Chapter 11: Into the Realm Eternal

In hindsight, teleporting at random into Quel'Thalas was a stupid idea. It was only a lucky fluke of teleporting in behind some trees that saved Jaina from being torn apart by legions of undead heading north from Strathlome. She swore a bit under her breath, peeking out to see hordes of zombies shambling northward towards an elf-gate, clawing and tearing at it. She couldn't get in that way, but, the elves would have other entrances. She passed her senses over the area, detecting flashes of arcane energy in the east. She booked it through the woodlands, drawing from the power of the arcane power pulsing through the land, blinking in short teleports to cover the distance faster.

She came across an elven village attempting to fight off hordes of zombies and ghouls, and joined into the fight, lobbing fireballs, summoning water elementals, and raining sheets of ice down upon the attackers. A rallying cry went up through the defenders, and they pushed forward to drive off the attack. She dismissed her elementals and strode forward afterwards.

"Well met archmage," said one of the elven guards, "With the Scourge in Lordaeran, we're surprised the Kirin Tor would spare anyone on such immediate notice."

"You're aware of what's happening?" she asked, curious.

The elf nodded. "Prince Sunstrider sent messengers to warn all the villages as he passed through to the capital earlier today. Less than three hours later, the Scourge poured into our lands."

Jaina frowned. "A quick blitz then. I need to get to the capital, quickly."

The elf glanced behind her, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "Are you... alone?"

"I couldn't wait," she said, "I have intelligence on what the Scourge's goals are here in Quel'Thalas. They're after the Sunwell."

The elf stiffened, all traces of suspicion vanishing under that threat. "Over our dead bodies."

"I believe that's their intention," said Jaina mildly, "The Scourge will corrupt the Sunwell if they can get to it, and the effects that will have in the land and the High Elves... are best left unsaid."

The elf motioned to a ranger watching the exchange. "Take the Archmage to Lady Sylvanas, she's managing the outer defenses and can see her further in."

The ranger nodded. "Best keep up archmage, I need to return here quickly to help protect the village."

Jaina and the ranger took off through the treeline, heading northbound. Twists and turns and crowds of trees that would have left Jaina lost for hours were nothing to her companion, guiding her through, across narrower parts of a stream, and passing through arcane protected areas before they came to a hidden portion of the large wall of stone and trees marking this area of the elfgate. A small doorway allowing into and through the wall under watch by a squad of archers.

"I have an archmage from the Kirin Tor who needs to be escorted to Lady Sylvanas," called up the ranger, "Quickly now."

Jaina was through in a moment, and sprinting alongside another elf to the west, back towards the main part of the elfgate.

Sylvanas's voice range out not much later. "Loose fire arrows! Burn the corpses lest the necromancers raise them again!"

"But what about the forest?"

"It will endure," came the Ranger-General's sharp voice, "Nature can heal and recover, but if this pestilence breeches into our lands, we won't."

Jaina stepped out of the treeline and saw the elf manning the wall, nocking and loosing burning arrows as fast as she could. "Sylvanas!"

The Ranger-General paused and turned, glancing down at the wall, incredulous. "Proudmoore? What are you doing here?"

"I have a warning for your king," Jaina answered.

Sylvannas looked irritated. "Then you should have just teleported to Silvermoon to deliver it, and..."

She paused, eyes narrowing. "And you came alone? Why are you unescorted?"

Jaina bristled a bit. "I am here alone because I was unwilling to wait while Lordaeran dealt with it's own problems and got around to coming to your aid. The Scourge come for the Sunwell, they can't be allowed to get it."

The Ranger-General frowned. "They'll need to breech through the gates before..."

"Sylvanas," hissed Jaina, "The reason I came through here is because I can't teleport to the capital. It's blocked off, and the only means the Scourge have to do so would be a greater necropolis, like Naxxramas, having flown into the capital area, in which, they could have dumped an army right onto Silvermoon."

Sylvanas froze for a moment before she swore in elven under her breath before shouting out orders, "Hold the gates! If they manage to breech, fall back to the second! I'm taking a unit of rangers to return to the capital."

The Ranger-General leaped off the wall and touched down. "Keep up Proudmoore."

