A/N - Merry Christmas! I cannot say how often I will be updating, but I -will- be updating. And. Uh. Sorry for the wee delay. Time to break that unintentional cliffhanger.

Chapter 11

The scream hit Sylvanas like a sledgehammer as she crossed the threshold into the lower dungeon. It was an agonisingly familiar sound, not because it was normal for those who suffered here, but because of who it belonged to. Instead of passing through her, the sound lodged in her mind, reverberating back and forth like it had six years ago.

Buried memories surfaced, the echoing screams thrashing them around her mind. Alyna being tortured. Her blood on the walls. Her body broken on their bed. Her eyes empty.

Sylvanas felt herself stumble. The eyes. Her beautiful, deep blue eyes that had once shone with the wonder of her soul. Eyes that had crinkled in laughter. Eyes that had been full of love. Eyes staring through the translucent being Sylvanas had become.

Dull.

Broken.

NO!

Strong hands were on her shoulders and she shrugged them away. She swayed, the stone wall eventually providing the support she had just rejected.

"My Lady..." started Kyala, only to be ignored by the staggering queen.

Sylvanas moved forward. The dark walls threatened to close in on her. The light in the faint lanterns danced and taunted her, threatening to flicker out and leave her in darkness. She felt as though she was floating. She wasn't real. She glided through the ruined corridors of her family home. She couldn't escape the screaming. He would always bring her back to watch. She blinked, pulling herself back to the present. The screams were still there. Why were they still there?

Alyna!

This time, she could stop it. She was not his to command. She was queen. She would be obeyed.

You are the cause of her screams.

Sylvanas reached for the bars of the cell door, both hands clasping around the cold metal. A form was writhing in the far corner, dimly lit by the cobalt crystal embedded in the ceiling. The screams had not stopped, but now she was nearer, she realised the screams were long, drawn out words. Unbidden, images formed in her mind as she recognised what Alyna was reliving.

She shook the door violently, but the door would not obey.

"Get her out!" she screeched.

Kyala immediately stepped forward with a set of heavy keys in her hand. She started trying each key, her movements unsteady. The lock clicked and Sylvanas pulled on the stiff door.

"No, my Lady! Don't!" Kyala moved to grab Sylvanas, but the banshee queen was too fast.

As she stepped over the threshold, she gasped, and fell to her knees, clutching her chest. For the briefest of moments, she could have sworn her soul was being torn from her all over again. And then it passed with the sound of shattering glass.

Alyna was still screaming.

No longer caring about anything else, Sylvanas half-scrambled, half-crawled to the stricken woman. She lifted Alyna from the floor and tried to cradle her, but the manacles around her wrists made it difficult. She tried to release them, but she could not do so with one hand, the other wrapped around her former love. Then two hands appeared and removed them for her, and she pulled Alyna into her body.

She did not know how long they sat on the floor together, but she rocked the woman gently the whole time. It was automatic, an ingrained movement from a long-ago life. As was her hand stroking Alyna's hair. She drew no comfort from it, but she found she could not stop. Alyna kept screaming words and names, and it took all of Sylvanas' resolve to not give in to her own despair. She had been avoiding Alyna because she had not wanted to be reminded of all they had suffered. She had never truly dealt with her own trauma, instead just burying it and focusing on her rage and vengeance.

This was far worse than the conversation she had been avoiding.

This is what you deserve.

If what Alyna and Kyala had told her that day was true, perhaps she did. But she also knew she was willing to suffer anything to have her revenge on the creature who had made all this a reality. Looking down at Alyna's shuddering body, she knew that while she had done this, she ultimately blamed Arthas. Rage rose in her chest, and she welcomed it. She allowed it to make her stronger, to wrap her in its embrace even as she wrapped Alyna in hers.

She could not let Alyna go. She knew this. She hoped Alyna was strong enough to recover from this ordeal. She also hoped she would be allowed to explain. Could she convince Alyna to stay? She hoped so. She had to make her see they were better together.

Better together? You are better with her. You always have been. You need her more than she needs you.

But what did Alyna need from her?

Alyna's screams had subsided, but she was still shaking. Still suffering. Sylvanas closed her eyes at the torment she had created, only for them to fly open as Alyna murmured a very unexpected name. She frowned at the woman, wondering if she'd misheard. Until she said it again.

