Part 2: The Call of Cenarius
As Malfurion strode further away, the Council door was opened once more and out stepped Remulos.
"Malfurion, wait."
"What is it, Remulos?"he asked, turing around.
"I cannot apologise enough on the behalf of Fandral. His behaviour back there was inexcusable."
"Thank you, Remulos. Though the words of Staghelm are not your own, I do appreciate the thought."
"But… you are quite sure?" said the Keeper of the Grove hesitantly.
"I have never been surer, Remulos."
"Then that is good enough for me."
The Archdruid smiled, weakly.
"Well, I must be off," he said,turning back round to face his stag as it waited patiently by the moon well.
"I understand, Shan'do. Farewell. May Elune light your path."
Malfurion clasped his hands together and nodded his head forwards in a deep bow. And then, without warning, he fell forward onto his knees with a grunt of exhaustion.
"Urgh…" he breathed.
"Malfurion?" uttered Remulous, lowering his head in concern. "What is wrong?"
"I can... I can hear the horn. He is… summoning me."
"Summoning you?" mouthed Remulous in bemuzement. "I do not understand. What is happening?"
"Remulos… it is your Father," panted the Archdruid, fighting to stay conscious long enough to speak. "It is... it is
Cenarius.
He is… calling me into the Dream."
And with one last breath, his body fell forward, collapsing onto the ground. His eyelids shut fast, and Malfurion was immediately consumed by a trance-like sleep.
"Furion!" shouted Remulous.
He did not stir.
"Furion!"
Malfurion Stormrage slowly opened his eyelids and found himself immersed in a blinding haze of greenery. His body was lying flat on a vibrant field of endless grass, completely covered with wild flowers. He lay there silently, watching the cloudless sky drift overhead. The Emerald Dream… he had forgotten how beautiful it was. He had been so busy lately, he had had little oppurtunity to sleep and wander its wonderment. The Emerald dream was a parallel vision of Azeroth. It showed what the world would look like if forests had not been cut down, prairies had not been farmed, rivers had not been diverted and cities had not been build - completely untouched by intelligent beings. Animals of all types roamed the Dream freely, some of which no longer exist in the real world or were never given the chance of evolve. However, it is not only the inhabitant creatures that roam the Dream. Creatures from Azeroth constantly visit, though they may not know it. Slumbering beings can arrive in the Emerald Dream, and often had prohpehtic and helpful visions, though they rarely comprehended what it was that they saw. The Druids were the only beings who could channel their spirit into hte Dream at will. But usually entrance of the Dream required a deep meditative state. Unless you were summoned forth into it by a powerful spirit...
"Greetings, Malfurion."
That voice. That deep, thunderous, terrifying, yet soothing tone. Malfurion leapt to his feet, and bowed deeply before the Demigod that towered before him. Much like Remulous, the being had the torso of a Night Elf, and the lower half of a stag. His head was also typical of the Kaldorei with a dark purple skin tone, and glowing green hair and beard. Out of his head pertruded two great antlers. It was Cenarius, the Lord of the Forest, and Son of Elune. He had been slain by Gromm Hellscream under the control of the Pitlord Mannoroth five years ago. And now, he was standing before him, clear as day, a spirit of the Emerald Dream. He was alive, but only within this realm.
"Cenarius, my Lord! It is you!"
"Rise, Malfurion," he uttered.
Malfurion stood back up, and looked skywards to his collossal form.
"I need to speak with you. It is urgent."
"I have never before been brought into the Emerald Dream forcibly, Cenarius," said Malfurion. "Is this in concern of the new World Tree?"
"No, Malfurion," he replied. "I am afraid it is not. That issue can wait. There are more pressing matters at hand."
"I do not understand, My Lord."
"I have," started Cenarius, "been watching Azeroth from here within the Emerald Dream, and have overseen the events of the world as they take place. And there is a problem."
"What is this problem, my Lord?"
"Last night as I slumbered within this realm, Elune appeared to me. She warned that the Betrayer was returning, and that he would bring nothing but chaos and destruction to the Kaldorei. And not only us, Shan'do. The whole world. The Goddess made her will clear. The Betrayer must be stopped."
"The Betrayer? You don't mean...?"
Cenarius nodded, sadly.
"Your brother, Malfurion. The problem is Illidan."
"No... no, it cannot be," began Malfurion in disbelief. "Illidan... he attoned for his mistakes," cried Malfurion. "He saved Tyrande's life!"
"That as it may be, Malfurion, but letting Illidan go free was still a grave
mistake. You must recapture him, and return him to his prison in the Barrow Deeps, before he becomes a threat to the world once again."
"I... I am sorry," breathed the Archdruid.
"Malfurion?"
"Cenarius, please forgive me. My forgiveness of Illidan has jepordised the safety of everyone. It is lost."
"What do you mean?"
"Cenarius... Illidan has escaped to the Orc homeworld of Draenor. There is no way for us to reach him within the mortal realm."
"This is… terrible, terrible news, indeed," replied Cenarius in disbelief. "Then… I am afraid that you are correct. All is as good as lost."
Suddenly, Malfurion recalled something that he had long forgotten, and his forlorn gaze whithered for a moment. His mouth opened.
"My Lord, there was… another."
"'Another'? Tell me of what you speak, Shan'do."
"There was one Night Elf who followed my brother into Outland."
"And who was this Elf?"
"The Warden of the Barrow Depths, Maeiv Shadowsong."
"Maeiv, leader of the Watchers?"
Malfurion nodded.
"Indeed, my Lord. I forbade her from following Illidan, but she did so regardless. Her relentless thirst for justice was too strong. She simply could not let Illidan go. I despaired at her actions back then, but now… it seems as if she may be our only hope."
"Maeiv Shadowsong..." whispered Cenarius. "Now there is a name I have not heard in a long time. She was down in that prison for one thousand years. A better Warden you could never ask for... but for something this monumentous to rest on her shoulders...?
Cenarius gave a worried sigh.
"We can only pray that she succeeds."
Malfurion nodded.
"In the meantime, you must return to the
Moonglade and warn the rest of your brethren. If Maeiv fails to reclaim him,
you must be prepared for anything."
"Yes, Cenarius," said the Archdruid.
"Know this, Malfurion Stormage. I did not seal Illidan into the Barrow Depths all those years ago as a mere punishment... I did it to protect our people."
Well, there goes Part 2.
hellraizer92: Thanks a lot! Coincedentally, your request matches with what is coming up, as I think you can see from what happens in this chapter. In Part 3: The Fallen Ranger, we enter Maeiv mode!
Any reviews appreciated, as always!