Jaina followed in behind Sylvanas and a band of eight rangers, doing her best to keep up with the elves natural speed without teleporting. They passed through the inner elfgate half an hour later, and made for Quel'Thalas. Jaina tensed as off in the distance, hanging high in the air, was the dread citadel Naxxramas. She wonders if they simply flew it in at a normal necropolis pace, or if they teleported it in. Moving an entire necropolis that way wasn't impossible, it was how the Ebon Hold had been summoned over Tyr's Hand back in the original timeline, but it required an immense amount of energy.

Still... if they had snuck a few powerful spellcasters in and fed off the arcane power flowing through the lands... not improbable.

The rangers shifted to make for a treeline rather than continue following the road. Jaina moved as quietly as she could behind them as they slowed to a crawl, peaking out from the treeline cresting a hill. A chill ran down her spine at the hordes of bulky abomination slamming into the battered gates of Silvermoon. Meat Wagons rained putrid death overhead as necromancers and dark cultists cast spells at the defenders manning the walls of the capital. Naxxramas itself slowly floated forward, looking position itself, raining down barrages spiritual attacks. The Scourge were summoning in buildings and bases as they went, coating the ground with fresh blight.

Jaina saw more than one powerful member of the Scourge that she recognized even at a distance. Heigan the Unclean. Noth the Plaguebringer. Gothik the Harvester...

"Patchwerk want to play!"

Jaina's eyes went wide to see the gigantic abomination that had briefly guarded her back on her path through Naxxramas, not-coated in fel-fire this time, barrel forward and shatter through the main gate of Silvermoon, the defenders screaming and scattering. The rangers readied themselves to join the fray before Jaina grabbed Sylvanas's arm.

"We'll get slaughtered if we try to fight out here."

"We will lure as many as we can into the woodland," said Sylvanas.

"Can you get us a way to teleport through the wards in the city?" asked Jaina, "I can teleport us inside."

Sylvanas hesitated for a moment, the elf's sharp eyes searching Jaina's, before she nodded. "All royalty, regents, and Ranger-Generals are given a token that allows us through in times of strife if we need to use back entrances or, if we have an archmage with us. I still think it would be better to lure a chunk of the army on a chase after us, but..."

Jaina shook her head. "It may sound cruel Sylvanas, but nothing else matters aside from keeping the Scourge away from the Sunwell. If that can be held until Lordaeran arrives, even if Silvermoon falls... then there's a chance for Quel'Thalas to eventually repopulate and recover. If they get the Sunwell, the land is lost."

Sylvanas scowled. "Why are the Scourge so desperate for? That they go for this sneak attack while their own attacks on Lordaeran flounder?"

"They want to use it to revive Kel'Thuzzad as an arch-lich," said Jaina, "Doing so out of the Sunwell will make him not only incredibly powerful, but pollute and corrupt it's energies as well. The High Elves won't be able to use it anymore."

Sylvanas stared out at Silvermoon for a moment. "Perhaps, but... how did it even get this far... wait... somethings... where is the Ban'dinoriel?"

Jaina paused. "The what?"

"The Ban'dinoriel is a shield that protects the capital, and the Sunwell Plateau, it's not up," said Sylvanas in disbelief.

"What happened with Dar'Khan?" demanded Jaina.

"I personally killed him and burned his corpse," spat Sylvanas, "He couldn't be involved with this."

Jaina swallowed hard, something was different. She wasn't aware of the exact specifics of this battle, very few high elves had survived it, but she knew the traitor magister had actively betrayed the High Elves during the conflict, sealing the power of the Sunwell from them. Not to mention giving out information to the Scourge and helping them breech the elf gates. She could understand flying over the elf-gates, but how could the Scourge have possibly breached Silvermoon's Sunwell empowered defenses without Dar'Khan's aid?

What was she missing?

Naxxramas itself wouldn't be able to breech them, not against the power of the Sunwell itself. Could the Scourge have had another insider? She didn't know...

It didn't matter right now, they needed to get inside. "We have to get in, now and..."

BOOM!

The ground itself shook as a massive explosion of fire blew out of the broken gate, an abomination's broken voice crying out just before its parts exploaded out of the gates in a spray of flesh, "What happened to... Patch..."

Elves poured into the opening, a wall of shields linking together to hold back the undead as a phoenix soared overhead, raining down fire; Jaina commented mildly, "It would seem Prince Sunstrider is personally overseeing the defenses."

Sylvanas clamped a hand down on Jaina's shoulder before turning to her rangers. "Draw as many of the Scourge away as you can, but do not throw your lives away."

