Chapter 11
The sun was rising on Kalimdor, on what couple possibly be my last day among the living.
I sat on the roof of the hut, Thessali's bow beside me and Anduin's cloak keeping me warm. Bandit laid on the porch below me, having given up on his howling when I dropped down a thing of rations for him to consume.
I watched the sunrise with an intensity of thought. The sun was red.
Blood will be spilled this day.
The camp was waking up, leaders preparing to leave, saying their farewells to family, sharpening their weapons one last time. Anduin was watching me from his pavilion, and something in his eyes pulled me away from the sunrise, until we were simply watching each other.
He gestured to his pocket, and I drew my eyebrows together in confusion, looking in my own to-oh wow.
Sitting there squished into a ball and tucked inside the cloak's pocket, was his headband.
The one I had taken off in the Pass before we gathered Teir.
I smiled, taking it out and tracing the faded lion design with a finger, thinking of the market and the dress and the dreams and the walks through Krasarang-
I realized I was crying, and shook my head violently, tucking the headband away and wiping at my eyes, startled and unnerved.
I climbed down from the roof, silently landing on the porch as the door was thrown open and Mother rushed out, looking panicked, and she sighed in relief, smiling and hugging me close.
"I almost thought you had gone on and charged in alone," She whispered to my shoulder, and I kissed her hair, holding her head with one hand and using the other to hold her close.
"Never without saying goodbye, Mother. I love you too much to do that," I said, and she smiled, her eyes dampening.
"I do wish you didn't have to go,"
"Me too, Mother," I responded, rubbing my cheek against her ear lovingly before pulling away, taking my quiver down and sliding it on over freshly stained armor-all black, as a general of death should be.
Others saw Thessali's bow and acknowledged, whether with a gasp or small bow, or a simple nod of recognition and empathy, like the one Sylvanas gave, from where she was speaking with Teir. Their relationship was strange.
"Alright den. To ya positions! Bay unit, set sail," Vol'jin called, and we got situated on the boats quickly.
Father stood at the lead, Varian Wrynn beside him, and the energy crackled between the two of them. Sylvanas and Jaina fell in behind them, Teir and Kenlora next, with Anduin and I taking the rear. We were of course the leading boat, the rest of the fleets assembled behind us. My heart thudded nervously.
"Breathe, Princessling. The anxiety rolling off of you is enough to sink the boat," Anduin whispered into my ear, and I felt my nerves settle slightly as I huffed a soft laugh.
"Don't push it, Princeling" I whispered back, and I felt a warm hand grab mine, lacing the fingers together and holding on tight.
I squeezed his hand, the reassurance all at once terrifying yet comforting.
The boats moved relatively slowly up the coast of Durotar, and you could make out the ground force going through Razor Hill, and the beating of wings echoed from the air, where a swarm of creatures-all with elves atop them-flew towards the city.
"We will survive this. Then maybe…maybe we can see Half Hill again. Or you can take me to the Arboretum. Maybe we could go out beyond the wall and make a home in the wastes," Anduin whispered so quietly I almost didn't hear him, but my heart started pounding so hard that it echoed in my ears as I thought about it.
"Maybe we could stay in the Valley. Mai said I would be an excellent dress maker," I hissed back, blinking fast to dry my eyes.
Talking like this meant he didn't think we were going to make it.
We reached the dock, and we saw what was waiting.
Warlord Zaela sat atop her monster proto drake Galakras-from the last brood of Galakgrond, the monster the Aspects defeated before time was recorded-between her two siege towers, each with a powerful turret atop them. The entirety of the Dragonmaw clan was on the ground there.
"Jadearra."
I focused back in on the boat, and Father was looking at me, an intensity glowing in his one eye, "Get up here and signal the beginning of the end."
I moved between the others on the boat, shying away from Varian like he was contagious, drawing a blade and climbing onto the mast head of the boat, standing there for all to see.
I raised my blade, looking the Warlord in the eye, and I screamed as our anchor dropped, "For Azeroth!"
