Anduin
I paced back and forth in the field just outside Stormwind Keep. We'd picked an open space a good distance from the Keep to make our attempt to save father. Along with Jaina, Connie, Malfurion and Kalec, we were surrounded by two dozen soldiers, as well as two priest healers and two warlocks. If any demons managed to get through the portal, we'd be ready.
"You're sure the magic will work and the portal will open up near them?" I asked for the hundredth time since Jaina announced she'd figured out the locator spell. It had taken the better part of two week and she'd barely left her chambers during that time. The only reason I knew she was eating was because I'd sent food in and empty plates had been brought out.
"It will work, Anduin. I've checked everything multiple times. Once Connie and Vala make their connection, the spell will allow me to open a portal using their connection as a beacon."
Connie stood next to me, a look of determination on her face. "The magic Jaina taught me to help push Vala's fel magic aside so I can link magic with her will work , too. It's lucky we found a way for me to actually do the pushing, so the burden of both the connection and the link will be on me. Have faith."
"I have faith in both of you, I just feel very helpless right now." I admitted.
Jaina placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "You have a small army standing out here with us. If anything demonic comes through that portal, this army will need you to command it. You're also the best healer this city has, so don't think of yourself as helpless. Your part in all of this just hasn't happened yet."
"With any luck, Your Majesty, your part will not be necessary at all." Malfurion stated. "If this works the way Lady Proudmoore has designed, once the portal is open it should only take a matter of minutes to find your father and bring him home."
I nodded, appreciating the night elf's words and, in theory, he was correct. If the portal opened up close to Father and Vala, all Kalec and Mafurion needed to do was guide them back through. It should all be easy…again, in theory.
"Okay, is everyone ready?" Jaina said to everyone. "Let's give this a try. Connie, you're up."
Varian
Vala and I kept the mirror in hand as day four began. We didn't know how exact the four days would be, and it wasn't like we had a very reliable way of tracking time anyway, so we made sure to have one of us keep eyes on the mirror at all times. This was finally our chance to get home. We were not going to miss it. As soon as the mirror activated, we'd be out the hidden door.
I'd made an initial pass outside when I woke up, making sure the coast was clear of demons. So far, luck was with us, but I knew that could change in an instant.
"Are you sure there's nothing you want to bring back with you?" I asked Vala as we ate a light breakfast.
We didn't have much food left, but we were holding off on making more. If luck held, we wouldn't need anymore and we decided to save all of Vala's strength for the connection. We had no idea what she'd have to do magically to help with the process Jaina had cooked up, so we were erring on the side of caution.
Vala shook her head. "I'd rather not have anything around which reminds me of this place. I'll never be able to forget the last five years. I don't need a memento."
I nodded. I could certainly understand her way of thinking. I was taking the polearm out with us, but only for protection, just in case we were attacked while out in the open. Also, when it came to opening a portal, I didn't know what Jaina's idea of "close" would be. She could mean a few feet, a few yards or just barely visible from where we stood. In any case, it was better to be safe than dead when dealing with demons.
Vala was being oddly quiet and I'd been stranded with her long enough to know her worried face. I placed a hand on each of her shoulders.
"This is going to work. We're going home today, Vala. Have faith."
She took a deep breath, held it for a few moments, then let it out in a rush. "I've been in this dimension for almost too long to have much faith in anything anymore." She looked down and wouldn't meet my eyes.
I smiled at her, encouraging her to look at me with a gentle hand under the chin. "That's alright. I have enough faith for both of us."
We were quiet for several moments, then we both almost jumped when we heard another person in the cave.
"I think it worked…I see the ceiling of a cave, I think." Said the female voice I recognized as the young woman, Connie. I had yet to ask Anduin about his relationship to the woman. It was one of the many things I was looking forward to talking to my son about in person.
I scooped up the mirror. "We're here."
The mirror turned and Jaina appeared. "How's Vala?"
I looked at her. She seemed distracted. "I can feel the connection pulling from my power. It's not as much as when I open the connection, but I can still feel it."
"Then we must be quick." Jaina said. "We've figured out a way for Connie to do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to pushing Vala's fel magic aside, but even Connie's strength is going to fade quickly and there is only so much we can do to bolster her."
"We're heading out of our shelter now." I said, escorting Vala out of the cave, through the secret passage and out onto the open plain. There were no demons in sight. We headed straight out and into the open.
Vala sat down, holding the mirror. I stood next to her, the polearm at the ready.
I vaguely listened as Connie explained to Vala what she was doing as she manipulated the fel magic infecting her. I could hear Vala's breathing accelerate and I risked a quick glance at her. She might not have been doing much magic herself, but some part of it was taking a great deal of effort for her. She almost looked to be in pain.
"Okay, it's working." Connie said. "The connection is almost complete."
"Get ready Varian." Jaina said loudly. "I'm about to attempt the portal."
"The area is still clear, Jaina. We're ready." I yelled.
I started looking around. I'd seen dozens of portals in my life, so I knew what I was looking for. After several minutes of seeing nothing, I began to worry the tracing spell hadn't worked. Then suddenly, I saw a portal start to open, but it was almost right on top of Vala. I dropped the polearm and pulled Vala to the side as gently as I could to prevent the connection from being dropped. Fortunately, she pulled the mirror to her chest as we both stumbled to the side and landed almost on top of each other.
"You alright?" A asked her as I pulled her back to a seated position.
Vala only nodded.
Before anyone could come through the portal, a loud series of screaches came from the sky above us. I looked up to see a dozen winged demons heading right for the portal. They hadn't been there moments before and they seemed to be heading right to us.
"We have a problem, Jaina. It looks like the portal is attracting demons. We're not going to make it through without company."
"Yes you will." Said a male voice from behind us.
Kalecgos already had two fireballs formed, which he flung at the demons, causing them to scatter. "Get through with Malfurion, I'll hold them off."
Vala thrust the mirror into my hands, already forming two fireballs of her own. She seemed a little unsteady on her feet, but she was managing.
"We'll thin them out so none get through." She said, flinging the fire and taking out two of the demons.
A dark ball of magic joined the fireballs as the Archdurid added his own magic to that of the two mages. I used the polearm, one handed, and took out one of the demons which managed to get very close to the ground.
"Quickly, Your Majesty." Malfurion said to me as he almost dragged me to the portal, the night elf being one of the few beings big enough and strong enough to drag me anywhere. I took a quick look at the two mages.
"We'll be right behind you." Kalec assured, continuing his assault on the flying demons, who seemed to be aiming more for the portal than the beings around it.
I could tell Vala was fading fast, but I didn't fight the night elf as we walked through the portal. Seconds later, we stood in one of the open fields next to Stormwind Keep. I stepped away from the portal and turned, waiting for Kalec and Vala to follow.
"Where are they?" I said quietly.
"I can't hold the portal open much longer. We lost the connection when the mirror came through." Jaina said from somewhere off to my right. I was vaguely aware of Anduin coming to my side.
The portal began to close, but seconds before it was lost completely, Kalec was propelled through the portal with Vala in his arms. The portal closed without a single demon breaching the dimension.
Kalec placed Vala gently on the ground. I knelt next to her, placing the mirror on the ground, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit me and everything went dark.
To Be Continued...