"It will be done."

"Teleport us in," ordered Sylvanas.

Jaina raised her staff, shinning with power...

...and blinked them behind the walls, into a street with panicking civilians and rushing guards, making for the walls. Sylvanas took point, making for the main breach. The line of elven warriors, mages, and priests standing fast against the Scourge was impressive. She could faintly recall the names of some of the higher ranking defenders: Grand Magister Belo'vir, Lor'themar Theron, Halduron Brightwing, High Priest Vandellor and High Priestess (at the time) Liadrin and... was that Koltira? He might not have been high ranking at the time, but she recognized that would-be Ebon Deathnight anywhere, still so young and eager to prove himself in defense of his homeland. But her eyes were honing in on Prince Kael'Thalas, barking orders, casting fire spells over the head of his people into the ranks of the dead.

"Prince Kael'Thalas!" called out Sylvanas.

The Prince stopped casting and turned his head sharply. "Sylvanas? What are you doing here? You were to oversee the elf-gates and... is that Jaina?"

Jaina strode forward, stepping past Sylvanas and ignoring the other elves giving her a questioning look. "Kael, the Scourge come for the Sunwell."

Kael scowled. "It doesn't take a genius to guess that Proudmoore, why have you come?"

"Other than to offer aid?" she said, eyebrow raised.

"Without your keepers?" he questioned sharply.

It was Jaina's turn to scowl. "They were going to wait until Lordaeran had settled it's own issues. They don't understand how much is riding on this battle. The Scourge will use the Sunwell to reanimate Kel'Thuzad as an Arch-Lich, polluting and corrupting it, while gaining the power they need to go forward with their primary goal."

Kael'Thalas narrowed his eyes. "Something you failed to mention when you were questioned, Proudmoore?"

Jaina glared at him. "Yell at me all you want later, I didn't think it would matter because the Scourge wouldn't take Lordaeran, I didn't think they'd just blitz Silvermoon like this."

Kael huffed. "What you think is important wasn't your call to make Jaina..."

"Enough, assign blame on your own time when there isn't a battle to be fought," snapped Sylvanas, "Prince Sunstrider, why is the Ban'dinoriel not active?"

"I don't know," admitted Kael, "My father took his honor guard, archmage Rommath, and a number of the Convocation of Silvermoon to Quel'Denas in order to figure out what was wrong."

He hesitated. "That was roughly an hour ago."

"Could the Scourge have gotten onto the Plateau?" asked Sylvanas.

"I don't see how," said the Prince, "It's tightly guarded. I trust in my father to..."

"That's not good enough," said Jaina, "We need to check."

"That," said Kael sharply, "Is not your call to make Jaina. And while I don't doubt your intentions to fight the Scourge on behalf of your prince, I'm not sure I trust you on the Isle of Quel'Danas."

"I don't particularly care, Kael," hissed Jaina, stepping forward to be within inches of the elf, eyes meeting eyes in a stare down, "Even if you hold the city, if the Scourge claim the Sunwell, your people are lost."

Kael scoffed. "Lost? Hardly, we will recover and..."

"Recover from what exactly Kael?" demanded Jaina, "You were lecturing me alongside Antonidas not long ago about the effects of magic addiction. Have ANY of you elves considered for a moment what happens if you are cut off from the Sunwell? An immense source of arcane power that has flowed through your lands and your people since it's creation? Do you have any idea what that will do to your people?"

Kael paused, eyebrows furrowing. "That's... it's not... us losing the Sunwell is impossible. Why would you even think of the possibility..."

"The Scourge have," lied Jaina smoothly. Without a truth spell being at the ready, she was free to spin any tale she needed to, "They planned on just killing their way to the Sunwell initially, they wouldn't even need to bother with any survivors as they would fall to their addiction to the arcane power of the Sunwell once it was corrupted."

Kael pursed his lips tightly, thinking.

"Prince Sunstrider," spoke up a dreadfully familiar voice.

Jaina turned her head to see Lady Liadrin (Priestess, not lady yet, she's not Horde yet), step forward, "We can hold back these undead heathens. If the Sunwell falls... she may not be wrong in its aftereffects."

Jaina was... a bit surprised to have the woman come to her aid (Not Horde yet, like Sylvanas, stop doubting her), and gave a grateful smile.

