New Chapter up. Some of you have asked for more Horde in this story. Well, he you go. Enjoy.

Baine Bloodhoof was not happy. Sylvanas may have been his new warchief and he was honorbound to follow her lead, but she continued to go further and further down a road he wasn't comfortable following. Trying to take the night elves land was one thing, burning down Teldrassil was something entirely different. The act was cowardly and dishonorable and went against everything his people believed when it came to preserving the land they lived on. The Banshee Queen was getting closer and closer to going too far.

Baine walked among his people, noting most of his braves weren't celebrating. They weren't enjoying the Horde's victory, since it didn't feel much like one. Many of the druids and shaman were almost openly mourning the destruction they had played a part in causing. Though not magical in that sense, Baine felt the ache too. A terrible thing had happened and they were responsible for it, at least in part.

A young shaman ran up to Baine and bowed respectfully. "Chieftain, Vera has found something you need to see."

"Take me to her, Torian." Baine said with a nod.

The two tauren hurried deeper into the forest, away from the army. The forest was oddly quiet and the air was heavy with the scent of smoke, fire and things other than trees burning. In a secluded spot, Bane found Vera kneeling next to the still form of a night elf. Or, at least, Baine thought it was a night elf, but as he got closer, he noticed the form wasn't big enough to be an elf, though it was colored like one. It was female and looked almost human.

"Vera, who is…" Bane began, but then he saw the figure's face and gasped. "Kia Stormrage?" He said, slight disbelief in his voice. He had seen the Archdruid's daughter only once, but he felt like he knew her personally, from hearing about her friendship with his cousin.

Vera nodded. "I saw what looked like a druid fall from the sky. She must have been in Darnassus when Teldrassil was ignited."

"Is she dead?" He asked, since he could not tell in the failing light if she was breathing and she certainly wasn't moving.

"No. She's alive, barely." Vera looked up at her cousin. "We need to help her, Baine. She's my friend and…" she paused, looking to see there was no one else around to overhear. "...her name isn't Stormrage anymore. It's Wrynn."

"Queen." Baine whispered, taking a closer look at the tiny and fragile form before him. This wasn't just some night elf prisoner of war. She was Anduin Wrynn's wife. The Queen of Stormwind.

"We can't give her to Sylvanas, Baine." Vera whispered. "She'd…"

Baine sighed. "She'd do worse than kill her." Baine snorted. "I once considered Anduin Wrynn a friend."

The two tauren knelt quietly for a moment, the shaman, Torian, standing a few paces away, looking out towards the direction of the tauren army. They were still very much alone.

Baine stood, shaking his massive head, as if to clear it of thoughts. If he handed Kia over to Sylvanas, her fate would be worse than death. The Banshee queen would torment her, use her to chip away at the young king's psyche. The king's and Malfurion's. This was also the Archdruid's daughter. The elder night elf had survived the attack, much to the warchief's disappointment, and his daughter's capture would torment him, as well. In the end, Sylvanas would turn her into a forsaken and, though they were allies, Baine wouldn't wish that fate on anyone. Friend or foe.

"Use your emergency hearthstone and get her to safety." He looked over at the young shaman. "You go with them. Tend to the elf's injuries. And Torian…" Baine placed a hand on the smaller tauren's shoulder. "...this must be kept a secret, between us three and no others. Do you understand?"

Torian nodded. "Yes, Chieftain."

Baine stepped back, watching as Vera took a small stone out of her belt. The rune carved on the white stone was bright red. Normally, the rune was blue, signifying a destination for home, which was Thunder Bluff. No, this stone would take them somewhere else. Somewhere much more secure and secret. With a slight flash, they disappeared, leaving Baine standing alone.

Baine turned to return to his army, feeling, for the first time that day, that he had done the right thing.

To Be Continued...