-Twins Greyhem-
Three days had passed since the traitors had made their first move. Three days since the Forsaken began their fight for their very existence. The Doomlord had made only one more appearance on the field of battle. However, the Forsaken had stood strong and the many ballista pushed the demon back.
Over the course of the siege, the Forsaken managed to regain the ground they lost to the Doomlord's charge. With the Rouge Quarter retaken, the Forsaken fortified their position. Through all of the battle and death, the dark rangers held a commanding presence on the second story balcony that circled the main causeway. General Clea or Commander Volkmar Fletcher of the Deathguard were ever present near the front, their presence instilling courage to the troops.
Loralen glanced down to where the knights stood in the center of the Deathguard line. If she had been asked only a few short days ago if she thought the Forsaken would accept two strangers, much less a paladin into their midst, she would have scoffed. Now, she saw how the Deathguard looked to the Greyhem twins for guidance and had followed the two in charge after charge against the enemy well over a dozen times. The silver-blonde admitted, begrudgingly, that even a few of the dark rangers had come to respect the two men for their valor in battle. However, she was cautious and still didn't trust the paladin. The death knight, Sillos, she found acceptable and had talked with him for several hours while the living twin slept. However, she couldn't, wouldn't, trust the paladin. He was hiding something, she was sure of it.
Loralen glanced behind her when she heard a commotion, and saw a fresh wave of Deathguard and dark rangers coming down the causeway. At the head of them was General Clea, a proud yet stern look on her face.
Kalira tapped her on the shoulder and the two hurried over to their general.
As they neared, General Clea strode towards them, waving her forces forward. "We have received word from the Dark Lady. The Horde has arrived," she said as her glowing red eyes dimmed with relief. "They are splitting their forces. The majority will clear the elevators and back our forces while the remainder will take another entrance that was not so badly collapsed. That force intends to take the battle to the Royal Quarter and kill Varimathras while simultaneously cutting off any escape for the traitors and demons."
The black-haired dark ranger general motioned at another dark ranger near her. "Captain Areiel" she ordered, "you will be in command of the dark rangers in the causeway. Captain Kalira, gather a squad of our most skilled dark rangers. We will be taking a passage to the Royal Quarter and back up Lady Sylvanas."
"What of the knights?" Loralen asked. She didn't care what happened to them but for the time being they were her responsibility and she didn't want them out of her sight.
General Clea considered it for a moment before replying, "Have them accompany us. Their strength could be beneficial against a Dreadlord."
"As you command," Loralen snapped before hurrying to the front line.
Descending the stairs, she neared the Deathguard line. A wooden wall of debris, which looked more like a pile of rubbish, had been made and the Deathguard lined the top of it. Noticing her advance, the undead soldiers moved out of her way and she quickly came upon the two knights. Sillos looked the same as he always did; a blank mask with an air of grim determination. However, the paladin looked exhausted. He gave a damn good impression that he wasn't but Loralen could read the man easily. The way the bags under his eyes hung heavy and the tension in his face spoke volumes to her. However, the fire in his eyes spoke of his alertness despite the little sleep and rest the living man had managed to partake in over the previous three days. The dead required no sleep and only minimal rest before they were ready to go back to battle but the living were not so durable.
The two knights looked to her expectantly. "Come with me," she ordered and turned to head back to her general.
The clinking of the armor told of the knight's passage as they followed her and the three stood before the Dark Ranger General in short order.
Clea glanced over the three then to the small gathering of dark rangers that had gathered near her. "Commander Fletcher will be leading this front with the entirety of the Forsaken forces in Undercity as well as the Horde forces that break through the elevators," she said in Common, likely for the benefit of the knights. "We will be moving through a passage that will take us to the Royal Quarter where we will aid the Horde forces there in killing Varmathras."
"General Clea," one of the dark rangers said. "I've never heard of a passage around here that leads to the Royal Quarter."