Kael grumbled a bit before looking over the defenses briefly. "Grand Magister Salonar, I leave the defenses under your command, I will hopefully return shortly."

One of the elves nodded back, but Jaina was already turning as Kael barked, "Sylvanas, with me."

He gave Jaina a brief look before sighing. "Come then Proudmoore, but be warned I am watching you."

Jaina didn't bother responding, just falling in behind him as the trio rushed through the city, towards the docks. Kael barked for a rower to take them over on a small bout, and they were off minutes later. Jaina tapped her fingers on the edge of the boat impatiently. "Can we not just teleport..."

"It is warded from any outside teleportation," said Kael'Thas, "Even elven nobility."

Jaina sighed, but went silent.

Sylvanas did not however, her elven eyes sharpening and peering ahead. "Where are the pier watchers on the other side?"

A sinking feeling entered Jaina's stomach.

Kael glowered in the direction of the Sunwell. "No elf would shirk their duty being on guard for the Isle of Quel'Denas. If that is any indication, there will be trouble. Dammit."

The moment they were across and getting off the boat, gutterial cries ripped through the air and ghouls started shambling towards them from behind buildings. Sylvanas's arrows and the duo of archmages made short work of them, and the trio grimly moved deeper into the isle. The island was a mess, trails of blood, ripped apart body parts, discarded weapons or scraps of armor. Towards the entrance to the Sunwell Plateau, there were Scourge summoning in buildings to build a defensive perimeter. More and more undead were pouring into the building as the trio watched from a distance.

"How," hissed Kael, "How did the Scourge erect a base here under our noses?"

"Worry about the how later," hissed Jaina, "Because I just realized something about the offense outside of Silvermoon. Out of all the elite Scourge I saw there, do you know who I didn't see?"

The elves were silent for a moment before their eyes widened, and all three of them said, "Kel'Thuzad."

Kael'Thas summoned his phoenix, Jaina began summoning water elementals, and together the three and their summons tore into the undead burgeoning base. "Don't waste time clearing them all, run for the Sunwell!"

Madness was all Jaina could say to describe their rush through the Sunwell Plateau. Running on the heels of the undead slaughtering their way through the building was unpleasant. Jaina found chain lightning to be her favored mobile spell, just cast and let it go bounce along the undead rather than keeping her focus for a blizzard or pausing to aim a fireball. The elven defenders were sporadic, pockets often holding out in some small room or corner with their backs to a wall, one in particular called out.

"Prince Kael'Thas! Your father is in the Shrine of the Eclipse! Archonisus was breached by a powerful necromancer! It's as if he knew how to break through all of our wards and enchantments!"

Kael'Thas tensed. "How did you get separated from him, Rommath?"

"He ordered me to try and hold back any further undead while he went after the necromancer, their numbers were to great, to fervent, I couldn't...," began the elf.

"We waste time speaking," said Sylvanas, "If the King is facing off against Kel'Thuzad at the Sunwell itself, we have no time!"

They booked it, but as they ran, Jaina started conserving her power, trusting their allies to keep the undead at bay and breech through. Kel'Thuzad would be no laughing mater. They tore through the Agamath, the First gate, Rohendor, the Second Gate, and came upon the ruins of Archonisus, the final gate. Standing there was a Scourge Jaina hadn't expected to see here. In hindsight, perhaps she should have, the man was said to have been a friend of the necromancer in life.

"Baron Rivendare," muttered Jaina under her breath.

Mounted on a skeletal steed was the pale haired form of a death knight, rune-blade glowing with power. At his back were a duo of abominations and several hooded cultists radiating unholy power. The death knight reached up to brush a pale lock from his forehead, glowing blue eyes flickering at them before resting on Jaina.

"Kel'Thuzad wondered if you would come, Proudmoore," said the Death Knight, saluting with his blade, "He told me to give you a 'warm welcome' if you did."

Jaina frowned, uneasy. "Kel'Thuzad expected me, personally?"

That... made no sense.

Rivendare shrugged on his steed. "My old friend rambles and lacks sense these days, but he did believe you would come. Though he did not know whether you would be with your prince or not."

He leveled his runeblade at Jaina, making her tense. "Let us see why my old friend is so interested in your progress."

"You're funeral," she said with a sneer darkening her face, "I'm allied with a elven prince, a ranger-general, and a whole lot of angry elves while you've got two piles of flesh and some worthless sycophants to lick your boots."