The Dragonmaw charged, and we were there to meet them.
Ships couldn't dock fast enough, but I cut through the first wave that came towards me, Father and Varian on either side of me with their broadswords swinging. I fell back beside Sylvanas and Jaina, who were launching their own ammunition in the form of poison arrows and spells. Kenlora waded out into the battle, blasting orcs with a vengeance that gave her an almost unholy glow. Anduin was swinging his staff fast enough to make a glowing blur, his hands and blade ablaze with light as he struck them down. Teir was frozen.
"You won't hurt us. You will hurt them," I hissed in her ear, and the growl I got in response made me grin savagely.
She drew her twin axes and let loose with a howl that chilled me to the bone. She leapt over the dock and landed on an Orc, burying her axes into his shoulders then bringing them together through his neck.
I shot arrows fast enough that my hands were a blur, and the royal bow did not disappoint.
The shafts glowed as they touched the heartstring, intensifying to blind their target before striking them down, and it seemed to manipulate my aim so that I never missed.
More and more boats docked, and I deemed it time I waded through the battle.
I drew my blades and jumped, grinning as my face was sprayed with Orcish blood. I swam through the chaos like a fish through water, until I saw him.
Anduin was about to die.
"No!"
I leapt up, climbing a particularly tall Orc and using his own dagger and shoving it through the top of his head, before launching off him to bounce on top of the heads of those between me and Anduin, before landing between him and his attacker.
"Die, human!"
"Not today!" I snarled, driving both blades in to his chest so hard that they came out of his back, before dropping one to use his own to shove it through his neck. He died with a gurgle.
I drew my blades back out and turned to see Anduin staring, a mix of surprise and admiration there; "You're beautiful when you're pissed off." He said, and I cracked a smirk.
"Yeah well, you're not to bad either when you're alive," I said, and we were back to back, his light cutting down enemies as I kept his back clear with the swinging of blades.
We moved as a unit, ducking through each other and moving around each other like fluid, until my sense of direction was which way did my swords go that killed an Orc.
There was an abhorrent screeching sound that split the air, and we looked up to see that goblins had commandeered the turrets and were shooting at Zaela. One of them was Jastor Gallywix, whose chin jiggled as he laughed maniacally.
Zaela jumped, and I nocked an arrow so fast that it was as though the bow were waiting for me. I took aim, and fired.
It moved as if in slow motion, and I watched as it grazed her neck just close enough to break skin, but didn't lodge.
She slammed a hand to her neck and fled.
With her gone, the remaining forces were a wreck, and we cut them all down quickly.
"Heal our own, quickly! Archers gather any and all arrows that you can-be ready to move!" Sylvanas called, and I felt a hand on my cheek.
I turned to see Anduin mumbling, and a thousand aches that I didn't feel before suddenly disappear.
"Healing my own," he gave a cheeky grin, his face spattered with blood and dirt, and his hair a wreck. I don't want to know what I look like right now.
"Go." I said, and he nodded, turning and wading through the bodies for survivors.
I saw Teir kneeling in the midst of the blood, and Sylvanas was there beside her, speaking quickly, a look of utter worry causing her to look almost alive.
The Dark Lady doesn't care for much, but she does care for Teir-a lot.
"Jade!"
I turned again, and saw Father, leading a raptor over.
"We must make haste to rendezvous with Vol'jin's ground force. Air raiders have landed and are working on the city from the inside. Reports say its chaos." He gave me my reins before turning and running to where his own was waiting.
"Double up on the mounts!" Jaina yelled, magnifying her voice with some form of spell.
My eyes immediately went to Anduin, who was approaching and eyeing the raptor apprehensively.
"Oh please, they won't eat you unless you provoke them," I said, swinging up onto the saddle and holding out a hand for the Princeling.
He grabbed on, swinging up and clinging to me with a not subtle wave of satisfaction, and I rolled my eyes.
"Hold on, Princeling, and don't open your mouth."
With that, I dug in my heels, and we ran.