This time, there was no doubting her ears. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Kyala. The ranger had faithfully been guarding the door, making sure her queen was not disturbed. Her keen elven ears had also picked up the name. If blood could drain from an undead elf's face, it had done so for Kyala. Immediately, Sylvanas knew something had been withheld from her.

Sylvanas' voice was cold. "Talnia?"

Kyala was stricken. "I … she … I asked her about Talnia. She refused to accuse her of anything. This happened on the last mission and there hasn't been a chance to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

Sylvanas' glare was withering, and the fear she had seen in Kyala earlier had resurfaced. At this moment, she didn't care. She had to know.

"Alyna … was … is … going through the ... Awakening … my Lady. I … believe … Talnia is taking advantage of her … condition." Kyala paused, before she added quietly, "Without consent."

The words sunk slowly into Sylvanas' mind. Vague memories of gossip surfaced regarding Talnia and her company. She had dismissed them as ridiculous.

You dismissed them because you did not care.

She closed her eyes again. If they were true, and she had given Alyna over to Talnia for training, how far would Talnia have taken out her jealousy on Alyna? She had never asked that question. Now she was being told the consequence of not giving more than a cursory care.

She cared now. Alyna was hers. Her rangers … were hers. She had let them down.

She opened her eyes to look down at Alyna. They glowed angrily.

She was going to fix it.

Alyna was finally still. With a little relief, Sylvanas realised she was unconscious. She hoped her mind was more forgiving in such a state as she slowly rose to her feet, not letting go of Alyna.

Kyala stepped forward, and appeared to be about to offer to carry Alyna, but one look from Sylvanas had the ranger step out of her way entirely. She carried her charge through the dark corridors, and up through the various levels of Undercity. She strode through the royal quarter, and into her office, ignoring the curious looks. Kyala had followed, not having been dismissed. When Sylvanas moved through her office and entered a hidden corridor, Kyala remained in the office. No one came down this corridor unless invited, and Sylvanas did not invite anyone.

She emerged in her own private quarters. It was a cold room hollowed out from the bedrock. She primarily wanted it for the large weapons rack that took up most of one wall. She also had a small wardrobe for her rarely used civilian clothing, various armour stands to hold her armour sets, and a writing desk. Since she spent such little time here there were few personal touches. She moved to the dominant piece of furniture in the room, the bed. She had considered it useless when it was installed, but the room somehow felt less without it. She lay Alyna down on it and stood back, watching her.

How many times had she watched Alyna sleep? She had always enjoyed it. As she watched her now, she took no pleasure in the act. Alyna's body was utterly still. She did not breathe anymore, and she found it unsettling.

Something caught her attention, and she leaned in. She took Alyna's hand, her eyes widening in rare surprise. Alyna had been divested of her armour, and only wore leggings and a tunic. Her hands were bare, and Sylvanas could now clearly see the wedding ring she had given to Alyna on her left hand.

She still had it? Why?

Why do you still have yours?

Sylvanas dropped the hand like she had been stung and stood back from the bed.

I sent her away. She should have been safe. I should have stopped him at Fairbreeze Village. She would still be alive.

I failed her.

She looked away. It had been years since such thoughts had come to her. She knew there was nothing more she could have done that day. He had taunted her before killing her, saying she was the reason they would all suffer for not letting him just pass through to the Sunwell. She had taken those words to heart for a long time, but she eventually realised they were just another sinister part of his mind games. If she had not resisted, others would have. Their fate would have remained the same. And she would always have resisted. It was her nature, it was her duty.

She is still not safe. You are still failing her.

Sylvanas frowned. What was happening to her? Her conscience had been blissfully quiet for years. Alyna's reappearance had stirred things up, not just in herself but in her people. Kyala had always been open with her, but never so brazen and blunt. Was that Alyna's influence too? Did she really have as much control over her rangers as she thought she did, or was that an illusion? It would appear a version of Sunsail Anchorage was happening all over again in that Talnia had created her own personal fiefdom under Sylvanas' nose, and this time she had not noticed. Had she really been that engrossed in her revenge?

This time, she was going to do something about it.

She moved over to her weapon rack and purposefully selected certain pieces. She then stripped an armour stand of its particular parts and carefully placed the set on her body before checking herself in the wardrobe's mirror. When she was satisfied, she strode back down the corridor with purpose. Kyala was predictably still in her office, and the woman could not hide her surprise at her queen's appearance.