Clea frowned, her eyes darkening. "That's because it was 'need to know' and you didn't need to know before now, Dark Ranger. No more questions. This is happening now and we only just got some warning from a few Deathstalkers who managed to sneak in. We must hurry."
Loralen and the rest of the group followed the black-haired general up to the causeway and along it until she stopped before an unassuming wall. Dead hands pressed in several stones and a doorway slid open by an unheard mechanism. The group entered and Loralen noted the walls were newer than other walls in Undercity and suspected this tunnel had been made in secret by her Dark Lady as a means of escape or for some other machination. Just as the stone door was sliding back into place, loud roars of challenge ripped into the tunnel. The enemy was attacking. The door closed and the loud yells were muted into faint whispers.
A torch was lit and the group hurried down the tunnel. The Forsaken naturally had good dark vision, the dark rangers even more so, but in the tunnel there was no light for their glowing eyes to catch and even they would have been blind if not for the torch. The only sounds made as the group moved through the tunnel were the soft footfalls of the dark rangers, the clanking of armor, and the breathing of the only living being in the group.
Slowly the group made it to the end of the tunnel and Loralen could hear faint sounds of fighting on the other side. Clea signaled for silence and opened the exit. There was no telling how loud the opening of the passage was as the cries of battle, ringing of weapons, and the roar of spells were overwhelming. Clea waved the group forward and the dark rangers as well as the two knights moved slowly to the edge of the balcony they emerged onto.
Looking down into the Royal Quarter, Loralen saw Varimathras and his forces battling against the combined forces of the Horde. She could see Thrall, the legendary Doomhammer in his hand, striking down demon after demon as well as Sylvanas, whose bow released a torrent of arrows toward the enemy. It was clear the Horde forces were going to overwhelm Varimathras and Loralen saw Clea raise her hand to signal the attack. However, before she could the ground rumbled in a familiar manner.
With a mighty bellow, the Doomlord came charging into the room. The beast crushed his fellow demons under his heavy hoofs as he worked his way to the front line and with a single swing of his wicked blade turned the tide of the battle. Thrall and Sylvanas were powerful warriors in their own right but to go against two powerful demons like a Doomlord and Varimathras as well as the conglomeration of demons they had to support them was quite possibly beyond them and their forces.
Looking to Clea for orders, she heard the dark ranger general curse as her red eyes shot around from enemy to enemy. The woman looked to the two knights near her and pointed to the Doomlord who was closer to them than the Dreadlord, standing just before the balcony they occupied. The two nodded, looked at each other, nodded again, then leaped from the balcony.
Twin blades slammed into the back of the massive demon just below the monster's collarbones. The twins clung to their swords and used the weight of their muscular bodies and heavy armor to force their sharp blades down the demon's back, tearing through bone and sinew on the way down.
The Doomlord roared in pain and rage. Loralen watched as the two ducked under the demon's legs, hamstringing the beast as they went. However, the demon's legs were heavily armored and while the two did damage, they did not incapacitate the creature. The Doomlord snarled and lashed out with it's massive blade. The paladin raised his shield and even with all his weight placed behind it, he was pushed across the broken stone floor from the strength of the blow. As the paladin blocked, Sillos, smoothly and without hesitation, swung at the massive demon, his blade wreathed with a sickly green smoke.
As the runic blade cut deep into the demon's chest and abdomen, Loralen saw a terrible disease immediately begin to weaken the beast. Pulling an arrow to her ear, the dark ranger loosed death toward a wrathguard who thought to attack the twins. More arrows joined hers and she noted that the other dark rangers with her were covering the Greyhem twins while they did battle with Doomlord.
As the Doomlord recoiled from the blow Sillos dealt it, it felt no relief as the paladin cast a surge of golden light at it. The holy force slammed into one of the demon's knees and was followed by a stomach churning snapping sound. The demon bellowed as it collapsed to the ground. The twin knights were relentless in their attack while the Doomlord did all it could to fend off its aggressors. Alone, the two had each been overpowered by the large demon, but together, with surprise and a squad of dark rangers, they were a worthy challenge. Again, Loralen found herself impressed by the combat prowesses the twins possessed. Seamlessly, one would attack while the other defended, blocking claw or greatsword with well placed shield or skillful parry. The Doomlord that had given them so much trouble when it had charged them those few days ago crumbled before the two warriors due to the aid of surprise and pure combat ability.
