Chapter 28

Heroes of Silvermoon

Learen had fired up the Gnomish water craft. "Where did the beast go?" He scanned the horizon. Searching out any sign of the monster.

"That magical signature is leading me straight to Silvermoon." Chelinka rushed up behind him, and pointed in the direction she felt Maltrake was heading.

"You can't be serious. I am a Blood Elf, no one senses magic better then we do, and I can't feel anything." Rommath stared skeptically at the boat. He had no desire to get in the strange craft.

Pyrasong no longer had any reservation about it. She jumped in, and started messing with the catapult in the back. A foreboding feeling that it was going to come in handy.

Chelinka whirled around on Rommath with anger. "I am sick to death of your Blood Elf condensation. Looking down on me, because of my race is ridiculous. Consider the facts for a moment will you? Greatest Mages in history, Aegwynn, Medivh, Rhonin, and my own dear Khadgar! None of them had pointed ears, now did they. So shut up, and help the next master Mage of Azeroth, so you can brag to your kids about it!"

Rommath scowled at her. "No need to be so sensitive, Human." He turned to see Braelyn making her way toward the shore with Goldenleaf resting heavily on her small body. "Oh damn!" He ran over and supported Goldenleaf's other side. Trying to take the burden off her. "I thought you two were right behind us." He looked over at Braelyn with apologetic eyes.

The Night Elf winched hard, and despite a great effort, spit more blood forward.

"Yes, we were, but considering that Goldenleaf is dying on us, it's taking a while to get this far." Braelyn glared over at him. If it were not for Goldenleaf, she would be beating Rommath over the head with her bow. She didn't want him dead, but she was at the point that inflicting some pain might make her feel a bit better for ever having involved herself with him.

"Pyrasong! A few healing spells, please?" Rommath called to the Paladin, as he and Braelyn carefully set Goldenleaf in the boat.

Pyrasong turned to inspect the Night Elf. "He has far to much damage then I can outright heal at my skill level. However I can keep him alive at least." She stood up and called on the Light.

"Good, because if you can get me up to a good state, my power will return enough for me to finish the job." Goldenleaf wheezed and rolled to his side. The gold eyes pinching shut. He was doing his best to just blot out the world.

"Everyone is here!" Learen throttled up his craft. "We are overloaded, so it will take some time to get up to our maximum speed."

"Maximum speed?" Goldenleaf perked up upon hearing that, "By Elune, Hold …." He didn't have time before the craft rocketed forward. "on. Ouch."

Pyrasong's spell was cut off by the jolt and she fell into Goldenleaf's battered body. He was actually starting to welcome death.

Chelinka had known it was coming, and had grabbed hold of the side. Rommath caught Brealyn up by the waist to keep her from flying into the water. The two rolling to the back ledge. They struggled just to stay in.

"Point the way, Chelinka! Learen has a monster to kill." The gravely voice matched perfectly with the look of murderous malice in the little green eyes. The Gnomish craft skimming over the water as it almost flew toward the far coastline.

Pyrasong started her healing spell over again. Getting a few off, before her mana was depleted. Kneeling at Goldenleaf's side she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Did that help at all." The green light over her eyes moving over his form.

"Yes. I am sure to survive now. I would say thank you, but it's your people's fault I am in this condition. So I guess we can call it even."

"Arrogance beyond all reasoning!" She growled coming to her feet. A hand lifted to strike him.

"No!" Braelyn scrambled across the space between them to grab Pyrasong's hand. "You mustn't! He is still so weak."

Rommath adjusted himself to a sitting position. "If the Night Elf would stop trying to play hero and just accept her generosity, Pyrasong would not be so inclined to knock some sense into him."

"You are a fine one to talk!" Chelinka shouted back over her shoulder. "Learen, when we are done here, stab him for me?"

"Harmful or Lethal stabbing?" Learen kept his expert eyes on his gadgets. He came close to the shore zooming around the rocky out cropping that jutted out of the water.

"Whatever you can get away with." Chelinka snorted. She glared back at the Blood Elf Mage. "I have had enough of him to last me a life time."

Brealyn looked over at the Human Mage. "Not you too, Chelinka?"

"You were the one sleeping with him, dear. That man has yet to do anything to impress me in the slightest." The Mage called back

"Strip the Paladin." Learen shouted as he weaved a round the rocks.