Kael'Thas huffed in amusement, a cackle of flames licking his hands as he called on his magic. Jaina needed no further invitation; she raised her staff and unleashed a burst of fire, knocking Rivendare off his steed, searing the abominations, and sending the cultists reeling. Prince Sunstrider waved his hands, and a Flame Strike erupted between the pile of undead as Sylvanas began loosing arrows and the other elves rushed into the fray or joined in the spellwork. Still, Rivendare was a death knight, so when he burst out of the spellwork, runeblade hewing through elf after elf, Jaina wasn't surprised. Jaina simply kept a grim look on her face, and tried to position herself to cast her spells without hitting her allies.

Until a purple bubble sprang up in a large area around the death knight, purple and green runes formed of unholy energy illuminating the ground; Jaina swore, "Anti-Magic Zone."

She hated Death Knights for that ability.

Sylvanas apparently didn't care either way. Her bow was suddenly strapped across her back, and she had a curved blade in each hand, going literal toe-to-toe with the suddenly surprised Death Knight inside the zone as the mages backed off. He wasn't the only one shocked, Jaina hadn't known the ranger had any skill in a melee. She watched, more than a little impressed, to see the flurry of bladework overwhelm the death knight, leaping over a stab to land a single foot on the runeblade before driving her blades right through the death knight's eyes and out the other side of his head.

Shesh, was this why the Arthas of her time had such an obsession with making Sylvanas suffer? She must have been hell to fight against if this ruthlessness was any indication.

"Move!" barked the Ranger-General, already stepping over the corpse as it collapsed and rushing to the entrance of the Sunwell. The entered the building, down a curved staircase littered with elven and undead bodies, passed through a thin red curtain, and into the wide open room containing the Sunwell itself...

The circular room was a disaster zone, hordes of elven bodies scattered everywhere, a literal ring of fallen corpses surrounding the glowing font of power. Standing in the center of the font, was Kel'Thuzad, his staff aimed at the floating flailing body of the King of the Elves, eyes narrowed in concentration. "Admirable, but you should have taken my offer to flee when you had the chance. There is no victory to be found here."

A pulse of black and green energy burst from his staff, blowing through Anasterian Sunstrider, and throwing him away from the necromancer.

"FATHER!" roared Kael'Thas, rushing forward, hands glowing with fire, aiming for Kel'Thuzad.

"Kael, stop!" cried out Jaina, "You can't kill him in the Sunwell!"

Kael tensed, coming to a halt before changing focus, rushing to and kneeling next to his fallen father who was hacking up blood.

"I suggest you leave, boy," said Kel'Thuzad dismissively, "And get your father aid. That wound will kill him if he doesn't receive attention within... say ten minutes at most."

Kael growled at the necromancer before turning to one of the elves, "Magister Rommath, get my father out of here and to a tender, now."

"Son...," rasped Anesterian, "Take up... Felo'melorn...,"

The Prince hesitated, eyes glancing down at a glowing elven runeblade stabbed into the corpse of a ghoul, reaching out with his magic to levitate it to him. "Hold on father, our people still need your strength and wisdom."

"Touching, but I believe we have more important matter's to deal with than an aged old fool who sits in his lands while others burn," chided Kel'Thuzad.

Kael rose to his feet as the king was carried out, casting aside his staff and gripping the yellow blade with both hands. "We do, necromancer, step out of the Sunwell and we'll settle things."

Kel'Thuzad smiled, comfortably swaying a little, letting his robes send ripples through the empowered water. "I'm afraid not, you see I'm rather comfortable here."

"How did you bypass our defenses?" snarled Kael.

Kel'Thuzad chuckled. "I was already on Quel'Denas before you caught and killed Dar'Khan, he had already smuggled me in. I simply needed a distraction that Naxxramas provided before I made my move. You see, we began to accelerate our other plans the moment a certain Archmage threw a wrench in our primary one. Speaking of which..."

His eyes flickered, "Ah, Jaina," purred Kel'Thuzad, looking delighted, "How good of you to come. I was hoping you would."

"Any particular reason why," she asked, eyes narrowed.

He smiled wryly. "Well, after you displayed a public," was he scolding her? "and uncanny knowledge about the Scourge and our plans, the Lich King grew rather curious you see. He's had you watched through some of our agents and spies, he's found out the most fascinating thing."