Sylvanas did not pause in her stride as she crossed her office.

"Come with me," she heard herself say. Her voice was cold, and angry.

Kyala immediately fell into step behind her as they passed through into the throne room, and then out into Undercity.

The barracks could almost have been described as alive with the amount of activity taking place within. One of the units could be seen removing their muddy gear and tending to their care. Another was clearly preparing for their own mission. As Sylvanas entered, all of this ceased to matter. Feet swiftly moved to face their queen as salutes were stiffly performed. The cacophony of sound ceased, but for one voice.

Talnia stood at a planning table, flanked by two of her lieutenants. She had not noticed her queen's entrance as her back was to the door, but she did notice the sudden silence. She paused, mid-sentence, and turned. When she saw Sylvanas, her eyes noticeably widened.

The Banshee Queen cut a fearsome figure when in her every day attire, but now she wore her full battle regalia. The stiff dark red leather was heavily embossed with silver skulls, following the contours of her powerful figure. Her quiver was strapped to her back, and she held her infamous bow in a tight grip. She looked formidable. She looked prepared for war.

"Lady Sylvanas?" Talnia started, clearly unsure what to make of her queen's entrance. "Will you be joining us?"

With no warning, Sylvanas rapidly loaded her bow and fired an arrow through Talnia's thigh. The woman grabbed onto the lieutenant next to her for balance as she stared down at the arrow in shock. Sylvanas calmly gestured with her bow and the lieutenant stepped back, leaving Talnia to force herself to stand upright.

Sylvanas was not known for reigning in her anger, and she did not hold back the rage in her tone, though she somehow managed not to shout. "Did you think I would not find out?"

Worry briefly crossed the normally sure features. "Find out what, my Lady?"

Sylvanas plucked another arrow out of her quiver. She held the projectile up for Talnia to see as black wisps of shadow began to swirl around the arrowhead. She waited just long enough to see Talnia's eyes widen in fear. The captain immediately started to move, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

The furious queen was faster.

The arrow impaled Talnia's other thigh, punching through and out of the other side. Somehow, the captain remained standing, though her body shook lightly as the poison began to spread through her body.

Slowly, methodically, Sylvanas moved closer. Her stride was long and graceful, and she had the distinct air of a predator circling her prey. She spoke as she closed the distance between them, her words deceptively light and almost disinterested.

"People scream the most interesting things when they are suffering intolerably. But then, that is something you would know all about, isn't it?" Talnia flinched, though whether from her words or the poison, Sylvanas didn't know. Or care. She continued, acutely aware of the rangers moving away from their captain.

"That amount of pain makes even the most accomplished of liars into honest confessors." Sylvanas pressed the bladed-tip of her bow against Talnia's cheek and guided the woman's head around so she could look into her eyes. She knew Talnia was proud of being one of the few who dared to hold the gaze of their queen. "Imagine my surprise, when your name came up."

Talnia was now shaking. "M-my n-name, m-my Lady?"

Sylvanas' eyes flashed. "Alyna."

The captain blinked, before slowly, inexplicably, smiling. Sylvanas' eyes narrowed as Talnia released a low chuckle. Near the doorway, Sylvanas sensed more than saw Kyala ready her bow at the unexpected reaction.

"You find your situation amusing, Captain?" hissed the barely contained queen.

"N-not mine. Y-yours. You ch-charge in here almost like you c-care. About her. About us." She gasped tightly as a wave of pain passed through her. She grit her teeth through it, her final words spat forcefully. "You d-don't give a f-fuck. We are n-nothing to you. They follow you out of f-fear. They ch-choose me."

The bladed edge of the bow struck her face violently, and Talnia collapsed onto the floor with the force of it. Sylvanas stood over her, her features a mask of fury.

"You abuse your rangers. You raped Alyna! She did not choose you!"

Rolling onto her back, Talnia held the side of her face, Sylvanas having split the skin and cracked the bone. "She begged me to fuck her!"

Any semblance of composure Sylvanas had left, vanished. She roared as she leant down to grasp Talnia by the throat. With her undead strength, she single-handedly lifted the woman and slammed her down onto the planning table with enough force to crack the solid wood.

It took a lot of effort to truly hurt an undead creature. Or … just the right knowledge. Sylvanas drew a poisoned dagger, and made use of her years of experience. To her deep amusement, Talnia did try to fight her off, but was quickly overwhelmed by what Sylvanas did to her.