Raptors in a dry canyon region mean dust clouds form, and boy can raptors run. Anduin was pressed so firmly against my back that I almost couldn't tell where I ended and he began. His hands were clinging to my sides, and his face was tucked into my shoulder.
We made a turn, and I felt a grazing on my cheek as we brushed the stone, and I twitched reactively. Son of a bitch sand in a wound hurt.
We came to a stop, and Anduin unwound himself, jumping down and nearly falling over, which was only slightly amusing. I stepped down, my face throbbing, and his eyes went from crazed excitement and fear to heart stopping concern.
"Let me get that-" he reached out, but I shook my head, "There's sand in there…it'll heal."
He nodded, eyes still on my cheek, and I gave a weak smile, before hearing footsteps.
It was Len Bloodhoof, who seemed to be gathering raptors, "You grew overzealous in your turns again, Jadearra."
"It's what makes me a fantastic raptor racer," I smiled, my face twinging, and I gently placed a hand to my face for it to come back soaked in blood, "Maybe it should get healed…"
Anduin put his gloved hand on my cheek, mumbling in a heartbeat, and my face sealed over with a wince.
"Sand removal and all," he joked, and I rolled my eyes, wiping my hand on my pants and walking to where Vol'jin was standing, looking unnerved.
"If ya two don't want ta fight what's out there, I wouldn't stop ya," he said, and I gave him a look.
"Nonsense, what is it?" I asked, and Gelbin Mekkatorque spoke up.
"They have an er…an iron juggernaut out there, ma'am."
My stomach, clenched, and my ears straightened so hard they hurt.
"What's an iron juggernaut?" Anduin asked, stepping up beside me in confusion.
"A construct of catastrophic power…they are called Iron Death," I said, moving to the blockade and climbing.
I had to see it-
I reached the top and nearly fell in terror.
The thing was gigantic-nearly as large as the sealed gates themselves. It was an engineering masterpiece, and it had the form of a scorpion. The plates were pure steel, but with small crevices…
"Bring me Jaina Proudmoore," I said, and I heard movement below me.
"What is it you want, elf?" her harsh voice greeted me, and I looked down over my shoulder to see her standing there impatiently, white hair laced with dirt.
"Climb up here-I need a mage's opinion," I said, and she sighed, climbing up.
I heard the harsh gasp beside me, and spoke, "Those crevices…what do you imagine would happen if magic got inside that thing?"
"Well, magic can often short out machinery, but a lot of it involves velocity and angle and trajectory and the power source and- "
I nocked an arrow, aiming at one of the crevices so quickly that the woman beside me almost fell, "Do you know any form of explosion spell?"
"Plenty-what are you thinking?"
"Enchant the arrow-set it to explode on contact with heat. That thing's has to be generating enough heat to melt the Ice crown glacier. Then direct the other mages to do this with a quarter of all archer's arrows-if you can, preserve them so they can be salvaged." I said, and she nodded, before pausing.
"Should I enchant blades for ice?"
I turned to look at her, confused, "What?"
"Extremely cold temperatures reduce the durability of metal down to that of glass or ice-if the blades are enchanted, they could break through the plating and open up more places for the arrows." Jaina said, and I thought for a moment.
"Yes…yes, that's a good idea. But this won't be enough. No…I need a goblin!"
I dropped down, landing in a crouch, before turning and scanning the gathered forces for that fat green midget-there he is.
"Gallywix!"
He ran over, looking startled, "Yes, your ladyness?"
"Who does Garrosh trust engineering to right now?"
"Siegecrafter Blackfuse. He's a ruthless lunatic who doesn't care about the safety of his teams-master of creating destructive products," Gallywix said, and I nodded.
"Do you have a goblin who could reverse engineer his work?"
"I think I do…" he turned, thinking for a moment, before he screeched, "GAZLOWE!"
A goblin came peeling out of the crowd, panting and startled, "Yes your kingliness?"
"Do you know Blackfuse's work?" I asked, and he nodded violently.
