All of it just seemed a dream. The frostwyrm ascended over the still raging blizzard until the sky was clear. The northern lights shimmered over the cloud cover. Sapphire never once let go of Marwyn, clutching his cloak with both hands.
Hours passed on the back of the dragon. Only the tips of mountains could pierce the cloud cover for most of the journey, yet eventually another shape came into view. The dark shape on the horizon slowly grew into a familiar shape.
Home.
Icecrown rose out of the clouds like a shark fin amongst the waves. Its sharp edges and hostile aura would have intimidated anyone else. As the frostwrym soared close to it, Sapphire could also see the floating city of Dalaran. Somewhere in the City of Mages was her mother. Sapphire couldn't let herself think of her too much and forced her own tears and emotions down. The frostwym flew back into the cloud cover, obscuring her vision. Down in the darkness, Sapphire peered over the side of the dragon to see her childhood rushing back up to greet her.
The frostwyrm swerved instinctively away from the spiked battlements and flew past sharply angled metallic walls. The harsh landscape of ice and metal was a comforting view.
Nothing had changed. Even the half completed necropolis of Malykriss still floated above the forges of Icecrown, though the lack of maintenance had the chained necropolis swaying in the wind and one side dipped down significantly toward the ground. A wide expanse of hardened ice between the Cathedral of Darkness, Corp'rethar, and the citadel itself was a welcome sight. Sapphire's fondest memories of snowball fights and ice skating took place in the Court of Bones.
A few undead shambled over the icy landscape below, not even glancing up at the dragon flying over them.
Sapphire expected them to land down on the ground, but the frostwyrm instead glided upwards to a wide balcony on the lower walls of the Citadel. Now as the dragon landed, scraping the metal with its claws, Sapphire could smell the familiar metallic smell of saronite. It permeated everything in the Citadel. Only a few places smelled differently, like the Plagueworks with its strong chemical smell and the Crimson Halls, where the Darkfallen coated everything in silk and heavy perfume.
Marwyn had to pry Sapphire's hands off of him in order to dismount and help her down. Sapphire practically fell into the deathknight's open arms. He grunted as her full weight went on him.
"You've heavier than I remember," He said teasingly before putting her down.
Sapphire gently put her feet down on the floor, taking in all the feelings she was experiencing. Still dazed, Sapphire walked over to the edge while Marwyn took the saddle off the frostwyrm. She put her hands on the waist high wall. The metal felt more like ice than ice did.
Only Sapphire seemed to have changed.
Footsteps clanged behind her and she looked back, expecting Marwyn. The figure standing there, arms crossed, gave Sapphire a mix of dread and relief.
"You're even uglier and fatter than I remember," Captain Falric grumbled.
Sapphire lunged at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Never had she considered doing something like that, but she had even missed the vicious jerk that was Falric. The deathknight jumped back, trying to get out of her grip. He immediately snapped his head toward Marwyn.
"Did you fucking drop her on the head on the way here? She's hugging me!" He snarled.
Marwyn merely smiled at the sight as he came to rescue Falric.
"Seems she missed even you, you foul mouthed repugnant ass."
Marwyn separated the two of them and snatched Sapphire up, causing her to squeal. He kissed her cheek. Falric curled his lip up before examining the young girl up and down.
"What's with the horns?"
Sapphire reached up to touch them self consciously. "They are antlers. I am a druid!"
The two looked at her in surprise, before Falric snorted out a a chuckle.
"Good one, brat!"
"I am!" Sapphire protested.
Instinctively, Marwyn got between the two of them and lavished his attention on Sapphire. He pulled her up into his arms like he always would and started to carry her inside. As always, the girl wrapped her arms around his neck, avoiding the sharp pieces of his armor.
"How wonderful! A druid! I always imagined you more of a mage. You must show us some magic. Can you turn into a cat?"
Sapphire shook her head. "No, but I can do a snow bear and snow owl!"
Marwyn gave her a wide smile. "A bear! Hear that Falric? A bear!"
"I've always wanted a bear rug in my room," He replied.
Both of them were the same as always. Sapphire wanted to cry, but kept it together for the sake of Marwyn. He always hated to see her tears.
The deathknight carried her into the Citadel. Now Sapphire saw some signs of change since she left. What was smooth metal floors and walls, was now coated in snow and crusted with ice. Random bones, bleached white and cracked, scattered along the halls. The banners which once proudly showed off the insignia of the Scourge were now tattered.
Sapphire wanted to ask about where all the ghouls were and why they weren't cleaning and maintaining the Citadel. Were there no necromancers to make any? Did they all die off since she had left?
Falric caught up with the two of them and started to speak to his partner.
"So have you asked her about-"
Marwyn quickly interrupted. "I bet you are hungry, aren't you? Ignore Falric, you are as skinny as a fishbone."
The other deathknight glared at Marwyn, yet did not continue whatever he had been planning to speak of. Sapphire was hungry. The last thing she had was the pine needle tea...
The tea Bolfr had made. Sapphire suddenly panicked. She had been so overwhelmed by the reunion that she had not even thought how Bolfr or Tryg might feel upon finding her gone. She doubted Adalger would have hurt Bolfr or Tryg because he had been looking for Sapphire. He was no doubt hunting for her even now, but what if he tried to hurt them?