The silver-blonde Ranger watched in grim satisfaction when Sillos struck and forced his blade deep into the chest of the Doomlord. The demon struggled for a few short moments before collapsing to the ground, the descent guided to a degree by Sillos and his blade as to avoid being crushed unto the massive creature's weight. A small boom thummed in the air when the beast's body finally hit the floor.
-Twins Greyhem-
Thrall roared as he met the Dreadlord, Varimathras, blow for blow with his mighty Doomhammer and shamanistic magic. The traitorous demon who instigated the uprising in Undercity sneered as he held his ground against the raging orc warlord. Thrall was already tired due to having fought through the demonic forces above ground as Sylvanas, himself, and the Horde forces advanced to the entrance of the hidden tunnel that led to the Royal Quarter. However, where he was already bloodied from previous battles, Varimathras was fresh and had not even engaged in combat for the few days that passed since his surprise attack on the banshee Queen. Varimathras was a challenging enemy when Thrall was fresh and he knew he was at a disadvantage.
Thrall's exhaustion was steadily revealed as he was pushed back by the powerful attacks from the massive sword and the terrible magics the demon unleashed against him. He parried as best he could but his hammer was knocked around by the mighty blows the demon wrot. With a clang, Thrall stopped a devastating attack from striking his head. He snarled as he was pushed off balance and cried out when Varimathras kicked him square in the chest. The orc flew back, landing heavily on his back. He worked hard to catch his breath as he scrambled to his knees. His eyes widened when he saw the Dreadlord standing before him, sword already cutting through the air. He knew there was no way he could raise his hammer in time to take the blow but he roared as he tried. He was Thrall, son of Durotan and Draka. He was the Warchief of the Horde. He would not die without a fight.
Suddenly, a shield wreathed in a golden light soared past his head and struck the Deardlord in the chest, knocking the demon back a step. He was just as shocked when two figures charged by him, both wearing heavy armor. The one on the left caught the flying shield in his free hand while the other pressed the attack with a swing of his sword.
Thrall had no idea who these warriors were, but he was grateful for the opportunity they gave him to regain his breath and mounted his shamanistic energies to crush a curse he had been afflicted with. As he forced air into his lungs, he witnessed the two knights attack the Dreadlord with a brutality that belied their teamwork. While one pressed the advance, forcing the demon to fallback, the other utilized sword and magics to counter the demon's physical and magical attacks. Light shone to disperse gathering dark energies, while a sword covered in frost lashed out one moment. At another, crimson cracks appeared around the nefarious energies the Dreadlord called upon, runeblade clashed with sword, and the other knight stabbed deep into the demon's thigh.
With a bellow of pain, the Dreadlord clawed out at both the knights, purple magics spilling from his hand as it passed before them. The energy snapped and crackled as the ground beneath it buckled and blackened. The knight in silver armor stepped before the other knight, his shield held before him as light began to radiate from his body. Then, just as the corrupted magic met him, the light roared out. It collided with the darker energy and all but combated against it as the two energies flashed and rolled around each other. As the two died away, the protected knight stormed around the silver knight, his blade held low to the ground. Varimathras appeared shocked that his magic was stopped and left himself open to a massive attack wrought by the attacking knight. With a mighty swing, the blade rushed up, cutting deeply into the demon's chest. Dark energies appeared to follow the attack and seeped into the wound made, causing the demon's skin to turn pale and withered.
-Twins Greyhem-
Sillos put all his strength into his attack against the large demon before him. The purple demon with two massive wings spread behind him cursed in some infernal tongue and two sickly green fires erupted in the air around him. As they rocketed toward him, he raised his shield to meet the left one while a familiar presence blocked the right. Heat and green fire licked around their shields, but the Greyhem twins stood strong as they brandished their swords. Rushing their enemy, Sillos pressed the attack while Vitus expertly blocked and parried the coming blows. They worked together to press the Dreadlord, blocking so the other could attack and both holy and unholy energies tore through the space between the combatants.
