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 23

A large circle soon formed around the Dreadlord's mutilated corpse. The demon's black blood forming a continuously larger pool that wetted the feet of the Forsaken. Wayne could barely stand, even with Nollis holding onto his waist. And with the Dark Lady standing so close, he dared not show disrespect out of weakness.

"That was impressive DeLovely," said the Dark Lady. "I have never before seen bone magic used so effectively."

"Thank you My Lady," Wayne said as he managed to bow forward slightly. "I believe it was a gift from the Lich King. I had never been able to master the art in my former life."

"How long until you recover?" said the Dark Lady, looking down at his mangled and fractured leg.

"Soon My Lady, it is nothing that I cannot mend," Wayne said.

The Banshee Queen gave her last reverences before turning away to address other matters. Other Forsaken continued to stare at Wayne in a somewhat zombie-like fascination. Nodding towards Nollis, Wayne was gently lowered to the ground, his rotted legs laid flat and streched out before him. Instantly he was relieved to have pressure off of his leg as he tried to work the right spells to heal and strengthen his long dead bones.

Meanwhile the battlefield had turned nearly silent. Detheroc's undead force had stopped fighting completely and nearly all stood about on the ramparts uselessly. Having recieved the signal from Sylvanas, the banshee led armies outside the wall ceased their attack. Forsaken gathered around her on the stone walkways, teeming with feelings of victory.

With the Banshee Queen's plan perfectly executed, she lifted an enchanted arrow and shot it high in the air. The arrow ignited and showered sparks of all colors across the sky. The Forsaken lifted their hands high in jubilant celebration. Shouts of victory and the slogans of the Forsaken were deafening as they rallied together, some jumping and dancing.

Varimathras soon appeared coming in through the gateway from the human sector of the stronghold. He was heavily stained in blood as he bowed before the Dark Lady. She turned towards him aimbly and listened to his report.

"All the humans have been eradicated, My Lady," said Varimathras in his deep voice.

"What of their commander?" the Banshee Queen questioned.

Varimathras sighed and moved slightly to the side to reveal Blightcaller who stood a few feet behind the demon. Around Blightcaller's neck hung the head of the commander, around the severed head a golden helment was still on. Though areas on the right side and forehead were heavily dented from repeated blunt strikes, it was clear that it belonged to the commander. He lifted the head up slightly to allow the Dark Lady a better view before letting it go, the necklace ornament rolling and swaying against his chest. Everyone revered Blightcaller for his great combat skills, but his level of brutality shocked even some of the Forsaken.

Wayne still sat on the ground working spells on his leg. He was growing frustrated for none would seem to work effectively enough. On top of everything else, the corpse of the Dreadlord was beginning to smell awful, even by undead standards.

At last he worked a spell combination that would allow him to stand and walk around without assistance. Though he walked with an obvious limp, and the pain still persisted through the steps. Wayne came to a halt and searched around with his eyes for anything that could be used as a walking stick. Anything that would allow him to walk easier and keep pressure off his damanged leg.

Wayne's eyes floated over Detheroc's body, and instantly a grin came to his face. He found the perfect walking stick that would humble even Blightcaller. He attracted the attention of an Abomination and ordered it to flip the demon's body over and rip out the spinal cord. The creature's massive hand gripped at the base of the neck and pulled back hard. Seconds later the Abomination presented Wayne with a five foot long bloodstained demonic spine.

The Abomination was thanked greatly for its help as Wayne sat down to begin enchanting his new staff. Within the very bones of the Dreadlord flowed powerful fel magics, types that Wayne had never before used. He sat diligently and worked on filling the staff with powers of death and arcane energy. This would be the first staff that Wayne had ever used, he found them to be too bulky and thus impossible to conceal. Never before had he needed one just to walk smoothly either.

Rising to his feet, Wayne tested its effectiveness as both a walking stick and a magical conductor. In both cases he was satisfied, the jagged angles of the bony spine felt natural in his hands, something only a true Necromancer would identify with. Bringing the staff up with Wayne's full height, it nearly reached his shoulder as he leaned on it heavily.

On through to the early morning hours the Forsaken remained hard at work. Wayne and all other Necromancers worked on raising the dead. Forsaken, Scourge and Humans alike were brought back and oaths were procured. Other members of the Forsaken raided the armory under orders from the Dark Lady to become better equipped. 'Glory to the Banshee Queen' was written in blood across the gateways at all entrances to warn off any enemies.

By noon the skies became overcast and snow began falling again. The council was again summoned by the Dark Lady into the interior castle walls. Forsaken soldiers transversed the ramparts, their destiny coming closer to fruition with each passing second.

End of Chapter 23