An elven courier rushed into the main hall of Nighthaven. Arthas briefly glanced at the sudden movement, but he quickly turned his attention back to Cerelial. The druid was intent on explaining what he planned for Sapphire. She was progressing enough that he thought she was ready to enter the Emerald Dream for the first time. For most students, their parents lived elsewhere and merely received a letter to inform them, but Arthas was present. So Sapphire's teacher felt it was his duty to inform him of the process.

The Emerald Dream was a potentially dangerous place for those unfamiliar with it, which was why apprentices needed their teachers to guide them. Cerelial would take Sapphire to the barrow dens in the Moonglade. From there, both of them would drink a potion that open their minds to the Dream. A barrow den watcher would watch over their bodies while they slept.

"What is this potion made out of?" Arthas demanded. Ever since Sapphire had been drugged by that cultist, he had gone great lengths to keep her from drinking or eating anything from anyone but him or Lethumo. He did not even trust Keifer.

Unlike other druids, Cerelial was not easily intimidated by Arthas. Not a single strand of fur rose along the back of the savagekin, nor did he bare his teeth at the deathknight. "I can assure you nothing in the potion is hazardous to health. A nondruid can drink it. It would only make their own dreams more lucid the next time they slept."

If Cerelial was going to drink it, then Arthas supposed it would be safe for Sapphire. Both Cerelial and the den watcher would be taking care of Sapphire.

A couple of gasps across the room caused Arthas to turn his head. The head druids of Nighthaven were all crowded around the courier now. Every one of them looked deeply concerned.

Cerelial followed Arthas's view. He growled deep in his chest.

"Something is wrong."

Arthas nodded, and made his way toward the other druids. Cerelial followed. One of the chief druids sensed his and Cerelial's approach. His lip curled up briefly at the sight of Arthas but forced down his disdain.

"May I help you?" The druid asked gravely.

Cerelial took the lead.

"What news is there?" He asked.

Now the chief druids all looked down. The one who had spoken had sighed in resignation.

"The Horde has gathered and assaulted Northwatch Keep. It has fallen."

One of the other druids, a tauren, burst out angrily. "News has come through that they used dark shamans. Subjugated elementals to attack them!"

"So soon after the Cataclysm. Has he any sense?" Another druid snapped.

Another tauren stomped down a single hoof and snorted. "Complete disregard for nature!"

From what Arthas knew of Garrosh Hellscream, this kind of action did not sound out of line for him. Most orcs were stubborn and prideful, but none could compare to Garrosh Hellscream. When Arthas learned of Thrall putting Hellscream in charge? He thought he had misheard. How could Thrall be so short sighted to put such a hot head in charge?If Garrosh Hellscream had his way, the entire continent of Kalimdor would be red with blood as well as Horde Banners.

All that took him off guard was the solid strategy. This assault on Northwatch Keep seemed like just the beginning. It was a heavily fortified military base, close to Ogrimmar. Logically it was a sound move for the Horde to nullify any potential threats. Somewhere like the Moonglade was of no interest to him, at least until the rest of the continent was taken over. He would definitely go after the two main capitals of Darnassus and the Exodar, but he would be smart to take out other potential threats that could go to their aid. Feathermoon Stronghold was a strong contender as well as-

Theramore. It was closer to Northwatch than any other threats. If Garrosh had a single ounce of brain in that thick skull of his, he would attack Theramore.

Arthas turned to leave immediately, practically running out of the hall. The other druids did not seem to notice or care about his departure, but Cerelial lumbered after him.

"Whatever you are planning, you should take a moment to think," The druid warned carefully.

"The Horde will attack Theramore after this," Arthas responded coldly.

The savagekin tilted his head. "And why does this concern you?"

Arthas opened his mouth and was about to respond, but he immediately shut it again. Cerelial did not know who he really was. To the druid, Arthas was Andrew, random deathknight whose daughter was his student. Nothing more. If he told Cerelial about...Jaina, then the druid might be able to put things together for himself.

"Someone...close to me lives in Theramore," Arthas responded carefully.

"And how will you get there? If the Horde marches on Theramore, the roads will be impassable to a lone traveler, even a deathknight like yourself."

The druid was right. Arthas did not even have a horse to ride. Walking would take to long as well. At his lack of an answer, Cerelial turned into night elven form. The rugged elf gestured for him to return to the main hall. Cerelial said something in Darnassian and a younger druid came rushing forward with some paper, a quill and ink. Cerelial laid them down on a vacant table and started writing something.

"The flight masters here in Nighthaven have the best hippogryphs but usually only cater to druids. I've written you a pass that will let you have the fastest mount they have on hand."

Arthas took the note when it was dry. "You did not have to do that."

Cerelial shrugged. "I might avoid civilized company, but that doesn't mean I am without empathy."


It was going to be the best week Sapphire ever had in her short life.

Cerelial finally gave Sapphire exciting news just two weeks after she met her faerie dragon. He believed it was time for Sapphire to take her first venture into the Emerald Dream. She knew plenty about the Dream to be absolutely ecstatic. The Emerald Dream, a realm of pure nature permanently untouched by any living mortal. Druids could spend years asleep while traveling in the Emerald Dream and learning all its secrets.