Jaina tensed, a sinking sensation in her stomach.

"Prince Sunstrider, could you cast a truth spell for me?" inquired the Necromancer with false sweetness.

The elven prince narrowed his eyes. "What game are you playing?"

"One you'll enjoy, I'm sure," said Kel'Thuzad, "Oh, and Sylvanas, would you be a dear and lower your bow? If you kill me now, you give me exactly what I want."

Jaina glanced back to see the Ranger-General slowly do so, gritting her teeth.

"Now, if you would, my old friend?" asked Kel'Thuzad, glancing at Kael.

"We were never friends Kel'Thuzad," spat Kael'thas, "I was always wary of you and your overreaching thirst for knowledge and power. It's a shame we didn't kill you instead of banishing you once we discovered your experiments."

"Hmm, a lost opportunity for you," said Kel'Thuzad, not interested, "The spell please, you'll find this most fascinating."

"Can we reverse teleport him?" whispered Jaina as soft as she could, they needed him dead, before he ruined everything.

"I'm not sure," answered the elf back, "He's tapped into the Sunwell directly, he could counter any spell we cast."

"The spell," came out Kel'Thuzad's voice, hard now, withdrawing a sickly blade from his robes and holding it up to his own neck.

Kael scowled but did so, raising a softly glowing hand, a hum in the air. "There, what do you want it for?"

Kel'Thuzad's eyes turned sharp. "The Lich King discovered that Jaina Proudmoore was apparently a former member of the Cult of the Damned. Imagine his surprise at that, such a powerful young archmage slipping by his notice? Why, it's practically absurd that she wouldn't have been brought to his attention to be elevated as an important member of the Cult, or that he wouldn't have noticed himself, especially with her being the apprentice of Antonidas. There are so many ways that could have been abused to our advantage. In fact, it made so little sense that it made him... suspicious."

Jaina swallowed, hard, ignoring the eyes on her.

"So, he sifted through the memories of his servants, through the occupants of Scholomance before it fell, had them go through their records, and do you know what he discovered?" asked Kel'Thuzad.

Kael'Thas's eyes shifted back and forth between Jaina and the Necromancer, "No, but I can guess where you're going with this, especially since you asked for a truth spell."

"Well, let it not be said you lack intelligence," Kel'Thuzad said, chuckling. "The Lich King discovered there was no record, not a single memory or indication that Jaina Proudmoore had ever been a member of the Cult of the Damned. In fact, he's one-hundred percent certain she was never affiliated with the Cult or the Scourge. He doesn't know how you know what you do, Lady Proudmoore, but he is most curious."

Jaina didn't answer.

Sylvanas growled out. "She admitted to being a member of the cult under a truth spell, told us how she was lured in..."

"No," said Kael'Thas thoughtfully, "She didn't. We implied it, she never confirmed or denied it. In fact, that tale of her saying how she was approached... she never said she was the one approached..."

"Kael," said Jaina, voice strained, "He's trying to pit us against eachother."

"I'm aware," said the elf, "But I do believe he's not wrong. Jaina, were you a member of the Cult of the Damned, the Scourge, or the Burning Legion?"

Jaina went silent for a moment before answering. "No."

Kael shook his head, "I don't know why you would let us believe that you were, to sully your reputation, but it's unimportant for now. Once this is over, you have explaining to do Lady Proudmoore."

"Jaina," came Kel'Thuzad's voice, oddly soft, almost gentle, "You've been playing a dangerous game recklessly and without thought. About the only thing you've done that might make a difference in the long run is to pull Arthas away from the path the Lich King had been setting up for him. Everything else, as you can see, has had little lasting impact. I'm standing in the Sunwell, moments away from lichdom, and you know where this well lead. In the end, all the lives you've potentially saved thus far, have merely been a stay of execution. You've wasted and squandered your knowledge."

"Considering that saving Arthas was my only goal to begin with, and that everything else was secondary, I've done well enough," she snapped at him.

Its not like she had a huge amount of time to plan this out before the demon made that offer to take her back in time.

Kel'Thuzad smiled. "So selfish Jaina. I'm rather proud of you."

Jaina spit in his direction. "Go to hell Kel'Thuzad."

"Hell comes for us both Jaina, there's no need to go rushing for it," said the Necromancer, slitting his own throat and falling backwards into the Sunwell.