"If we blew a hole in that thing out there, would you be willing to climb in and reverse engineer it, and bring it into our control? The laser on that tail could bring down the gate and get the majority of our forces into the city. But it would most likely be a-"
"Suicide mission, your ladyship. I understand…I'll be back though; you have your creepy death fog powers. I'm up for it," Gazlowe said, and I felt flattered, offended, and relieved.
"Be ready to go in there, and thank you for your service."
"UNITS. ASSEMBLE."
I moved past the assembling forces, until I was at the front, where my raptor was waiting. I climbed atop it, Anduin mounting the one beside me-a majority of the forces were moving in on foot.
I watched as Sentinels, Sunwalkers, Humans, Sunreavers, clans, and Death Guard moved into formation, their battle standards up high and mingled throughout. It was a sight that made something in me hurt.
"Weapons are all prepared. Ready on your command."
I took a deep breath, holding Thessali's bow up high, the heartstring gleaming in the Durotar sunlight, "On my mark!"
The tension was thick enough I could taste it. I slid a look over to Anduin, who smiled encouragingly, "You're born for this," he whispered.
One more breath, and I looked forward, "Charge!"
The roar went through the unfathomably large army behind me, and I dug my heels in, racing forward with a screech from my raptor. Anduin shadowed me as we moved to the right of the insanely sized thing. I nocked enchanted arrows and took aim, sending three into one crevice and watching as they exploded. The other archers around followed suit as soon as they made range, and the others dug in with their blades.
Teir skidded to a stop behind us-she ran-and called out, "Corpses don't need souls, right?"
"Nope, just power!"
I heard her groan and slip into the dead tongue, and ghouls clawed their way out of the ground, maggots eating at them as they ran forward, jumping and landing on the thing's back.
A particularly big explosion shook the ground, and a hole was formed.
"Get him in there!" I yelled, and I saw a green blur get catapulted in, and then he was in.
The thing had defense mechanisms, with guns that would shoot at the swords, that damned laser tail, and its razor sharp teeth.
Everyone but myself had moved in, taking the fight to it, while I kept hitting crevices-the more I can short; the easier Gazlowe could take it over.
Suddenly, the entire form went still, and I thought Gazlowe had done it.
Then it started to vibrate.
I saw the forces back away, and faces turned as the thing slammed down, and I was knocked from my raptor.
I went flying, the sonic boom sending me away from battle entirely. My eyes flickered between the battle and the church, and I realized I was screaming.
Slam.
Everything lit itself on fire, as though every bone had just shattered, and mist rolled in, caressing me, whispering as the heavens opened up, and a beautiful entity came down, her wings beating fiercely as she held a white hand out to me.
My eyes slid downward, where my arms were a mess of gore and bone jutting out from where they shouldn't, and glittering blood was sparkling in the sunlight. I struggled to lift what was left of my hand, the fingers all in the wrong angles. It was so cold…
"No!"
The fierce roar let the pain back in as Anduin charged between me and the Valkyrie, taking up my blade-my blood soaked blade-and swinging it at the angel, which reared back.
"You can't have her! Get back!" He was roaring, and it fell away, but the mist remained.
He dropped the blade, hissing in pain as his hand steamed, and my heart thudded.
"M-my-bl-blood-" I hacked, sending more of the liquid in question flying as my entire body screamed in agony.
He looked at me with a passionate look so intense that his hand healed, leaving not even a scar, and his skin took on a glow to it-a blood enchantment.
"I am not losing you," he fell to his knees beside me, screaming out incantations with a strength I have never seen in him.
He tried, and I felt it-things struggled to put themselves back where they belonged, but it wasn't enough. I cried out, tears streaking my bloodied face.
Suddenly, Teir and Kenlora were there, and Teir looked terrified.
"She's losing blood fast-your heart's not going to make it out of this one if I-I can grip it, but- "
"Do it." Anduin said, moving his hands so fast that they were glowing, his entire body awash in light.