Sillos cursed as his swing was black by the demon's sword. His eyes widened slightly when he saw the same demon tear into Vitus' shield with piercing claws. The metal screeched and deep rivets were torn from it as Vitus grit his teeth, doing his best to keep the now ruined shield between Sillos' exposed flank and the demon.
Frosty blue eyes shone with a fury as he focused his unholy energies. The temperature plummeted. Breath of the living misted and frost formed on the Dreadlord's skin and armor. A brilliant light flashed and enveloped Vitus in an instant, no doubt keeping the cold at bay. With a mighty roar, the death knight pushed the demon's blade to the side and stepped forward. His runeblade sang in the air as it hunted demon flesh and a sickly green mist formed around it. The demon grunted loudly as it forced itself back. Sillos, off balance from the swing watched as Vitus pressed the assault. Light erupted from his sword, solidly connecting with the demon, tearing into his wing and armor.
The Dreadlord raised it's blade to lash out against Vitus. Sillos pressed his energies into the ice that formed on the floor around him and loosened his grip on his shield. With a yell, he cast the metal in his hand at the monster. Just as the demon's sword began its descent, the shield hit the wrist that held it, causing the demon to cry out. Channeling holy energies and standing close to the demon, Vitus took his blade in both hands. The Light around him started to glow brighter and brighter until the man slammed his blade deep into the ground. Above the Dreadlord, a massive sword exploded into existence and fell onto the demon. At the last moment, the monster reached up, abandoning his own blade, and caught the light made sword in his claws. Unleashing a roar, the demon pushed against the weapon, stopping it's descent.
At that moment, Sillos cast his hand forward. Chains of ice rocketed from the ice on the floor. Circling around the Dreadlord's arms, body, and legs, the chains hissed and sizzle wherever they touched. As the chains secured themselves, the death knight pulled his hand back toward himself, gripping his fist as he did. Clinkcing, the chains tighten and begin to pull on the demon, forcing his arms to begin to lower and his knees to buckle. The sword of light grew closer to the demon and at the moment it appeared it would skewer the Dreadlord, an unholy energy exploded from the demon. All magic in the area disappeared with this energy causing the blade above to flicker out and the chains to crack and shatter.
Vitus pulled his blade out of the ground just in time to block a vicious attack from the demon's claws. The dark energy coalesced above the monster before sweeping out toward the knights. Digging their heels in did nothing as they were thrown from their feet and set soaring back.
"Pests!," the Dreadlord roared as he stalked toward them pausing only to snatch his sword from the ground. "Insolent bugs! You've annoyed me for the first and only time."
Sillos heard Vitus groan near him on the floor as he worked to push himself up. He felt the same and answered in kind as he forced his undead flesh to obey his will. Standing, shakely, the death knight gripped his blade with both hands and noticed Vitus roll his shoulders once. Then, the demon hit them.
Where they had been on the offensive before they now were being pushed back. Each attack the demon dealt felt like the strike of a dozen warhammers and the dark magics that flowed from the demon were being countered by streaks of brilliant light and splashes of sickly green and icy blue energies. However, while the twins countered the attacks and parried the magics as best they could, the Dreadlord demonstrated his power to them as he ground into their armors and blasted them with his foul magics. The Twins Greyhem held against the onslaught as much as they could but all was for not when Sillos noticed the flash of a blade. Pushing Vitus to the ground, the blade struck him solidly on the chest, causing the metal of the breast plate to scream, bend, and eventually give way as the sword bit deep into undead flesh.
Vitus worked to get to his feet, but Sillos knew he would be too late to stop the next attack. Roaring his defiance, he poured his unholy energies into the air around him in an effort to do something, anything, to stop the next attack.
