A/N: Please note that this is of course Fan Fiction, therefore the events described would be slightly deviated from the orginal telling.
And nope, I in fact do not own Warcraft or anything else I write about.
Chapter 18
Sylvanas gave the order to return before dawn came. The visions she passed through the eyes of the Forsaken were in a slightly frenzied state. The Dark Lady relayed the information given to her by the three Dreadlords of the Burning Legion to whom she had just conferred with. They spoke of Arthas preparing his departure to Northrend, perhaps never to return. Time was of the essence for the Forsaken, as this could be their only chance. They still held the element of suprise in their favor.
The Banshee Queen was making her return from the meeting with the demons as she instructed them. She made a sign with her left hand over the left side of her face, two fingers up, two fingers down, thumb passing under the eye. Orders were given for all those loyal to the Forsaken to copy the sign. Then the order was given to slaughter all those who did not give the indication of their loyalty. Those being Scourge that were too weak willed to resist their controller, the failing Lich King.
All those within the unit that Wayne and Nollis were a part of began to brutally kill the ones who stood dull and blind to the world around them. In the other two units a similar scene was unfolding, but with not as much success due to them being under the watch of Death Knights. Wayne and the few Necromancers around him began to quickly raise them to new life as Forsaken, though the oath always had to be made or else death would set upon them again.
On top of the high mountain pass above the now fully Forsaken unit stood their Queen in her physical form. All heads turned to see her standing with the glow of the moon bathing her whole body in its pale light. A bow held out in her left hand as her eyes scanned the scene of the Forsaken mass, now a few hundred strong.
"Arthas is attempting his escape to the port!" The Dark Lady bellowed out instead of giving them visions. "We must cut off the pathways, split into units of fifty and follow my banshees!"
Then a vision came across the eyes of Wayne and two other select Forsaken in the crowd. They were instructed to follow their Queen personally. Everyone scrambled in the rush to fulfill the Banshee Queen's orders. Wayne, the other two chosen and Nollis all climbed the swirling mountain pass that led to their Queen. The Dark Lady knew that Nollis was to follow and let it be so, he could prove to be useful no matter how much his power lacked compared to the others. The four reached the top before her and bowed low.
"Come quickly, we must reach our position before it is too late," she said as she turned to break into a run.
Several Banshees and the four chosen Forsaken ran along behind her. The small entourage was limited to their size for speed and the kind of lightness that would not attract attention. With the other units meant to cut off every path that Arthas could take, thus leading him into their ambush, the ability to move in such a way was very crucial. No matter how slow Wayne was proven to be previously, he moved as the wind on the heels of his Queen this time. A newfound urgency fueled him and kept his brittle bones from tiring.
Within the hour they came to a halt on a hill above the pathway leading to the port. Dawn was close as the sky grew lighter by the minute.
"We cannot be too late," The Dark Lady growled to herself.
"I am confident we are not," said a banshee to her right.
Wayne turned to study the other two that were chosen. He remembered both being in the crypt on their first mission. One was a Necromancer, the one that The Dark Lady praised for his thinking. The other was one that the Forsaken refered to as Blightcaller, who was said to be a human ranger in his former life. Until now Wayne had not been given the opportunity to properly meet him.
Stepping forward Wayne put out his bony hand to Blightcaller, who in turn grasped it as they gave each other a solemn nod. He did the same greeting for the Necromancer as Nollis came forth to repeat his Master's motions. The four sat low behind their Queen, waiting for her signal. The Dark Lady constantly running her fingers through the feathers of the arrow on her bow, cursing him to appear quickly.
Several anxious minutes went by before the sounds of stamping hooves were heard resounding on the cobblestone walkway. All five peered up to see the rapid advance of Arthas on his horse, behind him rode three Death Knights.
"Prepare yourselves," the Banshee Queen said as she rose slightly with her arrow fully taunted and ready to fire.
Nollis copied her position to her left with an arrow ready to release. Wayne and the other two crouched low with wands and knives in hand. As soon as Arthas was in range the arrow from the Banshee Queen's bow flew out faster than lightning and into his left side under his ribcage. Arthas let out a gasp of pain and shock as his horse slowed down, the three Death Knights behind frantically looking about with their swords drawn. An arrow from Nollis flew down and through the head of a Death Knight, causing him to slump forward lifeless on his horse.
The paralyzing arrow worked perfectly on Arthas's body, but did nothing to stop his horse. The foul beast continued charging on as his rider screamed the command for its haste. Wayne fully stood and fired the spell of whirling blades, which hit the running horse and severed its body and head into several peices. Causing Arthas to fall off and slam onto the cobblestone road hard, his stiff body still in the riding position.
The two Death Knights now charged up the small hill towards their attackers. Two of the banshees flew towards them to possess them, after a few moments they succeeded in full possession. They stabbed each other in the neck as their spectral forms rose out, leaving them to die a quick death. Then the Banshee Queen sauntered towards Arthas who lay miserably on the ground, the other Forsaken following behind.
"It's time to pay butcher," The Dark Lady seethed.
Arthas struggled to move and called out loudly for assistance.
"You won't break free of the paralysis, I crafted that arrow just for you. You won't be able to move anything, but you will be able to feel everything," The Dark Lady said, her voice full of malice and inspiring terror in the deadened heart of Arthas.
"Just end it if you have what it takes, pathetic banshee," Arthas said, hoping to invoke her rage to strike quickly.
The Dark Lady raised a hand to keep steady the Forsaken behind her who stepped forward to avenge the insult to their Queen.
"You will receive what I have received, and nothing less!" said the Banshee Queen as she raised her sword and slashed Arthas's back. "You remember that, right Arthas!" she screamed over his screams.
Suddenly spells began to rain down on the small Forsaken group. They looked up to see the Lich standing on far hillside, untold numbers of Scourge stood behind him.
"Begone you traitorous scum!" hissed Kel'Thuzad.
Quickly Nollis raised his bow and shot an arrow that flew towards the Lich and hit it in the throat, instantly silencing the creature. Immediately the Scourge poured foward over the hills towards the small group.
"This is not over Arthas, I swear it!" The Dark Lady bellowed as they retreated.
The Scourge did not follow the group for long before pulling back. Their Queen raised a hand to bring them to a stop when the rest of the Scourge was far enough away. There she tried to compress her rage at her failure to kill Arthas, her chance gone due to that pesterous Lich. Only her banshee sisters attempted to calm her as the other Forsaken stood by, not wishing to have her rage thrown upon them.
"To the ends of Azeroth Arthas, to the ends of Azeroth!" The Dark Lady yelled loud enough for him to hear.
End of Chapter 18
