvanas withdrew the Ashbringer crystal again, holding it in both hands, before focusing as much holy energy as she could into a beam.
The beam erupted from the Ashbringer crystal and hit Frostmourne moments later, the faint scream became even more agonised, and the Silver Hand were quick to increase the number of spells they cast against the cursed object.
"Go back to where you belong, and stay there!" Sylvanas said through gritted teeth, concentrating every fibre of her being into the beam.
The Light emanating from the crystal intensified, and there was a bright flash that blinded all watching the exorcism. When they the light faded, they found Sylvanas unconscious on the floor, beside a pile of ashes that had once been Frostmourne.
"Is she dead?" Saidan asked, his concern etched in his voice.
"No, only unconscious," Alleria sighed with relief, checking her sister's pulse.
"How? The energy should have taken her life?" Tirion breathed, before the door was barged open, and heavily armed Quel'dorei Royal Guards rushed in.
"What is the meaning of this?" Alexstrasza roared, moving to confront the intruders, before an elderly High elf stepped into the room, and the Dragon Queen froze mid-step. "King Anasterian?"
"Former King," Anasterian smiled, and the three Windrunners were quick to bow before him. "And I apologise for interrupting this ceremony, but there is an urgent matter we must attend to."
"We know of the Legion's return, it is the reason for us attempting to resurrect Uther," Tirion stated.
"Then the Alliance would have at least two champions of the Light to stand against the Legion," Anasterian commented. "But I suspect that the Lady Windrunner is the more powerful of the two, if my assumptions are correct."
"What?" Alleria exclaimed, before her eyes darted to the Ashbringer crystal. "Is it because of that?"
"No my dear, it is not because of the relic she wields in her hand, or the power it bestows her with," Anasterian said slowly, as he approached the unconscious Sylvanas. "It is because of the energy that is locked away within her soul; an energy that even the Legion would fear, if it was properly harnessed."
"What are you talking about?" Saidan inquired.
"Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, our former Ranger-General, is a vessel for my people's greatest treasure," Anasterian said, looking around at everyone. "The Sunwell lives... Inside her soul!"