Just as the Dreadlord's blade slashed toward him, a hammer, sparking and chittering with lightning, flew past and collided into the chest of the demon. Arrows, empowered by dark energy, filled the air and Sillow watched as an Orc and what appeared to be a dark ranger took over the battle.
-Twins Greyhem-
Thrall stared at the body of Varimathras. The powerful Dreadlord had not gone down easily. He frowned, an ache in his chest, at the idea of all the soldiers the demon had cut down. Sylvanas stood just before the demon's head, her hands clenched into tight fists. He could sympathize with the emotions tearing around inside her.
As the leader of the Horde, he faced many dire decisions daily, one of which was betting on who he could trust and who he could not. His frown lightened when he remembered the gamble he took in accepting the Forsaken into the Horde. There may have been some growing pains but Thrall did not regret it at all. The Forsaken were a proud people, much like the Orcs in a way. And it was this same pride that may one day break both peoples. However, today was not that day.
Thrall shook his head in an effort to end his thoughts. Now was not the time to entertain such things. However, there were puzzles he could work on. The blue-eyed Orc looked to the human paladin and undead death knight. The two did not wear helmets and sported significant damage to their respective armors. A more inexperienced Orc may have gapped at the two, standing despite the exhaustion that strained at their eyes. Thrall had little doubt he would have died in his battle against Varimathras if not for the timely intervention of the two. Not only had they backed him up, they had held off the demon for a considerable period of time, pushing the monster back, and even forcing him to show his hidden trick at an untimely moment in the battle. The two had nearly died to save him, this was something Thrall would never forget. But the Orc Warchief was not naive and held a healthy suspicion about them until he could learn more.
Before Thrall could speak, Sylvanas growled loudly and shot an arrow into the head of the dead Varimathras. Her apparent frustration vented, she turned from the body and looked to the two who also held not only Thrall's interest but the rest of the Horde soldiers who accompanied them. The Horde Troops held a loose circle around the two with stern looks. The two did not wilt at the overwhelming forces posed against them and looked back with steely looks that beat down any but the most battle hardened soldiers.
Sylvanas strode toward the two, a company of dark rangers falling in behind her as if from nowhere. Thrall recognized the Dark Ranger General Clea stepping the closest to but still behind the Banshee Queen.
Thrall took in a breath and joined Sylvanas as they both stepped into the loose ring around the paladin and death knight.
"A paladin and a death knight within Undercity," Sylvanas quipped. "Strange."
The leader of the Forsaken tilted her head slightly toward her Dark Ranger General who spoke. "The death knight is Sillos Greyhem and the paladin is Vitus Greyhem. They aided one of our dark rangers just before the siege started and have been fighting for the Forsaken since the beginning of this conflict."
Sylvanas turned toward her General, one eyebrow raised. "You speak highly of them, General Clea."
"I do," the general stated. "They've followed every order I've given them, have accepted the guard I placed on them without question, and have been instrumental in the defence and retaking of Undercity. I shudder to think how many we could have lost if not for their intervention."
"You would vouch for them?" the Banshee Queen asked, her voice turning icy.
Clea nodded without hesitation, something Thrall respected. Sylvanas may have been one of the most intimidating people he had ever met in his life and it was a struggle even for him to not show some hesitation when she grew stern.
Sylvanas frowned and nodded her head slowly, her red eyes taking in her general, searching for doubt in her words. Finding none, she looked to Thrall and said, "Warchief, what would you like to do with them?"
Thrall raised a hand while shaking his head. "This is your city, Sylvanas. You do with them as you deem fit."
The Orc Shaman could have sworn the undead elf grinned at his saying that but she turned her head before he could be certain.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a shout rose up and Thrall looked to see a scout come running into the Royal Quarter from the secret passed they had used earlier. The scout, a Troll, ran to him and said, "Warchief, Alliance, in 'da passage."
Thrall narrowed his eyes and called out, "Prepare for combat!" Questions concerning how the Alliance assembled so quickly and managed to sneak into Undercity whirled in his mind as his troops readied themselves.