"The effects of a life grip can be permanent, human- "
"We don't have time! Please don't let her die, just do it!"
Teir swam back into my vision, blue eyes glowing with a light of sanity that seemed to be growing, "Okay, kid. Close your eyes and…think about that farm in the valley you talked about on the boat."
I swam through my mind.
A small hut, with four rooms and a bathhouse outside. We grew apples and cherries. The orchard consisted of apple trees and cherry blossoms-a pattern of flowers and fruit that was beautifully delicious. I had a work hut on the property, where I made dresses that I sold in Mai's shop. Anduin ran a centre for the sick on the hill over, and we were happy and free.
He would come home in the evenings and complement my work for the day, give me a kiss on the cheek, and lead me inside, where we ate fresh food from the market and he told me funny stories from his patients that day, and then we'd sleep by the fire to keep warm.
"There. It is done. Wake up Jadearra."
I returned to the world, blinking rapidly as my body groaned with a general consensus of Ow, and I felt myself be lifted up into a pair of arms.
"Princeling…?" I whispered, the rest of my body registering as filthy golden hair flickered in sunlight.
His face came into focus in all of its war torn glory. He was covered in gore, his face coated in blood and dirt and sweat. His eyes burned with a hot fire that pierced through the grime and made him look almost terrifying.
Almost.
"I'm right here, Princessling. I've got you," He shifted me so that I could sit up, and I hugged him, my heart pounding in my ears as I realized quite how close to death I was.
"Jadearra!"
I looked up to see Father running towards us, the juggernaut convulsing behind him. I leaned away from Anduin to be caught up by him, wincing as I was pulled to my feet.
"Never do that again, young lady-your mother would have my head," He joked, his eye watery, and I hugged him, slowly returning back.
"GET DOWN!"
Anduin had me on the ground and was shielding me in what felt like the blink of an eye as the laser on the tail of the scorpion went off, hitting the gates with a sound that made my ears burn. I felt his hands cover them, sheltering me, and I tucked into him, gritting my teeth as the tsunami of ash and dust hit.
I think I was screaming, but I tried to focus on the feel of Anduin around me, the beating of his heart, the shuddering of his chest, the clenched muscles in his arms. All I could hear was roaring around me.
It finally died down, and I looked up slowly, panting, to see that we were now covered in dirt and ash, and the juggernaut was a pile of scrap. Thank you for your sacrifice, Gazlowe.
I saw the Darnassian forces charge the swarming units of orcs that were staring to pour out of the gate, and our remaining forces joined them-spare for our small group.
I looked up and almost screamed.
Standing atop the wall, in all of his sick glory, was Garrosh Hellscream-he was laughing.
"Well done! But it seems that you still have not breached my city-your rangers heads will be mounted on spikes!" He held up two limp corpses, and I growled low, and then sobbed as he dropped the bodies into the battle below.
He looked right over to our group, and I snapped my teeth at him, ears flat to my head.
"Ah-Jadearra. The last Theron Heir. I've been watching you. My spies report many…intimate things, from around the continent," He called out, and I felt Anduin tighten around me as fury built up in my chest like a fire.
"Kor'Kron! Bring me the Prince's head! I want it for a trophy! Bring me the princess, alive," He roared, before turning and disappearing.
"I'll kill him myself!" I snarled, lunging forward, but Anduin held me back, earning kicks to the stomach in the process.
"He's baiting you! Don't fall for it!" Anduin growled against my shoulder, before he swung his leg around and took me to the ground, pinning me as I convulsed in fury.
"Release my daughter you filthy-"
"Lor'Themar." Sylvanas stepped forward, watching Anduin with something other than disgust, which was uncommon, "He only wishes to preserve her life. They both do-they should not be on the lines."
Anduin and I both turned to her, horrified.
"No way- "
"I am not- "
"Not happening."
"We're fighting" We finished in sync, and I realized that we were essentially wrapped around each other, which probably looked bad.
"Very well. You two go nowhere without the other-if they want a fight, you two can give them one."