"My...my friends are in the Wailing Ziggurat. I completely forgot to tell you about them. Could...Could you go find them? At least tell them I'm okay?"
"Sure, after you eat I will even fly you back. I'd love to meet any friends of yours," Marwyn said enthusiastically, then frowned before quickly asking, "Are any of them alive?"
"Only my faerie dragon. Their name is Tanomoan."
Following behind them, Falric gave her an confused look. "What the fuck is a faerie dragon?"
"That's kinda how Arthas reacted too when we were in Moonglade," Sapphire said, smiling, expecting Marwyn to laugh at that, but the deathknight immediately stopped and put her down. To Sapphire's confusion, the air in the Citadel seemed to grow harsher and colder, cold enough to bother her. Both deathknights had worried looks on their face.
"The druid place? What do you mean? Arthas has never been to Moonglade," Falric hissed.
"Yes, he has. About a year ago we were both in Moonglade," Sapphire said confidently. She saw the looks on their faces change to something akin to...fear? She then realized, they didn't know Arthas was still "alive."
Before she could even say anything, Falric looked up to the roof briefly, then pushed past her and started to run. Marwyn bent down to her level and spoke to her softly. "I think you have a lot to explain."
Blood coated every blade of Arthas's and it felt good to see it. He did his best work with blood dripping off his hands or weapons. Just then, an armored man ran toward Arthas yelling with a sword raised up high. Arthas casually glanced toward the oncoming man.
A ghoul jumped on him, knocking the man to the ground. It then grabbed the man's throat with its teeth and tore out a chunk. Blood spewed everywhere as the man shrieked in pain.
All around in Fort Wildevar similar noises of terror and pain rose up in a cacophony of death. After establishing a base in Gjalerbron, Arthas wanted to secure its advantage by destroying the small Alliance and Horde settlements nearby. Camp Winterhoof fell easily. Fort Wildevar was bigger and better guarded, but not by much. Years after the war against him had caused the armed forces and frequent patrols to leave. Only local townspeople lived there, eking out an existence far from any major cities in the harsh Northrend wilderness.
Gjalerbron was the first of many bases Arthas planned on reclaiming. The Vrykul had put up a good fight, but had still fell to Arthas's undead. In the end, all they had done was help him by giving him more bodies. Kiefer had even found some inert yet unbroken gargoyles within the fortress. He immediately brought them to working order and set them off for surveillance.
By now the usurper would have been watching Arthas's movements, though the man never saw a gargoyle or sensed any shades or val'kyr around. If Arthas were to succeed, he needed his own eyes in the sky to find potential threats or opportunities.
Without Kel'thuzad to aid him, Arthas had to made do with what he could. Kiefer was working hard for him, despite disliking Arthas's recent behavior.
He would not be disappointed with Arthas right now as the deathknight went through the town, looking for any survivors while the other undead ran around rampantly and fought over bodies.
He stopped briefly when he saw a dead night elf laying on the ground, his bright violet hair stained dark with red. Something in Arthas made him stop, not wishing to look at the night elf. But it was not Lethumo. This elf was bulkier than the slim bard and much older. Arthas felt something like relief, but then grew irritated with himself.
When he assured himself that the necromancers needed no help, Arthas found Invincible at the edge of town, near the empty flight master's post.
Invincible whinnied happily at the sight of Arthas and trotted over to him, banging his head against Arthas's shoulder. The man stroked the horses's neck bones affectionately. before getting on his back. The horse did not need any prompting to turn and rush down the road.
Freshly made undead vrykul greeted Arthas as he rode back into Gjalerbron. At a nearby snow drift, Arthas saw a group of necromancers gathered around. One noticed his return and rushed over.
"Master! We found a Frostwyrm!"
Arthas got down from Invincible and followed the eager cultist over to the mound. He saw the now exposed jaws and one clawed limb. The other necromancers spoke over each other in an attempt to get Arthas's attention about various spells that they would need and what reagants were required. Arthas let out a growl at them, causing even the most ambitious to quiet down and cower before him.
"None of that is necessary," Arthas said, before putting his hand on the frostwyrm's jaw.
Using as much of his magic he could, Arthas raised the dragon. It took a lot more out of him than he expected and Arthas gritted his teeth at the effort. There was no Helm or Frostmourne to amplify his own magic.
The entire snow drift shook violently and then exploded in a cascade of snow and ice. The cultists all backed away with cries of excitement.
The jaw pulled away from Arthas's hand and as the snow fell away, two glowing eyes full of malice stared back at him. Two wings of tattered flesh and sharp bone rose up toward the sky. The Frostwyrm rose to its feet and then pulled its neck back before let out an ear splitting roar.
"You are going to help me reclaim Icecrown Citadel and the glacier, so Glacier I will call you," Arthas proclaimed. Weakened as he was from the spell, Arthas refused to show it to anyone. He moved past the sharp claws and icy breath before grabbing onto one of the many protruding bones on its back. Arthas pulled himself up effortlessly to sit along the dragon's vertebrae.
Without a verbal command, Glacier dug its claws into the ice and snow and leapt into the sky with another less powerful roar.