They would not be entering the Dream physically however. No, they would be doing the simpler method. It was the Emerald Dream. So Sapphire was technically going to be going to sleep for her lesson that day.

Cerelial had been very blunt in telling her that for the first few tries, apprentices rarely ever entered the Dream. And even if she did manage it, he would not let her stay too long in the dream. He would enter the Dream for himself so he could watch over her. Unexperienced druids could easily get lost in the dream.

His warning did little to curb her excitement. The Emerald Dream was not the only thing she was looking forward to. Her birthday was that week too. She did not know if she would be turning thirteen or fourteen, but either way it did not matter. She was going to have a birthday! The best birthday she'd ever had if Lethumo's promises meant anything.

There would be cake, but not like the rice cakes Lethumo cooked. No, this would be some sort of sweet bread with something called frosting on it. It sounded cold, which Sapphire liked. She would even be getting more than one present. Even Keifer admitted that he had gotten her something.

Not only that...It would be the first birthday Arthas would be acknowledging. Even he planned on getting her something.

Sapphire was eating a meal before heading off to her normal classes. Something zoomed past her and she watched as Tanomoan viciously attacked the fruit bowl on the table. Rot came rushing in, barking furiously at the out of reach dragon.

When she had shown off the faerie dragon to Cerelial, he had been impressed. Druids believed faerie dragons were a sign of good luck. After teaching her the basics of taking care of one, he suggested Sapphire name her. So she named her Tanomoan. It sounded noble.

Tanomoan plopped down on her haunches and tore into the apple she had "killed." She looked down at the still barking dog on the ground. She devoured the apple till it was nothing but a ragged core. The dragon held out the core and let it drop to the floor. Rot snatched it up and rushed out with his prize.

"Bhrooo!" The faerie dragon squawked, then trained her beady little eyes on Sapphire's breakfast of rice porridge. Sapphire immediately wrapped an arm around the bowl.

"Mine! Go get your own porridge!" Sapphire said defensively.

The faerie dragon stuck her tongue out at Sapphire and flew off.

Just then the front door opened. Sapphire shoved the last bit of her porridge down and ran off to greet whoever it was. But Arthas brushed past her without even a word, practically lunging up the stairs two at a time. Positively baffled by his action, she hesitantly followed. The door to his room had been flung open. Noises came from within. Sapphire cautiously peered inside. Rather than the expected anger, Arthas showed off a kind of fervent urgency. He already had parts of his armor already on. Months ago he had managed to get himself a complete set of armor, though he had made it clear several times that it was of subpar quality.

Concerned, Sapphire cleared her throat. Arthas turned back to look at her.

"Sorry, Sapphire. I'm a little preoccupied."

Sapphire frowned, even more concerned now. "Are you okay? Why are you putting on your armor?"

He did not answer right away, struggling with the straps of the cuirass. Sapphire pushed his big hands away and did it herself. Once she finished, she started to help him with the rest.

"Thank you, crown jewel."

Sapphire looked up at her father and scowled. "Now will you tell me what's going on?"

He reached down and attempted to be comforting. "I...need to leave for a while."

Sapphire immediately pushed herself away from him, her mood taking a turn for the worse.

"What about my birthday?" She demanded.

Arthas, only half armored, knelt down and put both hands on her shoulders. "I should be back in time for your birthday! Besides, you would probably prefer me not to be there."

"Not true," She said defensively.

"So you would never wish on your cake that you never want to see me again?" He asked, smirking viciously.

"Oh, I can make a wish on a cake?"

Cakes were that powerful? She thought they were just sweet bread like Lethumo had described. She looked down briefly at the floor, then met her father's eyes again. She grabbed one of his wrists. "I wish you wouldn't go away!"

He gave her a stern look. "Doesn't work like that. Besides, Lethumo is going to make sure your day is so great, you won't even notice if I'm there or not."

Sapphire bared her teeth at him. She did not care. He had gotten her a present and everything. It would be the first birthday he would attend, but there was a chance he would not even be there. Unfortunately, she really did not know how to convince him. She did not even know why he was leaving, so there was no argument she could counter.

"Can you at least promise to be back as fast as you can?" She asked.

"Of course. I promise."

Sapphire narrowed her eyes and scrunched up her nose. "Promise on what?"

Arthas stood up and scoffed at her obvious manipulation. "You have me between a rock and a hard place! Fine, I promise if I don't do everything possible to come back quickly, may ghouls rip me apart limb from limb and feast on my organs while I watch them. Happy?"

The girl thought about it. Seemed like a mild punishment for breaking a promise. But she nodded anyway. With that agreement settled, Arthas aggressively picked her up. She protested fiercely but he just shoved her out of the room. Less than half an hour passed before he was down the stairs and leaving the house, with nothing more than a brief reiteration of his promise. It was only until he was gone did Sapphire realize she had forgotten to ask where he was going.