"WHAT?" The entire boat yelled back, aside Pyrasong who threw her hands over her body in protection.

"She is weighing us down. I can't catch the Bastard at this rate. He is going to make it to Silvermoon? Do you want that?" Learen growled. "The other option is, we toss out the Blood Elf Archmage?"

Goldenleaf and Chelinka yelled, "We choose Rommath!"

But Pyrasong was already undoing the straps on her plate. Braelyn rushing to help. As they worked Rommath started to get up, but Braelyn glared over, "You touch her, and I swear I will have one of my pets eat you."

The hard earned armor went over board. Lost the the depths of the Sea. Pyrasong could not help herself. She started to cry just thinking of all the work she would have to do to earn it back.

"Maltrake in sight! Mages open fire!" Learen called to the rest of the group. "Braelyn take the wheel."

Braelyn rushed over and took the controls. It was then, she learned just how badly they shook at the great speed. The craft veered to the side and almost tipped. Shouts of discontent all over.

Most especially Learen, who roared, "You have one job! Just one! Could you do it?" Then muttered something about liking Blood Elves, cinnamon, and happy thoughts.

"What are you planning Learen?" Goldenleaf came to a sitting position with great effort, but no more blood came up.

"See that catapult?" The Gnome began working on it.

"I am NOT being shot out of a catapult!" Pyrasong moved close to Rommath who was duel handing fireballs. Half hitting Maltrake's fleeing form.

Chelinka next to him shooting ice lances at a slower, but more precise pace.

"Why would I shoot you at it?" Learen snarled over at the little Paladin. "Besides for the enjoyable splat you would make."

"Then what?" Goldenleaf was curious

Learen grinned, "Me. Pyrasong, come ready the lever." He jumped in the little seat and pulled up his forks.

"But why?" Pyrasong gasped, but grabbed hold of the device.

"Because, I stand a better chance on Maltrake's back, then the rest of you in this craft with Braelyn steering!"

"Shoot the damn Gnome!" Braelyn called. She had heard the entire thing, but there was little she could do trying to maintain speed and not crash them into the rocks.

Learen flew. He soared. Not graceful like a sea Kestral. No, he waved his arms and looked more like a little puffin trying to stay aloft. He landed with his forks into Maltrakes back. Using them to stab and climb toward the head of the monster.

Rommath slowed his casting. Seeing right before them Silvermoon coming into view. "How do we stop him in time?"

"The clear answer is, we don't." Chelinka screamed over the motor.

Rommath started channeling a spell. Soon a portal to Silvermoon opened. "Everyone through. We have to warn Lor'themar before Maltrake gets there!"

The statement didn't need to be repeated as everyone rushed the portal. Besides Braelyn, who was once again forgotten, by all but Goldenleaf. She turned, as she felt someone grab her. One minute she was on the water craft. Then next she was sitting on top of Rommath. Then Goldenleaf landed on her. "Ouch."

"I will tell the Lord Regent!" Pyrasong ran out of the room. She didn't even realize her state of undress and the looks that were following her.

Goldenleaf rolled to his feet. "You there! Warn your people of the coming of a huge mana eating monster! Get your best fighters down to the docks so that it does not make Silvermoon!"

The Blood Elves failed to move under the command of the Druid. He was a Night Elf, a member of the Alliance. They were not going to listen to him, and they paid the price!

Maltrake rolled into Silvermoon, already weakened from the fearsome Gnome that he could not seem to detach from his large lumbering form. Behind him, he oozed a corrosive slime that was eating away at even the finely laid cobble stone tiles. He rolled into buildings and crumbled the walls. In fury at his ruined plan to have the Sunwell's power for his very own. He used his great tentacles to wrap around anything he grasped and threw it. Plants, trees, benches, and even the Blood Elves themselves were tossed around to certain doom.

One great limb wrapping around a mere child. The little girl screaming in terror. Learen lifted his head and saw it. To save the kid, or not to save the kid? He really did debate. Then he slid down the great tentacle, and slashed. The child flown free from a great height. Learen flipping through the air to grab her. Then igniting his Gnomish rocket boots to rushed them to safety. He landed and but the child behind him. "I swear kid, you grow up and see me in battle grounds, you had better run away. Because I wont hesitate to do you in there!" Although in the back of his mind he was certain he had met his maker. Someday this kindness would come back to haunt him. It always did.