Eventually, the woman's screams began to pierce the rage that Sylvanas had given in to, and she stood back from the table. Dark ichor splattered her armour, a small amount having splashed up onto her face. Calmly, she pulled her cloak around and cleaned her dagger on it, before sheathing the weapon. As she did so, she could see some of her rangers. A couple were white-faced and jittery. Sylvanas made a mental note of those who were as it would appear they had something to worry about. Most though, wore various expressions of approval, and even relief. A brief wave of guilt passed through the queen as she realised most of the company appeared to have suffered somehow at Talnia's hands. She looked back at the mauled captain, her own face now unreadable.

"Take her to the lower cells."

Her order appeared to kickstart her rangers, and a pair immediately stepped forward to drag Talnia away.

After several long moments, the bolder of the two lieutenants stepped forward. "Your orders, Dark Lady?"

Sylvanas turned her head slowly to fix her red gaze onto the speaker. She then moved her eyes past her to look around at those present, before looking back at the lieutenant. "As you were … sisters."

She would protect them. She must protect them, she realised.

The banshee queen turned on her heel and strode out of the barracks. Kyala looked at the bewildered faces of her sisters, before going after her queen.

As she left the barracks, Sylvanas became immediately aware of the lack of bodies in the war quarter. The events in the ranger barracks had clearly been heard, and no one had wanted to be there when it finished. That suited Sylvanas just fine. She turned and moved swiftly down the canal towards the royal quarter. Her ears flicked at a faint noise behind her, one she quickly identified as Kyala. She sighed inwardly. Though she wanted to be alone, she realised the ranger would be useful, and so she led the way back to her office.

Once they arrived, she moved towards her desk, issuing her order as she cast her gaze across the paperwork waiting for her that was pinned down by various paperweights.

"I want you to be with Alyna when she wakes. She should not be alone."

The reply did not come immediately, and when it did her ears barely picked it up it was spoken so quietly.

"No."

Sylvanas froze. Slowly, she turned to regard Kyala. The ranger was shaking, not unlike Talnia had not long ago. This time, she knew it for what it was … fear. Despite this, her agent did not look away when their red eyes met. She moved to slowly close the gap between them.

"No?" Kyala opened her mouth to reply, but found herself transfixed by the deliberate approach of her queen. A hand that had very shortly ago been torturing another ranger reached to grab her around the throat. Sylvanas' words were quiet, and threatening. "I thought you would be very keenly aware of what I do to those who betray me, Kyala."

"I w-would never betray you … my Queen." Kyala's voice shook, but there was a tenderness behind it that made Sylvanas pause, and listen. "I c-could stay, but s-she doesn't need me. Sh-she needs you." Despite her increasing terror, Kyala's eyes bored into her former general. "And y-you need her."

Sylvanas tightened her grip on her agent's throat as her anger pulsed through her. Though not needing to breathe, it was not comfortable for Kyala and her mouth opened in a silent groan. After holding her a few moments longer, Sylvanas released her grip and stepped away, moving back to her desk.

"I do not need anyone," she spat.

The reply was slightly hoarse, and nervous. "You need the Forsaken to get to Arthas. You need us, your sisters, to do the things you trust no one else to do. And you need Alyna … to keep you from the abyss we both know you are about to fall into."

Sylvanas closed her eyes and leant on her desk, her back to Kyala as she spoke. "When the fuck did you get the idea you can talk to me like this?"

Kyala's next words sounded closer, emboldened by her queen's relative lack of an extreme reaction. "Being made into banshees broke all of us, but what he did to you … is unspeakable. None of us expect a second chance, but perhaps this is yours. You're not him, my Lady. Not yet."

Being compared to the Lich King again, to Arthas, made Sylvanas snarl.

"Get out."

She did not hear the sound of Kyala leaving, so she swung around, slightly surprised to find the woman practically in her face.

"Get out!"

Kyala stumbled backwards, fear visible in her eyes again. She started towards the door, before she stopped to look back at Sylvanas.

"Go to her, my Lady. Before it's too late."

Sylvanas turned and grabbed one of the paperweights. Using her momentum, she swung the stone as hard as she could at the rapidly retreating Kyala as she screamed, "GET OUUTT!"

The lump shattered against the door as it closed behind the ranger.

Sylvanas screamed.