Lines were formed and Thrall was surprised to find the death knight and paladin taking a place in line. The paladin stood next to him, his ruined shield, shredded by the claws of the Dreadlord, was held loosely in his hand as he considered it for a moment before casting it to the side. The death knight stood beside Sylvanas, who gave the man a curious look. He too had discarded his shield, having thrown it at the Dreadlord in battle as a distraction. Thrall narrowed his eyes as he looked between the two and recalled their names. Sillos and Vitus Greyhem. His eyes widened slightly. They were brothers, twins even if he guessed their ages correctly, a difficult thing to do with humans.
A horn bellowed and another scout came running into the Royal Quarter. "They be coming, mon!" the scout bellowed as she ran to the line that opened for her to get to safety.
The Horde did not have to wait long for the Alliance to march out from the passage. At the front of the Alliance forces was Varian Wrynn, King of Stormwind and the Leader of the Alliance. Thrall frowned. This was bad, very bad. The human king was vengeful and impatient. There would be blood.
"Thrall!" Varian shouted. "This ends here and now! Too long have the undead and damned held Lordaeron. Too long has Azeroth tolerated the taint of the Horde on its soil. Today, that taint will be wiped away."
Varian's hand rose and Thrall prepared himself for battle, one he was not sure he and his Horde could win. However, the man stopped, a confused look on his face. He squinted and called out, "Paladin! Explain yourself. How came you to be on the battle lines of the Horde?"
Thrall heard the human next to him shift flighty, armor clanking, before replying, "I and my brother came across the Forsaken being attacked by traitors as we traveled through these lands. We could not stand aside as innocent lives were threatened. I would ask you, King Varian, to hold your people back. There is still a battle going on in Undercity and many people could be saved with the aid of these soldiers."
"Innocent? Hold back?" Varian muttered. He spat on the ground and yelled, "I see no innocent here, Paladin. What order do you hail from that you find undead innocent?"
"This man is no longer a part of any palidic order," a new voice called out from the Alliance lines. "He is nothing more than a heretic and excommunicated disgrace, my king."
From behind Varian, a man strode out from the Alliance lines. The man was encased in silver and gold armor, had short cut grey hair, and a look on his face that reminded him of someone who had just eaten something rancid and sour.
"Sir Skyler Mildenhall, Paladin General of the Golden Shroud," Varian addressed the man. "You know this man?"
The human answered, "Yes, my king. He is Vitus Stonebridge. To our shame, he was once a paladin of our order. He was excommunicated when he brought the walking corpse of his brother to our hallowed halls."
The human king's expression darkened as the man spoke. Turning back to the Horde, and the paladin next to Thrall, Varian bellowed, "Soldiers of the Alliance! This man," he pointed his blade to the human in question, "is no paladin but a traitor to the Alliance. Kill him with the rest of these beasts and monstrosities. Charge!"
Thrall tightened his grip on his hammer and sifted a foot back to get better footing. He did not want this battle, but he would not run away from it either. The human's called out an echoing battle cry as they charged forward. However, they made it only a few steps before a glowing blue orb appeared between the opposing forces. The orb appeared to be spinning and quickly a freezing gale burst out. Frost and ice raced across the ground, clinging to the legs of all the gathered combatants.
The Warchief worked to lift his legs, fearing some kind of attack, and cracks formed as he focused his strength. However, he stopped when he heard a familiar feminine voice tear through the air. He knew this voice. Jaina Pourdmoore was here.
"Stop this!" the voice called. In a flash of light a woman appeared in the middle of the soon to be battle. The blonde-haired woman was donned in white clothing and cape with purple highlights providing accents. Magical power radiated from her as she looked Thrall in the eyes. She nodded once and he nodded back. Turning to the Alliance forces she said, "There has been enough battle this day."
Jaina tapped her staff on the ground once and a blinding flash of light filled the area. When it dissipated, the Alliance forces were gone.
-Twins Greyhem-