Halduron rushed out and started firing his arrows. Special mana absorbing ones, he had made specially. Who know that they would ever come in this handy!

More Mages joined in with Rommath. Ecstatic to see their greatest Archmage in battle, but that was nothing. Lor'themar himself rushed out to join the fray, and all of Silvermoon converge on the Maltrake monster.

Heralded by Lor'themar's shout of, "Rally to me, people of Silvermoon! Our Enemy will Fall!"

To everyone's shock roots rose up and halted the monster's progress into the city. Lor'themar halted his attack to see Goldenleaf channeling his nature's grasp. "So the Night Elf's chosen has improved in power, I see."

Braelyn came to Lor'themar's side, "Some day one of you needs to tell me how you know each other."

"You don't know?" Lor'themar looked out at the Night Elf. "Then I will not be the one breaking the silence."

"That much of a mystery?" Braelyn pulled her bow and let a few arrow's fly. Her only answer was silence from the Blood Elf leader.

The spell holding Maltrake in his beast form faltered. The sight of this inspiring the Blood Elf army into pressing their advantage. Sensing his impending loss he began channeling the first spell he had cast back at the Sunwell. The Arcane Void would decimate all those around him. Lay waste to Silvermoon, leaving it hovering in a dimensional rift for years to come. A legacy Maltrake could take with him, proudly into the nether!

Goldenleaf noticed it first. "Get everyone out of here!"

Rommath shouting "Heed the Kaldorei! Run, my brethren!"

Braelyn latched her hand onto Lor'themar's arm. "Regent Lord, you must fall back."

"But we have him!" Lor'themar tried to pull away from her.

The Human Hunter wrapped her arms around his waist. "I know this spell. Silvermoon is lost. Lor'themar, you must retreat or we will both die!"

He looked down at the top of her golden brown hair. This little human was risking her life to warn him. She was sure they were going to die. He could not ignore it. "Fall back!" The command issued in one thundering shout. He watched as his people heeded his command with out question. Pulling Braelyn to his side, and rushing for cover. "How far must we get to avoid the blast?"

"I have no idea!" She rushed after him, "Its so much larger then the last."

"AAA- YEEEEE!" Learen burst in with a wicked cheap shot to Maltrake's back. The twirling forks on a murderous killing spree to the stunned creature. He figured if he was going to go down to an enemy, it would be like the little boss he was. Retreat was not an option!

"He will not be able to get free of the blast!" Pyrasong cried out to Rommath. "He is sacrificing himself to give us time!"

"No! He will NOT!" Rommath narrowed his eyes and summoned his magic. "I will not be indebted to that particular Gnome! Fight on Mages of Silvermoon! Slay Maltrake for his betrayal of us all."

Chelinka ran past the Mages. She held her skirts high as not to trip. Sliding to Maltrake's feet she began a teleport spell. Opening to the huge crevasse that was Old Dalaran.

Seeing his chance Goldenleaf let loose a mighty typhoon. The wind pushing the monster toward the open portal.

Chelinka blinked out of the way. Appearing next to Pyrasong, she turned to see if Learen was able to get free of the winds that had gripped her.

Learen was the only one left in danger. He sprinted forward trying to out run the wind's pull. Finally, losing his footing and sliding back. The forks slamming into the ground. They tore up small cracks as he was pulled along.

Maltrake cried out as he evaporated through the portal. The spell he channeled threatening to rip it's way back through the portal's door. Chelinka slamming her hands closed to seal her spell. Maltrake left on his own, to endure on the other side the fate he had planned for Silvermoon.

Silence was only broken by the hum of residual arcane energy and the sound of wind.

Then cheers broke out for the Heroes of Silvermoon!

Author Note: Plot Bunny Attack! As I was writing this I realized, Lor'themar is a Regent Lord. As Bolvar was for Anduin Wyrnn. You need a royal member as a place holder. So if Lor'themar hasn't been established as an official ruler? Who then is holding a title above his that he is waiting for? I have no real knowledge of the Blood Elves, being Alliance since Vanilla. If anyone would like to pick up this theme/plot, please feel free to run with it. Just PM me so I can read it.