The Sunwell itself shrieked and wined as dark energy corrupted it's glowing waters, spreading like a plague. Kael, Sylvanas, and every other elf present gasped as the arcange energy was polluted and cut off from them. Jaina shivered and clutched herself as a chill filled the air. Out of the befouled energy rose the terrifying visage of the Arch-Lich of the Scourge. Headdress looming high on his horned head. His skeletal form levitating with powerful blue energy pulsating between his exposed rib-cage. Chaines spun around him, illuminating and rattling. The pure raw energy he radiated made nervous beads of sweat roll down her forehead as his glowing eye sockets leveled at her.

"It's time for you to leave, Proudmoore," his voice echoed, "You've failed in what you set out to do."

"No," she said, clutching her staff tightly, "We havne't. You haven't had a chance to make a phylactery yet. If we kill you now..."

"When I'm still directly connected to the power of the Sunwell?" chided the Arch-Lich, "Whose power has turned against the High Elves?"

Jaina began pulling her energy out, an aura of arcane power surrounding her.

"Foolish girl," said Kel'Thuzad, "The High Elves are crippled for the moment, you are now the strongest here on your side, and your power pales compared to mine even without the Sunwell factored in."

"It's not about power, Kel'Thuzad," she snarled, "It's something that you would never understand. I have the will to do whatever needs to be done, no matter the cost. You're a threat to everything I know and love, and if I have to die to see you destroyed in order for Arthas and my family to be safe, then I will give my life gladly."

The Arch-Lich regarded her silently for a moment. "I see why Arthas treasured you so, even at the end. Why he made that request."

Jaina blinked. "What are you..."

Kel'Thuzad waved a bony hand, and an eruption of frost blew out from him. Jaina gave a cry and thrust a hand forward, a mixture of arcane, fire, lightning, and ice all exploading of her at once. She fed it everything she had, drawing on her life, anything and everything, and for a moment, she pushed him back, earning a surprised hiss from the Arch-Lich...

Until the putrid energy of the tainted Sunwell rose up, sapping away at her power, making her gasp out and her vision blur. Kel'Thuzad overpowered her then, his icy magic rammed into her, carried her back, and slammed her into the wall with a crack...

Author's Notes:

Kel'Thuzad back and badder than ever baby, woooo! Lich!Kel'Thuzad or bust!

Quel'Thalas is still fucked, but far more High Elves will survive this time around than before.

Review Responses:

Phantom Dark-Knight: Glad you enjoy. Some of my explinations might be slightly made-up/headcannon, can't really remember.

Ander Arias: Blizz-fails at Jaina Proudmoore. So much potential, so much never used correctly. If I hadn't spoiled him already in the Review Responses, this chapter would be another hint towards what he knows. :D.

Sacchin: Maybe.

Daendroth: Thanks. I haven't followed WoW that closely, when was she used as a trump card? Most of the time to my knowledge she just sat in Theramore except for that one instance in WotLK.

Meilstoer: Technically, this is in the middle (beginning) of the Third War right now, unless you only count that as when the Legion was summoned rather than when the Scourge began. They summoned it because Jaina caused some issues with their plans, and they needed the big guns. I've never actually played The Foremath, I'm more of a War in the Plaguelands guy myself, hate if you wish. Sylvanas won't be undead in this story.

MajorHangover: There's a decent chance they will get married, and have children, perhaps even earlier than the end of the story, which can cause a lot of issues on its own. I have no clue on the chapter number. It depends how long I want to go for. The end of Hyjal? WoTLK era? Legion's end? Old God's end? IDK. There's a lot of lore I lack about the times post WoTLK. It all depends how far I carry it on.

Firedragon99: Well, here's another cliffhanger for you. :D

Kelmoria: Not to mention Tichondrius sprung the deal on her suddenly, without giving her a lot of time to plan. She's been kinda winging it. Aside from saving Arthas, the whole 'Cultist' thing was her first real attempt at trying to maneuver events outside of her prince. Jaina is willing to work alone to do what she must, she'll ally with who she has to as well. But Jaina isn't the only one who can't let go of those she cares for, whose to say others will let her go down that path?

Prince of Petersburg: Sylvanas will stay living. Jaina's going to have a crash course on failing to save people and stop events from passing, this chapter being the first major blow. It's going to get worse from here on in.

Everyone Else: Thanks for the comments. Hope you continue to enjoy.